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Politics
Harry Fletcher
Apr 29, 2022
Brexit checks would have been ‘act of self-harm’, says Jacob Rees-Mogg
ITV News
Jacob Rees-Mogg appeared to accidentally make a strong Remain argument during a new interview, calling postponed Brexit measures "an act of self-harm".
It comes as checks on food entering the UK which were due to be introduced in July were pushed back again to 2023.
The minister of state for Brexit opportunities and government efficiency spoke to ITV News on the matter, and said that allowing the government's own Brexit deal to be fully implemented "would have been an act of self harm.”
“You’re admitting that this could save £1billion, which is admitting that checks would cost £1billion. I thought that post-Brexit checks were not going to be disruptive?” he was asked by the reporter.
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“That’s why we’re not adopting them,” he replied. “This would have been an act of self-harm if we’d gone ahead with it.
“It would have increased costs for people and we are trying to reduce costs… free trade is hugely advantageous to consumers.”
It’s certainly an unexpected comment for a man who campaigned for Brexit and to leave the single market, with his argument leaving Remainers and Brexiteers alike scratching their heads on social media.
Allowing the government's own Brexit deal to be fully implemented "would have been an act of self harm," says Jacob Rees-Mogg.pic.twitter.com/JnVDRPporC— Adam Bienkov (@Adam Bienkov) 1651159902
Even a stopped clock etc.https://twitter.com/adambienkov/status/1519700895830884352\u00a0\u2026— James Oh Brien (@James Oh Brien) 1651168787
BREAKING: Rees-Mogg becomes a Remainer.https://twitter.com/AdamBienkov/status/1519700895830884352\u00a0\u2026— Ian Dunt (@Ian Dunt) 1651184948
Jacob Rees-Mogg has said that the reason the UK government has decided to delay the next round of Brexit red tape is because it would be \u201can act of self-harm\u201d. Write your own punchline, folks.— Nick Tyrone (@Nick Tyrone) 1651164484
Brexit opportunities Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg says implementing in full the \u201coven ready Brexit deal\u201d negotiated, signed & sold by Boris Johnson to the public & Parliament as a negotiating triumph would be\u2026\n\n\u201can act of self harm\u201d\n\nWatch in disbeliefpic.twitter.com/tPXRKsM0eg— Peter Stefanovic (@Peter Stefanovic) 1651215324
I didn't have 'Jacob Rees Mogg admits Brexit is a complete failure' on my 2022 bingo cardpic.twitter.com/QG5JSCQW0n— Best for Britain (@Best for Britain) 1651220476
Brexit will bring you cheaper food \n\nRemember those words @Jacob_Rees_Mogg— ciaran the euro courier \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea (@ciaran the euro courier \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea) 1651214202
Something surreal about the fact Jacob Rees-Mogg is now pushing one of the key lines from the Remain campaign.https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rees-mogg-brexit-checks-self-harm_uk_626ac1e2e4b050c90f3daff0\u00a0\u2026— (((Dan Hodges))) (@(((Dan Hodges)))) 1651167763
Due to the delay to post-Brexit import checks, the current situation means that goods are allowed through, while UK goods are still subject to comprehensive checks on entering the EU. It means that the UK will essentially continue to depend on the EU to monitor food safety.
It’s led some of Britain’s biggest seaports to consider legal action against the government in an attempt to recover costs building border control posts which they now worry won’t be used.
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