Rees-Mogg next up for PM? Don’t bet on it, he says
TORY MP Jacob Rees-Mogg refused to rule out a tilt at becoming Tory leader last night, even as he tried to play down reports he would like to succeed Theresa May.
The popular backbencher – known for his three-piece suits, impeccable manners and traditional Tory values – is sounding out friends about a possible future leadership bid, reports said yesterday.
One recent survey suggested the father of six is the second most popular choice of activists – despite not holding ministerial office.
In an interview on Radio ’s Broadcasting House he dismissed the reports of his leadership ambitions as ‘silly season’ stories. ‘I wouldn’t put any money on it,’ he said. ‘I think it’s a reminder that it’s August. People don’t have a huge amount of pressing UK political news to write about, and therefore there’s this jolly stuff about me.’
There is a widespread view among Tory MPs that Mrs May is secure in her post, despite losing seats at the election.
However, many MPs also believe she will not last the full five years of the Parliament and may stand down at some point after 2019 when Britain leaves the EU.
It has sparked widespread speculation about potential successors. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Mr Rees-Mogg indicated he was unlikely to win enough support among MPs to make it on to the ballot paper. ‘I think if I threw my hat in the ring, my hat would be thrown back at me pretty quickly,’ he said.
But Anglo-US academic Ted Malloch claimed Mr Rees-Mogg had let slip his leadership ambitions during a private lunch. He told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I was at a lunch with Jacob very recently and he indicated he would like to be considered for the leadership when the time comes. He did not mean now, but at some point in the future.’
Last night Downing Street dismissed reports that Mrs May would make a grovelling apology to Tory activists at the start of the party conference in October for losing her majority at the election.