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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dear Jacob Rees Mog...

265 replies

MoiraRosesMeltdown · 06/09/2017 11:16

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41172426

.....You may think that abortion is "morally indefensible", and that
"Life is sacrosanct and begins at the point of conception", even in cases or rape or incest.

You can have an opinion on this when you have a uterus, have been raped or have been abused yourself. You can never know why individual women make this heartbreaking decision. You are supposed to represent the public. Keep your insulting, patronising opinions to yourself.

Yours sincerely,
Women of the world

OP posts:
Circumlocutor · 06/09/2017 15:45

Why? It wouldn't be the first time, Circ. IDS.

I didn't even realise IDS was a Catholic. A lot of Mogg's identity seems to revolve around Catholicism though and I'm sure there must be some old school Tories who'd shudder at the prospect of someone quite so Roman being in the top job.

squishysquirmy · 06/09/2017 15:50

CSLewis: His voting record and his strong stance on disability benefits, foreign aid, welfare benefits, asylum seekers etc.

Now I do know people in real life who are economically quite conservative, yet are still compassionate, caring people - they just disagree with me sometimes about which is the best way to help those with less. But there is no nuance in JRM's stance on benefits and tax. He will always make the choice to protect the bonuses of the mega rich from tax, and he will always choose to cut the help available to those struggling, whatever the reason for them being in that position. He does not justify these positions by arguing that higher tax would drive high tax payers out of the country as some do. He seems to believe that it is inherently immoral for those with extreme wealth to subsidise those without.

He has never expressed any desire to help mothers struggling with a pregnancy they can't afford to continue, nor has he ever expressed support for schemes which might reduce unwanted pregnancies or health problems.

whoputthecatout · 06/09/2017 15:58

Not for nothing is he known as the MP for the 18th century.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 06/09/2017 16:48

Maybe the good people of Somerset are delighted that he represents their views. Such is democracy. If not they can vote him out at the next possible opportunity, and hopefully will.

By all accounts he is a very good constituency MP and I heard that from a very left leaning friend.

Collidascope · 06/09/2017 16:53

I feel like Rees Mogg has never had to deal with anyone except people like him. He's dreadful. I'm hoping that in a few years that child whom he dresses up like a mini me in ridiculous blazers and suits and drags round campaigning with him, will rebel and disappoint him horribly. Maybe get a girl pregnant, drop out of Eton, and start squatting in a coke den. Or just be gay.

scatterolight · 06/09/2017 17:02

"Presumably the mayor of London has personal beliefs too on morality as a result of his Muslim faith?"

Yes quite. I would love to see the response of people on here if Sadiq Khan was asked, and gave an honest answer, to the same questions. I expect it would be tumbleweed.

LineysRun · 06/09/2017 17:04

I always said these views would finish off Tim Farron and now it's bye bye Rees Mogg.

LineysRun · 06/09/2017 17:05

Shadow Khan would say something enthusiastic about personal choices.

Knottyash5 · 06/09/2017 17:09

What might the DUP think of working with a staunch Catholic as PM

He seems to share many of their views, but...

As for not wanting to judge others, well if he were PM he'd have the power to change things. Yes he'd have to get it through parliament, but that's not impossible. Not gay marriage, I don't think that will change, but I could see abortion rights being adversely affected and I see no reason for 650 people in a room in London to tell me what to do with my body.

Anyway, given the way some priests carry on, being against gay marriage is hypocritical in the extreme.

Notreallyarsed · 06/09/2017 17:13

I find it extremely ironic that he blathers on about life being sacrosanct while being a fully paid up member of the "we don't give a shit about anyone who isn't loaded" brigade. What is his party doing to make life easier for anyone who isn't born into privilege, what are they doing for people looking for work, trying to survive on minimum wage, having to cope with yet more cuts to disability benefits and funding for schools, hospitals and basic services?
Nothing. It's all very well him making blanket statements but he has no idea what life is like for many hundreds of thousands of people under his party's government. And he couldn't care less.

