Jacob Rees Mogg snoozes and loses as the ‘big beast’ is forced to take a nap
Britain is waking up to a new chapter in its history – Conservative Party ‘big beast’ Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg losing his seat, and a Labour majority.
It has been a nightmare 24 hours for the Tories – Sir Jacob is the latest top MP, alongside Penny Mordaunt and Grant Shapps, to have lost his job.
The senior Conservative lost his North East Somerset and Hanham seat to Labour, by more than 5,000 votes.
He lost to Labour’s Dan Norris – who he previously unseated during an election in 2010.
Sir Jacob’s career at Westminster – spanning almost 30 years – started at the 1997 General Election at which, aged 27, he was selected as the candidate for Central Fife, a traditional Labour seat in Scotland.
His time as an MP, whether at the backbenches or lounging at the front, has been peppered with controversy.
He was a leading figure in the campaign to leave the EU; he is against abortion in all circumstances, arguing that ‘life begins at the point of conception’; and he also voted to repeal the human rights act twice.
In his departing speech, Sir Jacob said: ‘May I begin by giving my warmest congratulations to Dan Norris, who has been a servant of North East Somerset or Wansdyke as it then was before and I am sure will be a devoted constituency MP in the future.
‘And congratulate Sir Keir Starmer who has led his party to what seems to be a historic victory.
‘And this is the great virtue of our democracy, so I congratulate both of them.’
Sir Jacob then thanked his agent, campaign director and constituency staff who had ‘worked so hard over the last 14 years’.
He had arrived at Bath University at 2.30am, dressed in a dark suit with a pinned blue rosette to his lapel.
The politician was accompanied by his son, Peter, also dressed in a suit, and wife Helena as he walked through to the count area.
Sir Jacob, a candidate in the new constituency of North East Somerset and Hanham, arrived carrying a bag of sandwiches, which he said included ‘ham and tongue’.
When asked how he felt, Sir Jacob said: ‘I’m feeling extremely well.’
He was asked about the state of the Conservative Party and replied: ‘Aha. That’s a very good question.’
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