JACOB Rees-Mogg claimed an SNP MP was “grumpy” during a question in the House of Commons due to the anniversary of the Battle of Flodden – which happened more than 500 years ago.
The Battle of Flodden took place on September 9, 1513 between the kingdoms of Scotland and England.
The battle was in retaliation for King Henry VII's invasion of France, during which time Scotland and France shared a defensive alliance.
Rees-Mogg made the comment in response to a scolding statement by Pete Wishart on Tory MPs not wearing face masks in the Commons. That is despite guidance from the Speaker, and Rees-Mogg saying he would wear one.
Wishart, SNP MP for Perth and North Perthshire, said there was a stark contrast between each side of the house, with most on the Government side not wearing a face mask while the opposition parties were seen wearing the coverings.
READ MORE: WATCH: Jacob Rees-Mogg jokes to Pete Wishart about Battle of Falkirk loss
Wishart said: “Our constituents are now beginning to notice what is happening here and they are dumbfounded in what they see. One side of the chamber, nearly everybody with a face mask. On the other side, practically no-one.
“It’s as if keeping our workplace and colleagues safe has now become an ideological and political position, that somehow being a Tory MP makes you exempt from contracting and spreading Covid.
“And the Leader of the House knows the score. He was at a meeting with myself on Monday, where we heard from Public Health England that there’s high levels of CO2 in this chamber. That means the air that we exhale is being confined in here, leading to increased risk.”
Wishart said the division lobbies are an “absolute and utter disgrace” and MPs are “trapped in confined spaces for several minutes”.
He asked the Commons Leader to “help us keep the staff and the people in this House safe”, and said that, at the meeting he referred to, Rees-Mogg said he would wear a face mask to encourage his colleagues.
“Tory MPs can be as cavalier as they want with their own health, but when it comes to their colleagues and the people who work in this House that should be a matter for all of us,” said Wishart.
Rees-Mogg replied: “I had a feeling the honourable gentleman would be a bit grumpy this morning because it is the anniversary of the Battle of Flodden which was not, it has to be said, Scotland’s finest hour.”
The Tory MP went on to defend his party choosing to not wear face coverings in the chamber.
He said: “The Government guidance is completely clear on when people should wear them and when people should not.
“It is said specifically in the guidance that you might want to wear one when you are in a crowded space with people you don’t normally meet. We are not in a crowded place with people we don’t normally meet, and people are right to make a judgment for themselves as to whether they will wear a face mask or not.”
He added: “Look around – the ceilings are high, the doors are open, the benches aren’t particularly full. It is perfectly reasonable not to wear a mask in this chamber and in this estate in accordance with Government guidelines, and the House authorities have done a great deal of work consistently throughout the pandemic to keep everybody safe."
READ MORE: Jacob-Rees Mogg humiliated on LBC as he fails Latin quiz miserably
Rees-Mogg also defended moves to cut Universal Credit (UC) insisting it was part of the Government’s attempt to “balance the books”.
The UK Government plans to start phasing out the £20 per week uplift from the end of September, based on individual claimants’ payment dates.
Rees-Mogg told MPs: “That was intended to be temporary to help people through the worst of the pandemic, it provided £9 billion in additional support but it was intended as a temporary measure.
“You can’t always keep temporary measures forever, we have to balance the books.”
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