Fluff, says Jacob... that’s tough, says I
JACOB Rees-Mogg’s dismissal of the delayed Sue Gray report into wine-time Fridays in Whitehall during lockdown – and bottleclinking wheelie suitcases catering to funeral-eve parties during the period of national mourning – as trivial “fluff”, makes us wonder whether the MP for North East Somerset is actually used to speaking English or is part of an exchange programme.
His comments mocked the sacrifices of the law-abiding who observed Covid restrictions regardless of the cost to themselves and their families.
His views, however – with the honourable exception of Rishi Sunak, who described them as “damaging public trust” – are shared by Boris Johnson who regards “media froth” as having little impact on reputations.
With a prime minister who represents as facts, statements which have been proven to be false, truth and falsehood become so hard to separate.
His apologists assert that morality in public life is passé – “all politicians are as bad as each other”.
The Keir Starmer/Jimmy Savile slur, encouraged by Rees-Mogg but condemned by Sunak, plumbed new depths in parliamentary discourse, and gives weight to the theory that deceit for members of this government is a vocational requirement rather than a character flaw.
The PM’s despatch box mea culpa for “partygate” was an apology that was shamelessly unapologetic.
The Queen must be relieved that her weekly audience with Johnson is now blessedly remote.