Comments on Boris Johnson's Cabinet reshuffle
JACOB Rees-Mogg has insisted the Government is 'bubbling over with brilliant ideas', amid questions over the whereabouts of Boris Johnson's vision for Britain.
The Commons Leader joked that parliamentary officials are 'drafting away at the speed of light' to prepare an 'exciting outpouring of bills' in the weeks and months ahead.
His defence of the Government's plans came after the SNP's Tommy Sheppard said ministers were offering 'lacklustre and thin' business in the days ahead.
The Commons will be in recess until February 24, with MPs returning to debate police and local government funding, the Environment Bill and the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill.
Time has also been allocated for Labour to lead debates on tax matters and social care, while a Government-led general debate on Welsh affairs is also scheduled.
Any changes made by peers to emergency legislation to prevent the automatic release from prison of terrorist offenders halfway through their sentences can also be considered in the week beginning February 24.
SNP Commons leader Mr Sheppard said the Government was offering 'lacklustre and thin' business in the days ahead.
He added: "When, given the bravado of the Prime Minister in the aftermath of the election, do we expect to see in legislative proposals the Johnsonian vision for the future of Britain?
"When can we expect something rather more meaty than the proposals which are here before us today?
"Or is it the case that the Government doesn't have the ideas that it alluded to during the election campaign?"
Mr Rees-Mogg replied: "The Government is bubbling over with brilliant ideas.
"I have never known a government with more ideas that are coming through.
"I see, chairing the Public Bills Committee, these fantastic ideas and parliamentary draughtsman are drafting away at the speed of light to prepare an exciting outpouring of bills which were announced in the Queen's Speech and they will be coming through.
"But to say that what we're offering up after the recess is thin is absurd.
"We are having a fundamental environmental bill which is going to legislate for the future of our environment and is going to be a world-leading bill, and we also have the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill, which will ensure we're at the forefront of medical technology two fundamentally important bills - and the remaining parts, if necessary, relating to a terrorism bill safeguarding the nation.
"Some people really are hard to please."
Labour MPs were quick to blame the Prime Minister's chief adviser Dominic Cummings as the driving force behind the shock resignation of Sajid Javid as chancellor weeks before the Budget.
It comes after long-standing rumours of tension between Boris Johnson's closest aide and the ex-chancellor.
David Lammy (Tottenham) took a swipe at the influential Brexit strategist on Twitter, writing: "Remember when this lot dragged us out of the EU because they didn't like 'unelected bureaucrats' having power?"
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said it is 'clear Dominic Cummings has won the battle to take absolute control of the Treasury and has installed his stooge as the Chancellor'.
Labour deputy leadership candidate Angela Rayner called the process the 'Dominic Cummings reshuffle', while Labour peer Andrew Adonis said "'the big story of the reshuffle is that Johnson has appointed Cummings as Chancellor and CoPrime Minister'.
Marie Rimmer (St Helens South and Whiston) said Mr
Johnson was 'dictated to by his unelected adviser', while Labour and Cooperative MP Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth) said the news showed "Cummings clearly running country".
Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) tweeted 'farewell' to Mr Javid, writing: "You liked to tell us you were the son of a bus driver."
He added: "Now Cummings has thrown you under a bus. Which is ironic."
Charlotte Nichols (Warrington North) said Mr Cummings was 'unelected, unaccountable and appears to have just effectively forced the resignation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.'