Felicity responded to a tweeted inquiry from Julian Perreira, a digital news producer with Forces News and a former Grenadier Guard, who asked, “Just checking, but did @PinkNews just out @JohnnyMercerUK ?”.
She tweeted: “I’ve had my suspicions for a long time. My family would like to request privacy over this difficult time. It has been a shock but ultimately only wish for his happiness. Thank you.”
Of course, Pink News got its wires crossed and did not intend to out the MP for Plymouth Moor View Mercer as the newest member of the LGBTQIA+ community. They actually meant Labour MP Luke Pollard, the MP for neighbouring Plymouth Sutton and Devonport. The report in Pink News has since been corrected.
Mr Mercer, 41, minister for veterans’ affairs, has been married for nine years and has three children. The couple made light of the mistake.
Mr Mercer himself weighed in on Twitter, responding to his wife’s post by stating: “To be fair, if anyone was likely to push me over the edge…” His wife, referring to Mr Mercer’s service in the British Army in Afghanistan, replied: “More likely all those episodes of Glee you watched with the boys on Op Herrick.”
The article in Pink News focused on MPs arguing over reforms to the Equality Act, and claimed that Mr Mercer had “doubled down” on his support for the trans community during the debate.
