ARCH Brexiteer Jacob Rees Mogg caused a storm on Twitter by calling on the UK to be "as difficult as possible" if a Brexit delay leaves it "stuck in the EU" into the next parliamentary term.
The Tory MP and leader of the pro-Leave European Research Group said the UK should take advantage of remaining in the EU longer than planned to "veto any increase in the budget, obstruct the putative EU army and block Mr Macron's integrationist schemes".
If a long extension leaves us stuck in the EU we should be as difficult as possible. We could veto any increase in the budget, obstruct the putative EU army and block Mr Macron’s integrationist schemes.
— Jacob Rees-Mogg (@Jacob_Rees_Mogg) 5 April 2019
But critics hit back saying the Brexiteer had shot his own cause in the foot by suggesting that the UK could hold some sway in EU affairs and was a "full-on admission of the huge levels of power we have always held".
First Minister Nicola took a swipe at the tweet, saying he had previously suggested we had "no power to do any of these things".
How strange - isn’t this the same guy who said the UK had no power to do any of these things in the EU and that’s why we had to leave. https://t.co/FTLD670HBH
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) 5 April 2019
He was challenged by LBC radio presenter James O'Brien to explain why hardline Eurosceptics had always portrayed the EU to voters as an institution "over which we exercise next to no influence whatsoever".
Jacob,
— Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) 5 April 2019
If we have a long extension...
We should do what’s in the British interest - as we always have done within the EU.
Your tweet is a full-on admission of the huge levels of power that we have always held within the EU.
Currently discussing Jacob Rees Mogg's new found faith in the UK's ability to exercise enormous power in Brussels on @LBC. Do join us.
— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) 5 April 2019
Finally Mr Mogg realises how powerful our voice has always been in Europe and removing voice, vote and veto would be a dereliction of duty.
— BREXIT BROKE BRITAIN #RescindA50 (@HawkwindsGong) 5 April 2019
But let's use that power wisely and in the national interest, let's not play childish games or nanny may punish you. pic.twitter.com/WxWyhHeYO9
😳
— #HoldThemToAccount #LetUsDecide #OptionToRemain (@AccountableUK) 5 April 2019
Finally Rees Mogg stops lying and admits U.K. always had the power to veto EU initiatives we didn’t support.
Clearly Brexit was never about “taking back control”; we always had it!
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel