Yay! It's Kick Rees-Mogg Day!

[Emrys]

A storm in a teacup (with obligatory cocked pinky) is part of the fallout from yesterday's attempt at a non-apology from Boris Johnson for doing nothing wrong in his own eyes (it ends up it was all the fault of his minions - and not the adorable diminutive yellow-skinned goggles-wearing ones).

Yesterday, Jacob Rees-Mogg was on fine form as he lashed out on Iain Dale's LBC show at Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross for (uncharacteristically boldly) calling for Johnson's resignation:

Link to tweet

LBC
@LBC
'I don't think he's a big figure.'

Jacob Rees-Mogg's response to Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross calling for Boris Johnson to resign.

@IainDale | @Jacob_Rees_Mogg

[Twitter video]

He doubled down on the insult in a later interview on BBC Newsnight:

Link to tweet

BBC Newsnight
@BBCNewsnight
“Douglas Ross has always been quite a lightweight figure”

Jacob Rees-Mogg MP says the Secretary of State for Scotland “is a much more substantial and important figure in this”

#Newsnight https://bbc.in/3I0s4wB

[Twitter video]

Ridiculous and useless as he undoubtedly is, Douglas Ross can at least boast about having been elected to his position, in contrast to Secretary of State Alister Jack, who's the archetypal unelected placeman (and equally ridiculous and useless).

Rees-Mogg was unrepentant today, inventing a convention that he predictably failed to observe when he played his part in deposing Theresa May (and later lying to the Queen about proroguing parliament):

Link to tweet

kathryn samson
@STVKathryn
In an interview Jacob Rees-Mogg stands by his comments on Douglas Ross saying:
‘If you take the King’s shilling you are beholden to the crown.’

Not sure if it's a shock that Rees-Mogg appears to refuse to accept Queen Elizabeth's accession (along with decimalization), but there we have it.

It's not the sort of friendly fire-provoked open goal Nicola Sturgeon makes a habit of missing:

Link to tweet

BBC Scotland News
@BBCScotlandNews
"Even I am not as derogatory about [Douglas Ross] as his own Tory colleagues," says FM Nicola Sturgeon, referring to the "lightweight" comment from Rees-Mogg. Read more ➡http://bbc.in/34P4ip5

Live #FMQs updates ➡http://bbc.in/3Kbn3TJ

[Twitter video]

And other Scots Tories joined in the fun:

Link to tweet

Representing Border
@ITVBorderRB
NEW: Jacob Rees-Mogg 'should just go and have a long lie down... preferably not in the House of Commons'.

That's the reaction from Scottish Conservative MSP @jamiegreeneUK after JRM called Douglas Ross a 'lightweight'

[Twitter video]

True enough, he has looked inordinately comfortable in the past:


Some of the Twitter responses weren't charitable, the more repeatable of them suggesting that Rees-Mogg should recline "six foot under".

Then Welsh Labour joined the fray:

Link to tweet

Kevin Brennan MP
@KevinBrennanMP
After Jacob Rees-Mogg's remarks about the leader of the Scottish Tories being a lightweight I asked him if he could even name the Leader of the Welsh Conservatives - he couldn't!

[Twitter video]

The Commons' laughter was because the Welsh Tory leader is in fact Andrew R.T. Davies.

As we all sail merrily to hell in a Tory-steered handbasket singing "Rule Britannia", can we enliven the journey by making this a weekly event?

[Emrys]

1. On a more serious note, Scottish MP Pete Wishart utterly roasted Rees-Mogg in the Commons

Link to tweet

Pete Wishart
@PeteWishart
Business Questions today. The Scottish Tories now know the full force of the contempt that has been bestowed on the rest of Scotland for decades from their ‘former’ Westminster colleagues. Think you’ll like it….

The points he makes sum up the situation as many Scots see it - not that I believe Rees-Mogg has any more respect for English, Northern Irish and Welsh voters.

[dutch777]

2. Will be a bit ironic if a holiday party gets BJ sacked. All the failed Brexit promises I guess can

be ignored but Oh My..THAT Party! Will be very interesting where the UK will be in 5 years. Free of the EU but not meaningfully better off other than being "free" I predict.

[LeftishBrit]

3. As far as I'm concerned, every day is Kick Rees Mogg day.