Rees-Mogg must stop playing student politics

IN SOME ways, Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg deserves the accolades he’s being given.

He has a first-class brain. He has tapped into public feelings about Brussels bully-boys. He has undeniable moral rectitude. He refuses to swing with the wind. And, unlike so many politicians, he has experience of the world outside Westminster — having made a fortune in the City.

Refreshingly, too, when ridiculed for his foppish manner as ‘the MP for the late 18th century’, the Old Etonian couldn’t give a damn.

Also, his principled stand as a Catholic on abortion, calling for the 24-week time limit to be cut and his rejection of terminations ‘beyond the number of weeks at which they could survive outside the womb’ — must be respected.

So, too, the dignified manner in which he recently defied violent Momentum-supporting thugs while addressing students in Bristol.

But I’m afraid I emphatically do not share the opinion of bookmakers that Rees-Mogg is the four-to-one favourite to be Theresa May’s successor as Tory leader.

First of all, he has never had a government job. But more importantly, by being a seemingly ever-present face on TV screens as the cheerleader for a hard Brexit, he is damaging Mrs May as she fights to secure a decent Brexit deal. I find it difficult not to believe that Rees-Mogg is set on sabotaging the negotiations in the hope of getting what he wants instead.

The consequences of him succeeding do not bear thinking about. In all likelihood, it would mean Mrs May being forced out of No 10 and Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister. Brexit itself could even come under threat.

It’s time for Rees-Mogg to abandon the immature politics of the Oxford Union debating society (where he was president almost 30 years ago).

As an admirer, I recommend this course of action immediately. Then, in due course, Mrs May could offer him a ministerial post.