Jacob Rees-Mogg has been told to explain himself or resign after a video showed him laughing and joking about an alleged Christmas party at 10 Downing Street.
MP Jacob Rees-Mogg
Council leader Kevin Guy said the North East Somerset MP was “laughing in the face of residents” who “cancelled their plans, stayed inside, and stayed alone” while the government “flouted its own rules”.
The video showed Mr Rees-Mogg, the Leader of the House of Commons, joke to the gathered crowd at a Christmas party at the Institute of Economic Affairs last Monday, 6th December: “I see we’re all here obeying regulations, aren’t we?
“And this party is not going to be investigated by the police in a year’s time.
“You are all very carefully socially distanced – we have moved, I am pleased to tell you, back to the Imperial system: I notice you are all two inches away from each other which is, as I understand it, what regulations require.”
Councillor Guy, the leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, said the incident was an “absolute disgrace”.
“Jacob Rees-Mogg must answer to his constituents,” he said.
“The video of him laughing and joking about the party is a national scandal. It’s an absolute disgrace.
“While residents across Bath and North East Somerset were alone, Jacob Rees-Mogg and his Government were out partying and flouting lockdown rules. This is no joke.
“I have had countless residents get in touch with me and my colleagues over the past two years desperate for help. Many spent last Christmas alone. Many others couldn’t say goodbye to their loved ones as they lay in hospital dying.
“Jacob Rees-Mogg is laughing in the face of residents across Bath and North East Somerset.
“I am calling on him to explain himself to the people of North East Somerset and if he is unwilling to do that then he should do the honourable thing and resign.”
Nationally, Labour has called for Mr Rees-Mogg to apologise for the video.
Allegra Stratton has stepped down as the government’s spokesperson for the Cop26 climate summit after a separate video showed her joking about the Downing Street Christmas party last year.
A top civil servant has now been tasked with investigating alleged Christmas parties held during lockdown last year.
Mr Rees-Mogg has been approached for comment.
Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter
