Jacob Rees-Mogg would be an 'outstanding' candidate for PM - Conservative minister

Jacob Rees-Mogg would be an “outstanding candidate” to be Prime Minister, according to Tory minister Jesse Norman.



Mr Norman revealed himself to be a fan of the “Moggmentum” bandwagon that has been building in recent months, leaving the flamboyant backbencher as the second favourite with some bookmakers to succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader.

Mr Rees-Mogg has sought to downplay the prospect of a future leadership bid – though he has stopped short of ruling it out altogether and wrote an article this week laying out his vision for the party.

When transport minister Mr Norman - who, like Mr Rees-Mogg is an old Etonian - was asked whether another product of exclusive private school could become Prime Minister in the future, he deflected by hailing his colleague.

“I think Jacob Rees-Mogg would be an outstanding candidate,” he replied. “I can only admire the Moggmentum that’s already underway.”

Earlier this week, Tory MP Heidi Allen said she could not remain part of the Conservative party if Mr Rees-Mogg became its leader.

Elsewhere in his interview with Centre Write, the magazine of Tory thinktank Bright Blue, Mr Norman said the Conservatives had to review its message on areas such as healthcare and the environment in order to win over younger voters attracted by Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party.

“The party also has to be willing to look hard at how to tackle injustice,” he added.

“And it needs to be willing to talk about areas that people don’t regard as traditionally conservative, such as healthcare, the environment and the arts, on which conservatism in fact has some very useful things to say.

“There are no areas of policy and of public discussion that lie outside a strong, warm and intelligent conservatism, if it’s properly focused.”