Jacob Rees-Mogg slams “absolutely appalling” betting scandal

The candidates standing to be the MP for North East Somerset and Hanham have clashed over private schools in a debate on Points West.

Conservative candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg, Labour candidate Dan Norris, and Liberal Democrat candidate Dine Romero took part in a debate hosted by the regional BBC news programme at Keynsham Cricket Club, broadcast yesterday evening (June 24). The Labour Party’s plan to charge 20% VAT on private school fees — which are currently VAT exempt — has made the controversial topic an election issue.

Quizzed by host David Garmston about whether his family used state or private education, Sir Jacob said he was privately educated but that his children were “none of your business.” He added: “As an MP you are constantly having people coming to see you to tell you about their experiences which you then go in to support them with. It's much broader than one’s own personal experience.”

READ MORE: General Election 2024: The North East Somerset and Hanham candidates in their own words

READ MORE: A tenth of B&NES council are currently running for Parliament

He said: “I believe in private education as well as state education and I think the 20% VAT on private education will actually hit local councils because they buy private education for people with special educational needs.

“One of the best things in the Conservative Party manifesto is the proposal for 60,000 more places for children with special educational needs and another 25 schools. I have noticed, as constituency MP, that that is something where there is a need and actually where Bath and North East Somerset Council does very well.”

Asked how the state sector could cope with an influx of pupils whose parents may take them out of private education over the tax, Mr Norris said: “There’s a fall in the birth rate so that will make a difference to where people go to school in the coming years so its a good time to make this change.

“It's because I’m concerned about state education, as well as other forms of education, that we are making this change. You’ve got to make choices, politics is about making difficult choices.”

He added: “It's not spiteful. What it is about is making sure that all the talents of all our children are brought on because if we are going to compete in this world and be successful we need those talents of all those people. And we are not going to be able to put taxes up, we are going to have to grow the economy so we need those youngsters to be contributing fully.”

Asked about the challenges facing schools, Ms Romero — a councillor on Bath and North East Somerset Council and former council leader — said: “Schools are very short of money for a number of reasons.”

She added: “The Lib Dems have some really spring policies ranging from two-year-olds all the way up to 18-year-olds because we believe education is so very very important. As well as investing more in our young people we would be looking at the types of education that are on offer as well, so putting more into vocational offers as well as the academic route.”

In the debate, Mr Norris also defended his plan to be both the North East Somerset and Hanham MP and the West of England Metro Mayor for the remainder of his term in that role at the same time. He said: “Just as when I was an MP and a minister and just as Jacob Rees-Mogg has done exactly the same. Sometimes you do more than one role in your political life so I don’t think I’ve ever been accused of not having enough energy or skill to be able to do more than one political role.”

Sir Jacob has also been a minister and presents TV show Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State of the Nation on GB News. But Mr Norris insisted he did not have a grudge against Sir Jacob, who unseated him as MP for the area 14 years ago. He said: “Of course not. We are professional politicians. That isn’t part of our lives.”

Meanwhile, Sir Jacob called the Conservative’s betting scandal “absolutely appalling” and “if they are true, deeply shameful.” He said: “In the City, if you are an insider trader, you risk going to prison. It is very serious and a terrible thing people have done.

“But this is one or two people who have behaved badly, or allegations are against them and people are entitled to the assumption of innocence until proved guilty. The question is: is the economy turning a corner? Are things getting better? Should we hold steady?”

Ms Romero added: “Its one in a series of scandals thats hit the Conservative Party and really diminished the trust that people have in politics.”

The full list of candidates standing for the North East Somerset and Hanham constituency is:

• Barmy Brunch (Monster Raving Loony Party)

• Edmund Cannon (Green)

• Nicholas Hales (Independent)

• Paul MacDonnell (Reform UK)

• Dan Norris (Labour)

• Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative)

• Dine Romero (Liberal Democrat)