Jacob Rees-Mogg labelled Matt Hancock a “successful genius” after texts revealed on Wednesday suggested the prime minister thought he was “totally f*cking hopeless”.
Dominic Cummings published messages from Boris Johnson right before this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions, causing quite a stir as the PM was trapped in the Chamber.
The texts from the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic show the prime minister called PPE a disaster and was considering replacing Matt Hancock with Michael Gove.
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Rees-Mogg said: “The prime minister was a world leader at the G7 with an amazing list of successes to his name from that billion vaccine doses next year for developing countries.
“The vaccine that will mainly go out will of course be the Oxford vaccine.
“Why? Because the Oxford vaccine is being done at cost price, because of a deal so successfully done by my right honourable friend the secretary of state for health and social care, the brilliant, the one and only successful genius who has been running health over the last 15 months, and he has done so much to make not only the country, but the world, safer.”
Twitter was quick to react to the passionate speech.
“successful genius”
— UK is with EU (@ukiswitheu) June 17, 2021
Jacob Rees-Mogg on Matt Hancock
“totally fucking hopeless”
Boris Johnson on Matt Hancock
Which Tory is telling the truth?
Simon Gosden said: “Jacob Rees-Mogg pays tribute to Matt Hancock…
“And they say there’s no such thing as right wing comedy.”
“The brilliant, the one and only successful genius who has been running health over the last 15 months” Jacob Rees-Mogg pays tribute to Matt Hancock……
— Simon Gosden. Esq. #fbpe 3.5% ??????☠️?? (@g_gosden) June 18, 2021
and they say there’s no such thing as right wing comedy????
pic.twitter.com/mfy2FypOgu
Reactions
Another person said: “A genius!!!!!! That makes Johnson look very bad if that’s the case. Who wrote this comedy script?”
“After Jacob Rees-Mogg hails Matt Hancock as a ‘successful genius’, Oxford Dictionary publishers call urgent crisis meeting,” another tweet read.
Guess what. Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg has hailed Health Secretary Matt Hancock as a “successful genius” – after he was allegedly branded “fxxxxxx hopeless” by the PM. A genius!!!!! 🙂 that makes Johnson look very bad if that’s the case. Who wrote this comedy script?
— Henrik ?? (@br_nning) June 17, 2021
After Jacob Rees-Mogg hails Matt Hancock as a ‘successful genius’, Oxford Dictionary publishers call urgent crisis meeting.
— Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) June 17, 2021
Roger Quimbly joked: “Matt Hancock is a successful genius in the same way that Donald Trump was a stable one.”
“Does he think he is the compere of some crappy variety show or something?,” another user asked.
Matt Hancock is a successful genius in the same way that Donald Trump was a stable one.
— Mr Roger Quimbly (@RogerQuimbly) June 17, 2021
Does he think is the compere of some crappy variety show or something?! https://t.co/5Cv688KX6p
— Eleri Tudor ???????????3.5% (@EleriTudor) June 17, 2021
Another chipped in: “Well, well, well. There is Hancock’s mum and this d*ck on one side, and the rest of us on the other.”
“He sounds like he’s introducing some dodgy act on a tv talent show. Amazing,” Stuart Hobson said.
Well, well, well. There is Hancock’s Mum and this dick on one side and the rest of us on the other. https://t.co/pzPWAgFaHZ
— Wilson (@RonnieWils4444) June 17, 2021
He sounds like he’s introducing some dodgy act on a tv talent show. Amazing https://t.co/9ZIQs7KWpG
— Stuart Hobson (@Tannerslad) June 17, 2021
Effie Stevenson is now wondering how Hancock will be described today.
“Hancock, from “useless” to “genius” in just 24 hours. What will he be by tmr? Clueless & world beating,” Effie said.
“Is it something they teach at Eton? To be so blinkered as to agree with/support one of their ‘team’ no matter what the truth or consequence?,” someone else asked.
Hancock: from “useless” to “genius” in just 24 hours.
— Effie (@EffieStevenson) June 17, 2021
What will he be by tmr? Clueless & world beating. https://t.co/hrpXYPX7xd
Is it something they teach at Eton?
— MAnness (@MAnness2013) June 17, 2021
To be so blinkered as to agree with/support one of their ‘team’ no matter what the truth or consequence? https://t.co/b0cL0YlnNg
Related: ‘Hopeless Hancock, feckless Johnson’: Reactions to Cummings text leaks
Cummings publishes WhatsApps from Boris as PM heads to Commons for PMQs