Rees-Mogg defends Cummings following ‘disgraceful’ attack
JACOB REES-MOGG has defended Dominic Cummings, describing him as an “excellent public servant” who has “done a great deal for this country”.
It comes after Mr Cummings, the former chief adviser to Boris Johnson, was criticised after referring to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) as a “smoking ruin”.
The comments were made by Mr Cummings as he gave evidence to the Commons Science and Technology Committee on Wednesday.
Speaking during business questions, shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz told Mr ReesMogg, the Commons Leader, that it was a “disgraceful thing” for Mr Cummings to say.
She told MPs “I know that (Mr Rees-Mogg) will join me in condemning the description of the Department of Health as a ‘smoking ruin’.
“The special adviser who was giving evidence, who actually got a pay rise more than the NHS nurses who actually got a pay cut. I think it’s a disgraceful thing to say about people who have worked extremely hard during the pandemic. They’ve worked flat out, we know because they’re finding it difficult to answer our questions.”
Mr Rees-Mogg responded: “May I put in a word of defence of Dominic Cummings who is an excellent public servant who has done a great deal for this country and who worked with a pay cut when he was first appointed.
“And he took £40,000 less than he was entitled to and then his pay reverted to its normal level. I’m not sure that many other people working in the public sector take this level of pay cut and I think this shows his commitment to the public service.
“And that he did a great deal for this country, not least in the Brexit referendum in his energetic and effective campaigning, but also in providing energy for Her Majesty’s Government.”