Latin epithets seem to have
become the norm on SIC – two in a year.
But then there is no shortage of those around us who insist on harking
back to what they argue was a happier past.
And prominent among them is Jacob Rees-Mogg. He’s often portrayed as a figure of fun,
which admittedly is very easy to do – the Member for the 18th
century (though an earlier pre-Reformation century might be more appropriate),
pictured as a 10 year-old reading the FT, openly affectionate about his Nanny.
Yet, underneath the
self-satirising image there lurks a dangerous force in British politics. His selective grasp of theology is
well-publicised – opponent on religious grounds of abortion under any circumstance
(even after rape) and gay marriage, but apparently unconcerned about the First
Beatitude (blessed are the poor). He has
consistently voted at every opportunity for reductions in welfare benefits, and for stricter
enforcement of immigration rules – including supporting a tighter asylum
regime. He’s generally opposed any
increase in taxation rates for the better off.
Of course just now he’s best
known for his obsessive support for Brexit and his role as chair of the
self-styled European Research Group (European Myths Group might be more
accurate). What the ERG and other shady right
wing fringe groups (such as the Institute for Economic Affairs, and the inappropriately
named Tax Payers Alliance) are really after isn’t just 'taking back control' for
its own sake, but as a step towards destroying all the employment, consumer and
other protections that membership of the EU provides. And beyond that, some of their member share
close ties to the US
healthcare market, and see Brexit as a route to replacing he NHS with an
American two tier system (great if you can afford the fees, non existent if you
can’t). As Polly Toynbee revealed
recently (Hard right brexit) Raab, the
recently departed Brexit secretary (who couldn’t support the treaty he
negotiated) published a number of papers proposing an extreme right-wing policy
agenda, including radical reductions in the number of government departments,
welfare cuts, reduced employment protection, and an end of equalities
legislation.
So yes, if you have trouble with
free movement, do think of Rees-Mogg – he makes me shit anyway.
* How do you satirise Jacob Rees-Mogg?
