JACOB Rees-Mogg has defended his “insensitive” jokes about Tory chiefs partying on Downing Street while the rest of the UK was in lockdown.
The Leader of the House of Commons was criticised for the remarks, made at a think tank event earlier this week, during business questions at Parliament.
The Conservative minister also attacked Nicola Sturgeon, branding her “moanalot”, and denied reports that Boris Johnson is seeking to dodge scrutiny by ordering Parliament to take its winter recess before next week’s scheduled PMQs.
SNP Commons leader Pete Wishart urged Rees-Mogg to have a debate “about the Prime Minister just simply going”, as the country is “led by someone who the public simply cannot trust”.
Wishart led on the Christmas party scandal, which has seen No 10 aide Allegra Stratton resign after video footage emerged of her and other staffers joking about a bash on Downing Street last Christmas.
The SNP MP said: “[Boris Johnson] is someone who no longer has the authority to see down the maskless, right-wing libertarians in his own party and dangerous do-nothing, let Covid flourish nonsense.”
Wishart also agreed with Labour’s shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire that “it wasn’t just Allegra Stratton who made light of the party that never was”, but also Rees-Mogg, who was filmed joking about “imperial measures, his favourite subject”, at the Institute of Economic Affairs.
He added: “It is not just women that have to apologise and resign, apologise to this House for these insensitive remarks you made the other day.”
READ MORE: Jacob Rees-Mogg jokes about Downing Street party row at think tank event
The Commons Leader replied: “He said there should be a debate on the Prime Minister: they had one, only just over a week ago, they lost. They don’t like losing, they keep on losing, they lost the referendum, they didn’t like that, either, they lose again, and again and again and they come back to the same old subject.
“He then criticised me for making a joke about imperial measures. Now, I know the honourable gentleman has no sense of humour, at least professionally, he may do in private. It’s part of his image that he should never … but to make a joke about imperial measures may not be very funny, it may not win me awards for humour, but it seems to be to be an eccentric thing to be concerned about.”
The Tory minister was also asked about the Electoral Commission’s ruling on the refurbishment of Boris Johnson’s flat at 11 Downing Street. The watchdog fined the Conservative Party over the donation by Lord Brownlow to help cover the lavish renovations, with fresh questions raised over whether the Prime Minister misled the probe.
Rees-Mogg commented: “[Wishart] complains about the Electoral Commission’s report. I seem to remember that there was some very large amount of money missing from the SNP so perhaps we could have a debate … about the missing money of the SNP.”
He added: “I wonder where it’s gone, is it missing down the sofa … has Moanalot stashed it away somewhere? Who knows but wouldn’t it be fun to find out.”
Rees-Mogg has previously referred to Sturgeon as “Moanalot” on several occasions in the Commons.
He was referring to reports from earlier this year that Police Scotland has received several complaints about funds donated to the SNP has allegedly for the purposes of independence campaigning has allegedly been spent on other things.
SNP president Michael Russell has said the £600,000 raised for a SNP second independence campaign is "not missing" and that the money is still available for this purpose.
READ MORE: Tories admit to holding Christmas bash in party HQ during lockdown
In the Commons, Rees-Mogg went on to dismiss calls for Parliament to return to virtual proceedings to protect against the spread of Covid-19.
Wishart said: “Yesterday the Prime Minister said you should work from home if you can. Well, this House has shown that it can with our virtual participation and proxy voting.
“After the loss of public trust we now have an opportunity to lead by example and do exactly what the Prime Minister says, so will he take the Prime Minister’s calling seriously? For the sake of the people that work in here, for the sake of the people we serve, will he now turn back on the virtual Parliament?”
Rees-Mogg replied: “Of course we should be here working. What the Government has said in its guidance is that you should not go into work if you don’t need to.
“Parliament does not work properly with people absent, and it is very disappointing that the Opposition is so lily-livered about holding the Government to account that it wants to go back home early – that’s not how democracy should work.”
Amid reports that Johnson wants Parliament to rise early on December 14 so he can dodge scrutiny at next week’s PMQs, Rees-Mogg told MPs the Commons is still scheduled to rise for Christmas on December 16.
The Commons Leader also confirmed new Covid-19 measures for England will be debated and voted on next Tuesday.
He added: “At the conclusion of business on Thursday December 16 the House will rise for the Christmas recess and return on Wednesday January 5.”
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