Tories are lying to the voters and themselves over Brexit
In the Commons this week, Jacob Rees-Mogg, famously the gentleman, slandered a studious and respected think-tanker and some identifiable Treasury officials. He did this by repeating a piece of hearsay, echoing it back to the colleague he’d heard it from, so that parliament and the public could hear it too. Mr Rees-Mogg’s question showed signs of careful preparation and there will be speculation that the pair (the colleague was a minister) had colluded in this exchange. Perhaps. The involuntary wince on the face of the Brexit secretary David Davis spoke volumes. The story was entirely false. The House has now heard an apology from Rees-Mogg’s ministerial colleague. But from Gentleman Jake? From the man who published the story? Only slippery evasion.
In parliament on Thursday Rees-Mogg asked Steve Baker, a junior Brexit minister, a question. Would Baker confirm that Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, had told Baker over lunch that Treasury officials “had deliberately developed an impact assessment model to show that all options other than staying in the customs union were bad, and that officials intended to use this to influence policy”.
From the dispatch box Baker replied. This was “essentially correct”. He fumbled as Labour opponents challenged him, and said he was only confirming that he had heard the allegation. He added that it would be “extraordinary” if true.
Hours later, Prospect magazine, which had hosted the lunch, posted the audio recording. Mr Grant had said no such thing. Yesterday morning Baker apologised. Rees-Mogg has not.
He should. Instead he issued a volley of irritable tweets last night suggesting (incorrectly) that Treasury officials would have been breaking the rules if they talked to research institutes, unless bidden by ministers. Senior civil servants talk routinely to research institutes; it’s their job. He then suggested the chancellor may have been freelancing. One more person to whom he now owes an apology.