By Miles Davis, BBC Devon political reporter
Fred ThomasA row has erupted after a politician accused his rival of mendacity about his army document.
Fred Thomas, a former Royal Marine, is standing for Labour within the Plymouth Moor View constituency towards former Military officer and veterans’ minister, Conservative Johnny Mercer.
Mr Mercer has alleged Mr Thomas lied about main males into fight so as to acquire a political benefit.
Mr Thomas stated he was unable to debate giant components of his service and cited his certificates of valediction which was signed by an unnamed commanding officer of the Particular Forces Help Group.
PAMr Mercer made the accusations at a hustings in Plymouth on Wednesday.
Following the occasion, he stated serving in fight had “a particular that means and carries particular obligations”.
Labour stated Mr Mercer’s feedback had been “deeply disrespectful” and must be withdrawn instantly.
Mr Thomas instructed the BBC: “I served on delicate operations which can be actually latest so I am not allowed to speak about them in that type of element.
“We shouldn’t be permitting political point-scoring for the sake of incomes votes.”
The Labour Occasion shared Mr Thomas’s certificates of valediction during which an unnamed lieutenant colonel stated: “Your command on operations abroad and coaching occasions have seen you lead personnel from numerous backgrounds, ages and experiences in a variety of hostile and difficult environments.”
Mr Mercer stated he questioned an interview Mr Thomas gave to the Guardian newspaper in 2023 which stated Mr Thomas “served in fight missions”.
He stated his rival was making an attempt to “bloat” his army document.
“I do not dispute that Fred Thomas served within the Royal Marines or certainly performed one operational tour the place he discovered himself in difficult environments – quite the opposite I respect his service,” he added.
The opposite candidates in Plymouth Moor View are Shaun Hooper for Reform UK, Sarah Martin for the Liberal Democrats and Georgia Nelson for the Inexperienced Occasion.
