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Jacob Rees-Mogg praises Prime Minister Boris Johnson for 'going against Tory philosophy'

Lesson: Jacob Rees-Mogg (Photo by Luke Dray/Getty Images): Getty Images
Lesson: Jacob Rees-Mogg (Photo by Luke Dray/Getty Images): Getty Images

Boris Johnson has been praised for being prepared to take decisions which “go against the grain” of the Conservative Party philosophy.

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg defended the Prime Minister after Labour’s Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) suggested Mr Johnson has been a “weak leader” during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It came as Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled a new jobs retention scheme.

The Conservative Government has faced a backlash from its own parliamentary party members over recent decisions.

Mr Rees-Mogg told MPs: “We have incredibly strong and effective leadership, leadership that is prepared to take difficult decisions, leadership that is willing to take decisions that go against the grain of the philosophy of the Conservative Party.

“Why? Because in these circumstances they are the decisions necessary to safeguard the nation and to help people to save lives. So I think we have strong and effective leadership.”

Mr Rees-Mogg earlier confirmed MPs will take part in a general debate on Covid-19 following demands from Tory backbenchers for more scrutiny on Government-imposed restrictions.

Mr Rees-Mogg praised the PM (Andrew Parsons / No10 Downing Street)
Mr Rees-Mogg praised the PM (Andrew Parsons / No10 Downing Street)

The debate will take place on Monday September 28, two days before MPs will be asked to renew powers in the Coronavirus Act 2020.

The emergency legislation was approved in March in response to the Covid-19 outbreak and granted ministers, councils, police, health professionals and coroners increased controls.

Responding during business questions to his Labour opposite number Valerie Vaz, Mr Rees-Mogg also said: “I think the idea that this House is not doing its job is absurd.

“Here is regular scrutiny, regular debate and quite rightly so.”

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