Jacob Rees-Mogg brands angry Tory MPs ‘moaning Minnies’ amid benefit cuts row

Jacob Rees-Mogg has hit out at Tory MPs complaining about the direction of the government as ‘moaning Minnies’.

Liz Truss’s first few weeks as PM have been overshadowed by a row over the mini-budget, a U-turn on the top rate of income tax, and a growing row over her refusal to confirm that benefits will be cut in real terms.

A number of senior conservative MPs have publicly called on Truss to quash reports coming out of No 10 that benefits will only increase in line with earnings instead of inflation, meaning millions of low-income households could be left out of pocket.

Speaking after the PM's maiden party conference speech in Birmingham, Rees-Mogg – who is reportedly in favour of not cutting benefits – dismissed reports of anger and division in the Tory backbenches.

“What we need is good, Conservative policies, which is what [Truss] is offering,” he told Sky News.

When asked about his own position on benefits rising with inflation, Rees-Mogg said he was “never at odds with the prime minister”.

He added: “As far as I'm aware the decision hasn't been made...

“But governments discuss decisions before they're made and then they're made and they get supported.”

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Asked what the PM can do to heal divisions, he told Sky News: "I’m not sure there is anger. There are always some moaning Minnies", adding: "That's what backbenchers do."

Earlier, Labour prime minister Gordon Brown became the latest political heavyweight to weigh in on the row over the uprating of benefits.

He warned of a “national uprising” if the government opts not to increase benefits in line with inflation, while the issue has prompted backbench revolts and signs of splits even within the Truss government.

Truss and chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng have so far not ruled out such a real-terms cut to benefits, as the pair seek out ways to shave billions off government spending following last month’s tax-cutting mini-budget.

Kwarteng has refused to give his opinion on the issue but hinted at his true feelings when he told a fringe event: “Compassionate conservatism I thought was a good phrase and it’s something that I always think about in terms of policy and I think we do have a duty to look after very vulnerable people.”

Work and pensions secretary Chloe Smith reiterated the government line on Wednesday, saying a statutory review takes place in October and “can’t be done yet because I need to use the latest data”.

But on Tuesday, leader of the House Penny Mordaunt became the most high-profile member of the Truss top team to back calls from Tory MPs to uprate benefits with inflation, straining the limits of cabinet collective responsibility.

Former work and pensions secretary Sir Iain Duncan Smith also said “it doesn’t make sense” not to uprate benefits in line with inflation, arguing that universal credit and growth go hand in hand, as he claimed the group “most likely to spend the money that you give them” are people on benefits.