Jacob Rees-Mogg attacks 'cave-dwellers' who want to frustrate Brexit

John Ashmore

Jacob Rees-Mogg today hit out at “cave-dwellers” he says are trying to frustrate the Brexit process.



The outspoken Tory MP claimed failure to secure a “real Brexit” would be an “almighty smash to the national psyche” on a par with the Suez crisis.



At a speech in central London this morning the chair of the influential European Research Group of Conservative backbenchers lashed out at Remain campaigners.

“It has taken us some time to rediscover the opportunities of a truly global Britain and a few cave-dwellers still want to stop the process, but with 367 days to go the UK will be free,” he said.

“I want to reflect on where we came from but more importantly look forward to the world of opportunity that awaits a freshly unbound United Kingdom as we carry out the democratic will of our electorate.”

He argued that not fully leaving the EU’s institutions would be a failure on a par with the Suez crisis of 1956.

“Suez was forced upon us because of our precarious financial state after the war and the dishonesty of those who pursued the policy. The national humiliation was brought upon ourselves,” he said.

“This time it would be worse. We would be admitting as a nation that we simply did not cut the mustard, we were not up to taking our place in the world, and we were so fearful, fretful of the future, that we had to allow somebody else to do it for us."

His comments drew the ire of Remain campaign group Best for Britain, whose chief executive Eloise Todd said:

"Jacob Rees-Mogg calling anyone a 'cave dweller' shows what a joke all of this is to those political elites egging on Brexit.

"Jacob should be take a far more serious approach to the very serious concerns people have about the damage caused by Brexit. Why shouldn't people be angry at the prospect of higher food prices, fewer jobs and spending being diverted from hospitals and schools to fund Brexit departments?

"The good news is we still have a year to figure out whether all of this pain is really worth it."

RUSSIA

Elsewhere in his speech Mr Rees-Mogg also claimed the UK's response to the Salisbury nerve agent attack had been inspired by the Brexit process, saying:

"Even the prospect of freedom has made us bolder and more forthright in the defence of our national interest.

"At the same time, our allies rallied to our cause because they respect strength rather than weakness."

The UK has been joined by more than 20 countries, including the US, in expelling Russian diplomats suspected of carrying out intelligence activity on foreign soil.