Watch out, Mrs May! Rees-Mogg moves in on No10
Brexiteer buys £5m mansion yards from PM
HARDLINE Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has bought a £5 million home next to Parliament, fuelling speculation that the ambitious MP is positioning himself as the next Tory leader.
The five-storey mansion is even closer to the House of Commons than Downing Street is – and until recently was the political HQ of pro-Tory tycoon and power-broker Lord Ashcroft, a supporter of Mr Rees-Mogg.
The disclosure came amid fresh evidence of a possible threat to the Prime Minister by Mr Rees-Mogg’s allies – who fear Theresa May is determined to block their plea for a so-called ‘hard Brexit’.
And it comes as a Mail on Sunday investigation into Mr Rees-Mogg’s City firm reveals a string of Russian investments – but virtually no stake in the British economy.
The MP’s company, Somerset Capital Management, which manages nearly £7.5billion on behalf of wealthy private investors and City institutions, has interests in two Russian firms blacklisted by the US and others which are controlled by oligarchs in President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle.
The Russian assets were valued at £217 million on Friday.
The Mail on Sunday has also learned that one of Mr Rees- Mogg’s leading allies, Rightwing MP Philip Davies, confronted Tory Chief Whip Julian Smith over Mrs May’s survival prospects at a recent Commons meeting attended by Mr Rees-Mogg.
Mr Smith pointed out that the absence of a Tory majority in the Commons made it hard for Mrs May to speed up Brexit laws, saying: ‘It’s all about numbers.’
Mr Davies fired back: ‘Yes and the number is 48!’
It was a menacing reference to the 48 Tory MPs needed to trigger a leadership contest.
Although he is a backbench MP, Mr Davies is the live-in partner of Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey, seen by some as another potential Tory leader. He said last night: ‘I don’t comment on my discussions with the Chief Whip.’
Mr Rees-Mogg – the bookies’ favourite to succeed Mrs May – has been urged by members of his pro-Brexit European Research Group (ERG) to be tougher in his dealings with the Prime Minister.
At one meeting of the group last week, Mid Derbyshire MP Pauline Latham said: ‘No more Mr Nice Guy, Jacob. Show some steel.’
The revelation about Mr Rees-Mogg’s new Westminster base comes as No10 prepares for a series of Commons showdowns over Brexit next month.
After last week’s ‘summit’ between Mr Rees-Mogg’s ERG and Chief Whip Mr Smith, the Government agreed to bring forward key votes on the EU Withdrawal Bill to the middle of next month.
The move was forced by the Brexit rebels because they believe they have the numbers
A string of Russian investments ‘No more Mr Nice Guy, Jacob’
to ‘crush the Remainers’. Mrs May’s allies fear that Brexit MPs are preparing to challenge her if she fails to give in to their demand to take a tougher stance with Brussels.
Conservative chiefs have warned that with no Commons majority, any such instability could lead to a General Election – the third in four years – and risk putting Jeremy Corbyn in No10.
Mr Rees-Mogg dismissed claims that he planned to use his new house – dubbed ‘Jacob’s own No10’ by one Tory MP wag – as a leadership campaign headquarters.
He said: ‘I bought it because I have six children. My Mayfair house has three bedrooms for nine people so reception rooms now have children in them.’
Mr Rees-Mogg’s supporters want Mrs May to ‘strike now’ and ram through the Brexit laws while Mr Corbyn’s Commons voting strength is down.
Lewisham East Labour MP Heidi Alexander has resigned and another Labour MP is gravely ill and is unlikely to be able to vote.