Tory MPs telling blatant whoppers about the Labour leadership seems to be rather more than an isolated incident: while the singularly repellent Ben Bradley, still a vice-chairman of the party despite blatantly breaking its code of conduct, makes the required donation to a homeless charity and a food bank in his own constituency after his spy smear of Jeremy Corbyn, another hopeful soul has fetched up before the cameras.
This time it is the honourable member for times long past Jacob Rees Mogg stepping up to the plate to say something about Jezza that is not true. What is worse is that he either knew what he was saying was not true, or had not bothered to do his homework. Whatever the explanation, it underscores the growing awareness that Rees Mogg is not a particularly pleasant piece of work. The subject, as so often nowadays, was Brexit.
Rees Mogg had appeared before the cameras on Channel 4 News yesterday evening. He had already managed a cheap and sneering dismissal of John Major - his former party leader and former Prime Minister - so when he claimed, on the subject of the Good Friday Agreement, that Corbyn had voted against it, this was entirely in keeping with his coupling of a patrician demeanour with rather more thuggish behaviour.
Jezza, as any fule kno, voted for the agreement. He voted against the Anglo-Irish Agreement, but the two are not the same thing. The reaction was swift - rather more swift than Rees Mogg’s apology, which has only just materialised - sort of. Alex Nunns was quick to nail the lie: “Here's @Jacob_Rees_Mogg telling a lie on Channel 4 News. Jeremy Corbyn voted for the Good Friday Agreement”.
Labour MP Laura Pidcock followed up with “It’s unacceptable that, once again, a Tory MP has openly lied about @jeremycorbyn. Last week it was @bbradleymp, this time it’s @Jacob_Rees_Mogg, claiming on @Channel4 that Jeremy voted against the Good Friday Agreement when in fact, he voted for it. We need a public apology”.
Others expressed their disgust. “I think, if JRM doesn't issue a retraction and apology, we are entitled to conclude that it was a deliberate lie” … “Jacob Rees-Mogg just said on #c4news that @jeremycorbyn voted against the Good Friday Agreement. That's a lie” … “Jon Snow has just confirm Jacob Rees-Mogg was actually lying when he said that. Thanks, Channel 4 #FactCheck!” And there was more.
Another Tweeter claimed “Mogg also lied about gov't leaflets that allegedly said leaving the EU meant leaving the single market. I can't find such a leaflet”, while Peter Stefanovic mused “I’m sure @Jacob_Rees_Mogg will be tweeting an apology to @jeremycorbyn tonight for saying on Channel 4 news Corbyn voted against the Good Friday Agreement when it’s a matter of record he voted for it! A donation to a charity of Mr Corbyn’s choice would also be most welcome”. What say Rees Mogg to that?
Eventually - like at just before 0930 hours today - Rees Mogg climbed down from his lofty perch to admit “Mea culpa, I was wrong to say that Mr Corbyn voted against the Good Friday Agreement. He did not”. That should, perhaps, read “Mea maxima culpa”.
And he still hasn’t said sorry. One rule for the high Tory, another for the plebs, eh?
Reeks-Bogg actually meant to say " Me a Dickhead"
ReplyDeleteGiven the number of times Rees Mogg has been caught being economical with the actualité he must spend an awfully long time in the confessional saying his Hail Marys.
ReplyDeleteOh he knew it was a lie all right.
ReplyDeleteThe man's a fraud.
Just demonstrates yet another empty promise made by the Maybot when she claimed that smears and lies wouldn't be tolerated. But these were good Tory lies and directed against those nasty lefties so that was OK then. As usual with the Maybot, she'll do nothing.
ReplyDeleteRees Bogg either knew the facts and lied or was willing to have only a 50/50 chance of being right so was prepared to lie and not for the first time. A thoroughly nasty piece of work who only pretends to be a good christian. Of course the threat of legal action had nothing to do with it.............well it wouldn't, would it?
I seem to recall this is not the first time he was made this claim?
ReplyDelete