I’ve been Jacob Rees Mogg’s nanny for 53 years and he’s not out of touch
JACOB REES-MOGG’S nanny today breaks her silence on facing down protesters. This week, the sight of 76-year-old Veronica Crook rushing to confront a group of protesters aligned with the group Class War as they ambushed the Conservative MP’s young family outside their home made headlines around the world.
An activist was filmed spitefully telling the youngster that their father was a ‘horrible person’, and that the father of six was ‘exploiting’ Ms Crook, who has worked for Mr Rees-Mogg’s family for 53 years. Ms Crook laments a coarsening of political debate, saying: ‘It’s much more intrusive than when I first worked for the family.’
But given that the Brexiteer MP often takes his children canvassing, didn’t he to some extent bring it on himself? ‘No,’ said Ms Crook. ‘Jacob does take his children to political things but this wasn’t a political event. It was outside the family’s front door and that is completely different.’
Asked whether his wealthy background meant that the proBrexit Eton-educated MP was out of touch with ordinary people, Ms Crooks disagreed.
‘That is just so unfair,’ she says. ‘Jacob likes talking to people from all walks of life and he’s interested in their lives.
‘What do I think about Brexit? Out! Out! Out! is what I think.’
And what of the prospect of Boris Johnson becoming British prime minister, Ms Crook replied: ‘I like him. I found him very charming when Jacob invited him here.’