Report comment

This whole episode has been cleverly rebranded by the Government as nothing more than ambulance chasing/human rights' lawyers seeking to besmirch the bravery and professionalism of the armed forces. Johnny Mercer's immature performance was, sadly, more of the same.

These slurs on the legal profession are a very convenient distraction for the Government who have still to answer the question posed in the Commons Report ("who guards the guardians") as to who authorised the use of the 5 techniques in interrogation in Iraq and whether the UK was also complicit in rendition ? Both are war crimes.

No one doubts, in the main, the bravery and professionalism of the armed forces. However, if they were ordered/instructed to breach the Geneva Conventions then it is incumbent on Parliament and lawyers to get to the bottom of this. Johnny Mercer should follow up on this question rather than gratuitously putting the boot into Leigh Day