DJBaggySmalls · 06/09/2017 17:15

This is JRM's voting record;

www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24926/jacob_rees-mogg/north_east_somerset/votes

He has an abysmal record on issues that affect poor people, especially from the POV of a staunch Christian.

histinyhandsarefrozen · 06/09/2017 17:26

Can we not just say 'he's a twat' without picking out other people who might be twats too?

So much partisan shite. It's a shame.

CleopatraCatLover · 06/09/2017 17:28

He reminds me of a character straight out of a Charles Dickens novel.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 06/09/2017 17:29

So much partisan shite. It's a shame.

I agree and that's from someone who has never voted Tory in their life.

Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 06/09/2017 17:32

I find it extremely ironic that he blathers on about life being sacrosanct while being a fully paid up member of the "we don't give a shit about anyone who isn't loaded" brigade.
My feeling entirely. And what about pro-child and pro-family policies that might help these 'sacrosanct' lives be worthwhile and not one long struggle?

scrabbler3 · 06/09/2017 17:32

He's great value on panel shows but I don't want him running my country. His views are too 1940s for my taste. So - I agree with you OP.

user1471451327 · 06/09/2017 17:44

On twitter he is described alternatively as "MP for those in the 18th century who had the vote".

Jesus's teaching about the duty to support the poor and dispossessed are mainstream Christianity. His voting record on welfare www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24926/jacob_rees-mogg/north_east_somerset/votes#welfare

or on asylum www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24926/jacob_rees-mogg/north_east_somerset/votes#home are contrary to those teachings.

He was the only MP to vote against the Dubbs Amendment
covering allowing in unaccompanied child refugees with relatives in this country
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39131617

If he had been in the 1930s he would have been one of the ones opposing the Kindertransport

So it is perfectly legitimate to question the sincerity of his Christianity

StatelessPrincess · 06/09/2017 17:46

I think it's strange and naive to think that all women support abortion, they don't. His views might not be held by the majority but they aren't unusual, especially amongst religious people. Most women I know are religious and find abortion abhorrent.
You can't speak for the women of the world, sorry OP.

user1471451327 · 06/09/2017 17:49

Stateless
I would hope that those of the "abortion is abhorrent" would do something positive to support the children once they are born...or do brown refugee or disabled (or even the 3rd child of a tax credit recipient) children not matter?

squishysquirmy · 06/09/2017 17:51

Those bringing up Sadiq Khan (Why?) here is his voting record. Now I don't agree with the way he voted on everything, but he almost always voted in favour of gay rights and gay marriage, and voted against reducing the time limit for abortions back in 2008. He seems to be more concerned with improving women's rights than many other politicians, although he is not perfect and I don't agree with every position he has taken.
www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/11878/sadiq_khan/tooting/votes
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7411966.stm

StatelessPrincess · 06/09/2017 17:56

I'm assuming you think I'm talking about white Christians but I'm talking about Muslims user so most of the people I'm talking about are brown and some have been refugees too.

corythatwas · 06/09/2017 18:01

"But there is no nuance in JRM's stance on benefits and tax. He will always make the choice to protect the bonuses of the mega rich from tax, and he will always choose to cut the help available to those struggling, whatever the reason for them being in that position."

This. And what DJBaggy and user and others said. It's as if he totally ignores all the tenets of Christianity that command him to be charitable and help other people, and then seizes on something that might just give him a loophole to make life difficult for other people.

squishysquirmy · 06/09/2017 18:03

Stateless I would never force any of those women to have an abortion against their will, any more than I would force a women to give birth against her will. I know that many men and women are against abortion, and although I disagree with some of the assertions made in the op I do feel like women who are strongly opposed to abortion are at least holding that opinion from a position in which they will be directly, physically affected by such a decision. They have some skin in the game, as it were. Some men have come to the same conclusion after a lot of careful thought, but for so many men it is such an easy thing to have a strong opinion about, because their health/life will never be directly affected by an unwanted pregnancy.

Downtheroadfirstonleft · 06/09/2017 18:07

Everyone, man or woman, even JRM has a right to their opinion.

histinyhandsarefrozen · 06/09/2017 18:16

And if they're being touted as the next leader of the governing party everyone is entitled to have very strong reservations/disgust for them.