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Brexiteer’s Jam-Jar gaffe causes a sticky situation

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JACOB Rees-Mogg has caused a storm by referring to “The People’s Republic of JamJar” while talking about African countries.

The Brexiteer was accused of “casual racism” over his comment during a pro-Brexit rally at the Tory conference in Birmingham.

Mr Rees-Mogg said: “All the countries who are least interested in their people call themselves “people’s” don’t they? So the People’s Republic of China? Oh, that’s communist. “And the People’s Republic of JamJar, or something like that, of Libya, was what it was called when Colonel Gaddafi was in charge.” The Etoneducated MP has now been blasted by MPs over his gaffe.

Labour MP Alex Sobel said: “This not only shows the same sort of casual racism Boris Johnson has displayed, but disdain for the rest of the world.”

Shadow minister Chi Onwurah joked: “It’s their respect for other countries and attention to detail which will be such an asset for the Hard Brexiteers as they negotiate trade deals post-Brexit.”

Earlier Mr Rees-Mogg’s European Research Group had called for EU migrants to wait five years before they can get benefits.

Demanding a tougher approach, they called for an end to the taxpayer “subsidising low-paid work through access to benefits”.

The plans were backed by MigrationWatch, who called them “serious and effective immigration policy”.

Chairman Lord Green of Deddington said: “It’s time the Government stop dithering and start delivering on their promises to cut immigration.”