Former MP Johnny Mercer avoids threat of jail over SAS inquiry – for now

Judge lifts threat ‘for the time being’ after ex-minister withheld names from inquiry into misconduct claims

Johnny Mercer no longer faces the threat of jail for refusing to cooperate with a public inquiry examining allegations of unlawful killings by the SAS in Afghanistan, after its presiding judge said he would back down for now.

The former Conservative MP and minister had repeatedly refused to provide the names of two military sources in confidence to the inquiry judge, Charles Haddon-Cave, and had a final deadline of 4pm on Thursday to comply.