Jacob Rees-Mogg dredged up the history of the British Empire to criticise the Civil Service and got schooled into the 19th century
TV presenter and occasional MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has shared with his viewer an argument for stripping back the Civil Service, and it involved what passes for facts and figures on GB News.
Jacob Rees-Mogg MP “ If we could rule a quarter of the world’s population with 175 Foreign Office staff there is no reason we cannot run our island nation today with 40,000 civil servants” pic.twitter.com/6O7gY30opJ
— Sangita Myska (@SangitaMyska) August 9, 2023
His State of the Nation show is currently being investigated by Ofcom for breaches of impartiality rules, along with three other GB News shows, but they might want to take a quick look at his accuracy while they’re there.
Here’s the full segment, complete with rebuttal from Michael Walker.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, "If we could rule a quarter of the world's population with 175 Foreign Office staff. There's no reason why we cannot run our island nation today with 40,000 civil servants."@michaeljswalker repeatedly calls out JRM until the show ends pic.twitter.com/GfEdNx01dM
— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) August 9, 2023
Twitter stepped in with a little fact-checking – plus a side of mockery.
1.
A complete myth and @Jacob_Rees_Mogg should be embarrassed that he's spreading fake history.
The actual figure (in the UK) was at least 40,000 civil servants at the turn of the 19th/20th century. But that does not include civil servants in the Empire. Total closer to 120,000 https://t.co/97RcYfHgzn
— Otto English (@Otto_English) August 9, 2023
2.
History has never been Rees-Mogg's strong point. Throw in a financial incentive to say stupid things, and it's like the enlightenment never happened.
— Robert Saunders (@redhistorian) August 10, 2023
3.
Only in the UK could a man cosplaying as Lord Snooty end up in parliament.
— The Jase 🐶 🎸 🎥 (@jasemonkey) August 10, 2023
4.
Whoever paid for his education needs a refund. https://t.co/ZiWVIQ6zwR
— Anna Turley 🌹🐝💙🇺🇦 (@annaturley) August 9, 2023
5.
british empire historians today: https://t.co/QDlUqJIxVQ pic.twitter.com/gCMdJ84EjV
— the hot dam historian (@varsha_venkat_) August 10, 2023
6.
Astounding that anyone thinks JRM is actually smart when he comes out with tripe like this.
— bass4themasses 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈 (@bass4themasses) August 9, 2023
7.
I too generate my figures from atmospheric noise https://t.co/dJbo66ks6X
— Andrew Papenheim ⍰ (@apapenheim) August 9, 2023
8.
“If only people with dark skin, women and the poor knew their place we would be the glorious Empire we were 150 years ago”. https://t.co/rmlQEuGdwW
— Hallie Rubenhold (@HallieRubenhold) August 9, 2023
9.
Yup! Of which, famously only 5 fought the Battle of Britain to keep the whole
Luftwaffe at bay!— H (@Maxiedoggie2026) August 9, 2023
10.
“But why is studying history important?” you may ask… https://t.co/yRDd3CFMPL
— Charlie Thomas (@CThomasJAMH) August 10, 2023
11.
I’m sorry, no one is interested in administrative advice from the guy who brought his nanny to campaign with him https://t.co/jZlDPhZ3PA
— Rajan Narang (@rdnarang) August 10, 2023
12.
He might want to crack open his HR manual and add slavery, brutal violence, and pillaging as vital skills.
It’s frightening that we let a Victorian ghost have so much say in this country. https://t.co/XT2GzqzLtQ
— Darshan Sanghrajka – @chiefchimpanzee on Threads (@chiefchimpanzee) August 9, 2023
We’ll let Sangita Myska have the last word.
If you spout nonsense with a posh accent you can get away with anything it seems
— Sangita Myska (@SangitaMyska) August 9, 2023
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Jacob Rees-Mogg walked himself right into a Harriet Harman-shaped trap
Source Sangita Myska Image Screengrab