Fred Thomas (British politician): Difference between revisions
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==Political career== |
==Political career== |
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Thomas was one of fourteen former services personnel standing as Labour candidates in the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]] with him stating on his website that he was seeking to "neutralise [[Johnny Mercer (politician)|Johnny Mercer]]'s electoral 'trump card' of having a military service record" by running in his constituency of [[Plymouth Moor View (UK Parliament constituency)|Plymouth Moor View]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/alistair-carns-labour-military-veterans-mps-b2567938.html|title='We need leadership': Alistair Carns on giving up a military career to become a Labour MP|first=Kim|last=Sengupta|date=24 June 2024|website=The Independent|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705092043/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/alistair-carns-labour-military-veterans-mps-b2567938.html|archive-date=5 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/politics/veteran-mercer-loses-plymouth-seat-former-royal-marine|title=Army veteran Johnny Mercer loses his Plymouth seat to former Royal Marine|first=Harry|last=James|date=5 July 2024|website=British Forces Broadcasting Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706103254/https://www.forces.net/politics/veteran-mercer-loses-plymouth-seat-former-royal-marine|archive-date=6 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> Mercer accused Thomas of attempting to "bloat" his military record in a 2023 newspaper by ''[[The Guardian]]'' in which he claimed that he had "served in combat missions" and called him |
Thomas was one of fourteen former services personnel standing as Labour candidates in the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]] with him stating on his website that he was seeking to "neutralise [[Johnny Mercer (politician)|Johnny Mercer]]'s electoral 'trump card' of having a military service record" by running in his constituency of [[Plymouth Moor View (UK Parliament constituency)|Plymouth Moor View]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/alistair-carns-labour-military-veterans-mps-b2567938.html|title='We need leadership': Alistair Carns on giving up a military career to become a Labour MP|first=Kim|last=Sengupta|date=24 June 2024|website=The Independent|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705092043/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/alistair-carns-labour-military-veterans-mps-b2567938.html|archive-date=5 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/politics/veteran-mercer-loses-plymouth-seat-former-royal-marine|title=Army veteran Johnny Mercer loses his Plymouth seat to former Royal Marine|first=Harry|last=James|date=5 July 2024|website=British Forces Broadcasting Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706103254/https://www.forces.net/politics/veteran-mercer-loses-plymouth-seat-former-royal-marine|archive-date=6 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> Mercer accused Thomas of attempting to "bloat" his military record in a 2023 newspaper by ''[[The Guardian]]'' in which he claimed that he had "served in combat missions" and called him "real life [[Walter Mitty]] in Plymouth".<ref name="Davis">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crgg667ydp9o|title=Plymouth Moor View: Row over candidate's military service record|first=Miles|last=Davis|date=21 June 2024|website=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706114137/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crgg667ydp9o|archive-date=6 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The Telegraph">{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/21/johnny-mercer-labour-rival-fred-thomas-walter-mitty-claim/|title=Johnny Mercer in row with Labour rival over claims he is 'a real life Walter Mitty'|first=Dominic|last=Penna|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=21 June 2024|via=www.telegraph.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706114054/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/21/johnny-mercer-labour-rival-fred-thomas-walter-mitty-claim/|archive-date=6 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> Thomas said he is not allowed to discuss aspects of his military service and instead cited his certificate of valediction, signed by an unnamed [[Special Forces Support Group]] lieutenant colonel, which states that he obtained "considerable operational experience" relative to how long he served and "lead personnel...in a range of hostile and challenging environments".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/johnny-mercer-plymouth-general-election-labour-b2566791.html|title=Mercer urged to apologise for accusing Labour rival of lying about military service|first=Archie|last=Mitchell|date=21 June 2024|website=The Independent|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625025938/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/johnny-mercer-plymouth-general-election-labour-b2566791.html|archive-date=25 June 2024|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The Telegraph"/> Thomas won the constituency with 41.2% of the vote.<ref name="Results"/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 14:23, 6 July 2024
Fred Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Plymouth Moor View | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Johnny Mercer |
| Majority | 5,604 (13.1%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1991 or 1992 (age 31–32)[1] |
| Political party | Labour |
| Website | fredthomas |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Marines |
| Years of service | 2016–2023 |
| Rank | Captain |
Frederick J. T. Thomas (born 1991 or 1992) is British Labour politician and former Royal Marines officer, who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Plymouth Moor View since defeating veterans minister Johnny Mercer in the 2024 general election.[2]
Early life and education
Thomas born to a civil servant and a teacher and has four siblings.[1] He attended Winchester College before reading religion, politics and ethics at King's College London.[1] He learned to read and write in Arabic and studied abroad in Egypt shortly after the Arab Spring.[1]
Military service
Thomas was commissioned in the Royal Marines on 5 September 2016.[3] During his career, he trained in Arctic warfare and was employed in nuclear security at HMNB Clyde.[1][4] He also became the Royal Marines' light heavyweight boxing champion.[1] He was promoted to captain on 5 March 2020.[5] He left the military in February 2023.[1]
Political career
Thomas was one of fourteen former services personnel standing as Labour candidates in the 2024 general election with him stating on his website that he was seeking to "neutralise Johnny Mercer's electoral 'trump card' of having a military service record" by running in his constituency of Plymouth Moor View.[6][7] Mercer accused Thomas of attempting to "bloat" his military record in a 2023 newspaper by The Guardian in which he claimed that he had "served in combat missions" and called him a "real life Walter Mitty in Plymouth".[4][8] Thomas said he is not allowed to discuss aspects of his military service and instead cited his certificate of valediction, signed by an unnamed Special Forces Support Group lieutenant colonel, which states that he obtained "considerable operational experience" relative to how long he served and "lead personnel...in a range of hostile and challenging environments".[9][8] Thomas won the constituency with 41.2% of the vote.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Syal, Rajeev (13 August 2023). "Ex-marine chosen by Labour to stand against Johnny Mercer in Plymouth". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Plymouth Moor View - General election results 2024". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024.
- ^ "No. 62545". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 January 2019. p. 1406.
- ^ a b Davis, Miles (21 June 2024). "Plymouth Moor View: Row over candidate's military service record". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024.
- ^ "No. 62991". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 May 2020. p. 8418.
- ^ Sengupta, Kim (24 June 2024). "'We need leadership': Alistair Carns on giving up a military career to become a Labour MP". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024.
- ^ James, Harry (5 July 2024). "Army veteran Johnny Mercer loses his Plymouth seat to former Royal Marine". British Forces Broadcasting Service. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b Penna, Dominic (21 June 2024). "Johnny Mercer in row with Labour rival over claims he is 'a real life Walter Mitty'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ Mitchell, Archie (21 June 2024). "Mercer urged to apologise for accusing Labour rival of lying about military service". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024.