Brexit new: Jacob Rees-Mogg warns against 'grave error' of ‘fudging Brexit’
GETTY Jacob Rees-Mogg warns against 'grave error' of ‘fudging Brexit’
Jacob Rees-Mogg failed to silence reports that he could replace Mrs May as the next Tory leader. According to bookmakers, the brexiteer is a strong favourite to be the next Prime Minister, after his reputation was enhanced by his response to left-wing protesters who disrupted his speech in Bristol. The back-bench MP refused to back down when the protesters screamed abuse at him. Video footage captured Mr Rees-Mogg walking over to the students and even separating rivals as things turned violent.
The Conservative said he chose to engage with the protesters because he “knew they weren’t going to hit me”. Adding he was “a complete weed”, but was “absolutely fine”. Following this, the devout Catholic told The Mail on Sunday that he warned Mrs May against a Brexit “fudge”, adding that she must follow Margaret Thatcher’s direction in avoiding “middle, muddle, fiddle fuddle.” The MP for North East Somerset also suggested that it was Chancellor Philip Hammond who was undermining the Prime Minister and not him, despite comparing himself to Michael Heseltine, who famously denied planning to challenge Margaret Thatcher, before doing exactly that.
Shock LIVE pics as Jacob Rees-Mogg confronts masked men Fri, February 2, 2018 Jacob Rees-Mogg confronts masked men as Bristol University event descends into CHAOS Play slideshow TWITTER/CHLOEKAYEX 1 of 5 The moment Jacob Rees-Mogg is confronted by a masked man
The City tycoon urged Mrs May to resist pressure from Mr Hammond to retain partial access to the EU Customs Union. The Brexiteer’s growing power as leader of the European Research Group has caused alarm among ‘soft Brexit’ Tories. Former Minister Anna Soubry has said she will quit the party if Mr Rees-Mogg becomes the leader.
GETTY Jacob Rees-Mogg failed to silence reports that he could replace Mrs May as the next Tory leader
A senior Minister said: “Anna is not alone. Many of us would never support a Rees-Mogg government. His views are from the Ark and would make Jeremy Corbyn in No 10 a certainty.” One ally of Mr Hammond said: “The PM is so weak, it’s as if Rees-Mogg is the de facto PM.” Mr Rees-Mogg made clear that Mrs May faces trouble if reports are true that suggest she plans to back calls by Mr Hammond for the UK to retain partial access to the Customs Union after Brexit.
GETTY Jacob Rees-Mogg said Theresa May has his unconditional support