Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg talking to UnHerd's Charlie Pickles.
Below is the full collection of our videos of Jacob Rees-Mogg being interviewed by our capitalism editor, Charlotte Pickles.
In our first clip, JRM says that MPs could rebel against the party whip on matters of permanent constitutional impact or on questions of personal morality – but in all other circumstances they should work with ministers to implement the manifesto upon which they were elected. Yes, even if it did include “idiotic” policies such as the Tory pledge to spend 0.7% of national income on overseas aid.
He also said that Tories needed to bring coherence to their policy agenda and admitted that at the last election the manifesto was an unconnected set of policies which failed to match Jeremy Corbyn’s clear offer.
He also warned against any post-Brexit cutting back of British workers’ rights in any industry where labour has little power relative to employers. He added that Conservatives should be proud of their role in acting against the awful factory conditions of the early period of the industrial revolution when, inspired by Shaftesbury, the party fulfilled its obligations to the less fortunate.
In our second video, we discuss religion. Mr Rees-Mogg, a committed Roman Catholic, confesses that he’d definitely prefer to be the Pope than Prime Minister – laughing that he’d then be “infallible”.
He described Christianity as “true”, defended the established church, and said religious belief should largely be private.
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