Jacob Rees-Mogg’s attack on Andy Burnham backfires as viewers point to his own record

Jacob Rees-Mogg didn’t hold back as he delivered his verdict on Prime Minister Andy Burnham during a recent broadcast of The Moggologue on GB News.

Reacting to Burnham’s first major television interview with Laura Kuenssberg, the former Conservative minister argued the new PM had failed to outline a coherent programme for government.

“So, the prime minister finally agreed to a little inquisition,” Rees-Mogg said. “He finally went before Laura Kuenssberg, one of the great interviewers in the country, and he said absolutely nothing. He clearly has no plan about what he wants to do, or how he’s going to afford it.”

Rees-Mogg went on to attack what he characterised as a series of expensive, uncosted pledges. Listing proposed spending commitments including £18 billion for social care, £18.8 billion for council housing, £22.7 billion to nationalise Thames Water, £14.1 billion for defence, £12.4 billion to raise tax thresholds and £8 billion to restore overseas aid, he argued that economic growth could only come through lower taxes and reduced public spending.

“In order to improve people’s lives, we need growth and to cut expenditure,” he insisted.

The former MP then, inevitably, turned his attention to environmental policies, claiming they were holding back the economy.

“We will never grow the economy with the mad energy policies that we’ve got that are making us cold and poor,” he said, before mocking eco-efficient homes in Manchester as becoming unbearably hot during summer.

The GB News host concluded by arguing that “the failure of socialism” could only be overcome through “capitalism, growth, lower taxes and less spending.”

While many GB News viewers echoed his criticisms, others questioned whether Rees-Mogg was well placed to accuse another politician of lacking a plan.

One user posted an image of Rees-Mogg alongside Nigel Farage clinking mugs, captioned: “And then they voted to get poorer on purpose, while we get even richer.”

“You are a pathetic, shameless hypocrite,” one wrote. “The former Tory Brexit opportunities minister had no plans on how to make Brexit a success and begged British people to come to him with some ideas. #BrexitHasFailed #ToryBrexitShysters.”

Another onlooker asked: “What have you ever achieved from your time in parliament and government?”

Several commenters also referenced Rees-Mogg’s role in the European Research Group (ERG), the influential faction of Conservative MPs that campaigned for a hard Brexit and played a major part in shaping the party’s approach under Theresa May.

“What better comment can one expect from an ERG member?” wrote one viewer.

Another questioned whether Rees-Mogg had reflected on the Conservatives’ electoral collapse, commenting: “Rees-Mogg, why do you think you personally lost you seat & your party was so heavily defeated in the General Election? Furthermore why is a party of mainly former Tories & chancers like Reform pushing you into 3rd place in all the polls? As for the PM give him time.”

So while the outspoken former politician continues to present himself as a leading critic of Labour from the GB News studio, many viewers remain unconvinced by attacks centred on economic competence, arguing that his own record in government, particularly on Brexit and the Conservatives’ stewardship of the economy, leaves him open to precisely the same criticisms he now levels at others.