Jacob Rees-Mogg, who has remained loyal to the Prime Minister during the Partygate scandal, called him an ‘exceptional leader’ who is ‘good at thinking things others aren’t thinking’ – but is no Churchill.
The Leader of the House of Commons told The Telegraph: ‘Churchill always had new ideas. Johnson is good at thinking things others aren’t thinking and not just going along politely with conventional thought.’
He added: ‘I’m not comparing him to Churchill, I’m just saying that the politicians who succeed are the ones with a willingness to make decisions and to then persuade people.’
The MP for North East Somerset also said Johnson was an ‘exceptional leader’ who ‘unlocked’ the country when others refused to do so.
Earlier this week, Rees-Mogg, 52, claimed there would need to be a general election if Johnson were to be ousted as Prime Minister.
He argued on Tuesday’s Newsnight that any would-be successor should call an election to receive the public’s backing.
It comes as the PM and the Tory party await the findings of Whitehall ethics inquisitor Sue Gray’s report into ‘partygate’ and the alleged lockdown-breaking No10 gatherings.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, who has remained loyal to the Prime Minister during the Partygate scandal, has called him an ‘exceptional leader’ who is ‘good at thinking things others aren’t thinking’
During his interview with The Telegraph, Rees-Mogg also revealed how his wife, Helena, got him a bracelet of hair from the Duke of Wellington’s horse, Copenhagen, for Christmas.
The Duke of Wellington rode the liver chestnut stallion during the 1815 Battle of Waterloo.
Rees-Mogg said he had bought his wife, 45, ‘a little necklace’ from fine jewellers J McCarthy Ltd of Westminster as a festive gift.
And she gave him ‘the best present: a bracelet made from the hair of Copenhagen’s mane’.
Rees-Mogg had noticed it at auction, where it was inscribed with: ‘From the mane of Wellington’s charger, Copenhagen at Waterloo’.
He is said to have told Helena: ‘If you’re short of a present for me, this is absolutely the thing.’
Earlier this week, Rees-Mogg, 52, claimed there would need to be a general election if Johnson were to be ousted as Prime Minister. He argued on Tuesday’s Newsnight (above) that any would-be successor should call an election to receive the public’s backing
Like the Prime Minister, Rees-Mogg has a large family.
He and his wife last had a child in 2017, with the arrival of son Sixtus Dominic Boniface Christopher.
The other children’s full names are Alfred Wulfric Leyson Pius, Thomas Wentworth Somerset Dunstan, Peter Theodore Alphege, Anselm Charles Fitzwilliam and Mary Anne Charlotte Emma Rees-Mogg.
Despite having so many children, Mr Rees-Mogg has previously revealed that he has never changed a nappy.
The following year, he ruled himself out from running to replace Theresa May as prime minister, saying he had too many children to do the job.
He admitted taking charge of No10 would be ‘very difficult’ because he is a ‘family man’.
Rees-Mogg also revealed how his wife, Helena, got him a bracelet of hair from the Duke of Wellington’s horse, Copenhagen, for Christmas. Above, is the bracelet she is believed to have given him
The MP for North East Somerset and his wife last had a child in 2017, with the arrival of son Sixtus Dominic Boniface Christopher. The other children’s full names are Alfred Wulfric Leyson Pius, Thomas Wentworth Somerset Dunstan, Peter Theodore Alphege, Anselm Charles Fitzwilliam and Mary Anne Charlotte Emma Rees-Mogg (all pictured)
The Duke of Wellington rode the liver chestnut stallion during the 1815 Battle of Waterloo
Above, part of Copenhagen’s mane – seen in 2015 – which had a pre-auction estimate of £3,000 to £5,000
Rees-Mogg’s musings come as Boris Johnson could become the first PM to be interviewed under police caution after it emerged that Scotland Yard is opening a criminal investigation into the pandemic lockdown parties.
News of the Metropolitan Police’s investigation into Partygate broke as the Cabinet held its weekly meeting in Downing Street.
Jacob Rees-Mogg walked out of No10 and straight over to cameras to vow loyalty to Johnson.
‘The leadership of this country that Boris Johnson has had, has been so brilliant that he has got us through this incredibly difficult period,’ he said.
‘He has got all the big decisions right and we have opened up faster than any other European country thanks to the Prime Minister and I’m honoured to be under his leadership.’
Some Conservative MPs have already publicly called for Johnson’s resignation, but others have said they will await the publication of the Gray report before trying to trigger a vote of no confidence.
But Rees-Mogg’s Newsnight interview suggests that supporters of Johnson among the party are keen to dissuade any attempts from rebel Tory MPs to bring down the Prime Minister by piling on the pressure of a potential general election.
The Commons leader said: ‘It is my view that we have moved, for better or worse, to essentially a presidential system and that therefore the mandate is personal rather than entirely party, and that any Prime Minister would be very well advised to seek a fresh mandate.’
When asked whether the Prime Minister should resign if there is a photograph of him at a drinks party in No 10, Rees-Mogg urged people to wait for Gray’s report to be published and denounced what he described as ‘gossip’ around the issue.
‘Trying to speculate on bits of gossip and tittle-tattle around the report doesn’t really get us anywhere,’ he added.
Rees-Mogg’s public support for any would-be Tory leader to call an election is likely the latest step in a ploy designed to help Boris Johnson maintain some stability amid the ‘partygate’ scandal threatening his premiership.