Jacob Rees-Mogg called out for 'embarrassing' Sun appeal to find 'Brexit Bonuses'

Writing in The Sun on Thursday morning, Rees-Mogg appealed to their readers to write to him with examples of legacy EU “regulatory barnacles” that they would like to see repealed.  

This has come after he was demoted from his position as Leader of the House of Commons to Minister for Brexit Opportunities in Tuesday’s Cabinet reshuffle. 

In his article, he said: “You are the ones who know the red tape binds your hands, and to do my job I need your wisdom.  

“I implore you all write to me with the regulations you want abolished ... Through thousands of small changes - we can enact real economic change.” 

Mike Galsworthy, founder of Scientists for EU, said that the article was “embarrassing” and that “far from the first call out to public/business to help Govt find Brexit opportunities”. 

READ MORE: Jacob Rees-Mogg becomes 'Minister for Brexit Opportunities' in mini Cabinet reshuffle

Rees-Mogg also claimed that the speed of the vaccine rollout was an example of one of the “Brexit bonusses” that have already been realised. He wrote that “suffocating EU procurement laws were torn up by the Vaccines Taskforce and bureaucratic treacle was melted by Dame Kate Bingham.” 

However, some have called out the claim that Brexit sped up the UK’s vaccine rollout as a lie.  

I am sorry I bore on about this every week but it's a lie that needs to be stamped out every time the Prime Minister says it. Brexit did not make the vaccine rollout faster. The UK approved vaccines while still in the EMA. It is just untrue.

— Luke McGee (@lukemcgee) February 9, 2022

Luke McGee, a CNN contributor, said: “I am sorry I bore on about this every week but it's a lie that needs to be stamped out every time the Prime Minister says it. Brexit did not make the vaccine rollout faster. The UK approved vaccines while still in the EMA. It is just untrue.” 

The UK also has a relatively low vaccination rate of 72.4% compared to other EU countries, falling behind Portugal, Ireland, Italy and France.  

Commenting on Rees-Mogg's letter, SNP MP Dr Philippa Whitford said: “This latest political stunt from the recently demoted Minister demonstrates how out of touch he is with the reality of Brexit which has actually caused an explosion of red tape for any businesses trading with the EU – the irony-meter is off the scale.
 
“Beyond the rhetoric and false claims in his letter, Jacob Rees-Mogg fails to admit the difficulties that have arisen for so many sectors as a direct result of the Brexit deal he campaigned for. 

"The truth of the matter is he knows how damaging it has been for the financial services industry which is why he set up a second personal investment fund in Ireland and not in the UK. The man is a hypocrite."