Patrick Mercer OBE

Member of Parliament for Newark and Retford, Patrick Mercer has been an MP since June 2001, having followed a political career since 1999. He was a key member of King’s College London team tasked with the design of government policy for East Timor (2000). He worked as a freelance journalist for the Daily Telegraph (1999-2001) and a radio journalist on the ‘Today’ programme, BBC Radio 4 (1999). From 1974-1998 he was a Regular Army Officer (Colonel) covering a wide range of accomplishments. These include the following: He commanded the Sherwood Foresters in Bosnia and Canada (1995-97); was Head of Strategy, Army Training and Recruiting Agency (1997-98); undertook nine tours in Northern Ireland and was Founder member of Cease-Fire Committee (1992); was Instructor at the Army Staff College, Camberley (1994-95). Notably he negotiated the British Presence in Uganda post Civil War (1986). He has been given the following awards: OBE, Bosnia 1997; MBE, Northern Ireland 1992; Gallantry commendation, Northern Ireland 1990 and Mentioned in Despatches, Northern Ireland 1983.