William Rees-Mogg was a posh-enough journalist of sufficient distinction to be ennobled at the age of 60. But he was not an aristocrat. Jacob Rees-Mogg is a character act.
I am all for banning "meet with" and "not for for purpose". But Rees-Mogg is trying to ban subclauses, which is horrifying.
As for imperial measurements, rejoice that Britain is the only country in the world that would not have collapsed nearly 50 years after it had started to teach in schools an entirely different system from the one that was used in ordinary life.
But it did do that. We can all give our height in the old system, or weigh potatoes in it, although I for one would pay good money to see Rees-Mogg weigh potatoes. Someone, however, needs to test the 50-year-old Rees-Mogg's precise knowledge of these things at any level higher than that. It will be pretty scanty.
He’s quite right to set some standards. Being pro imperial just means being pro British and pro freedom (as opposed to the measurement system invented and imposed by the regime of Emperor Napoleon). Rees-Mogg is an excellent choice as Leader of the Commons since his constitutional knowledge and knowledge of Parliamentary procedure is second to none. Hearing him give eloquent speeches in Parliament, filled with literary and historical references, is a glorious reminder of what Britain was like when we had an education system.
ReplyDeleteAs I said, a character act. And there it is. A much nicer on than Johnson, it must be said.
DeleteRees-Mogg doesn't understand imperial measures, you know. He can't add them up in his head. He is far too young. Test him, and you will see. But Britain has been muddling through like that for nearly 50 years.