Jacob Rees-Mogg rejects reports he is being ‘lined up for ministerial job’ joking next he’ll be ‘offered the papacy’
Eccentric Tory said he enjoys speaking his mind from the backbench and serving his constituents in North East Somerset
JACOB Rees-Mogg has flatly rejected reports he is being “lined up for ministerial job” and joking that next he’ll be “offered the papacy”.
The eccentric Tory said he enjoys speaking his mind from the backbench and serving his constituents in North East Somerset, despite a campaign to make him Prime Minister.
The Old Etonian has emerged as a surprise candidate to be the next Tory leader after enjoying a meteoric rise in popularity over the summer.
The Times claimed this morning Theresa May will hand him a Government role “to test his suitability for higher office”.
But the father-of-six appeared on the BBC to try and dampen the speculation he harbours ambitions to be in Downing Street.
His case wasn’t helped however by the producers filming his interview on the Daily Politics in front of a fake backdrop outside Number 10.
Mr Rees-Mogg said: “This isn’t going to happen. I’m very happy serving the people of North East Somerset
“That’s my role, that’s what I enjoy doing. I think to start putting oneself forward is a great mistake. Heaven knows next you’ll be offering me the papacy.”
Today's story quoted a Downing Street source who said thought is being given to “bringing him in” to curb his outspoken reputation and make him toe the line.
They added he could be asked to “do a bit of grind” in office, saying: “People have to earn their spurs.”
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But asked about this idea the MP said he enjoyed the freedom to discuss issues from the back bench because he is not bound by the “collective responsibility” ministers have to abide by.
Mr Rees-Mogg said: “I don’t have constraints upon me as to what I am allowed to or not allowed to say.
“And that is perhaps an easier position to be in to discuss broad issues rather than ministers who are quite rightly confined to their own subject area.”
The 48-year-old, who has always denied in public he wants to become PM, is now second-favourite with Tory voters if there was another contest.
Asked if he was surprised to have been linked with the leadership he replied: “I’m as astonished as you are”
“It’s all jolly August stuff, and now we’re in September I imagine it will calm down.”
It follows another leading pro-Brexit voice, Steve Baker, being brought into Government – after he was handed a junior role at the Department for Exiting the EU in June.
The newspaper also reports other Tory MPs tipped for a potential leadership run such as the ex-Army officers Tom Tugendhat and Johnny Mercer could also get promoted.
But it suggests Mrs May could delay the reshuffle to use the threat of getting the sack to bring some of her wayward Cabinet ministers into line.
The PM has clashed with, among others, Sajid Javid, Andrea Leadsom and Liam Fox in recent weeks, all of whom could be forced out of Government.
One Cabinet member who is likely to go is Sir Patrick McLoughlin, the party chairman, who is understood to be keen to stand down.
He stayed on to help to steady the ship after the disastrous election, but has been criticised by many in the party for being “invisible” in the run-up to June 8.
It is being reported he could be replaced by Boris Johnson, with senior sources suggesting Mrs May’s patience with him is wearing thin.
The foreign secretary has faced numerous attacks on his competence recently, with claims he is seen as a “joke” by foreign diplomats.