Jacob Rees-Mogg compared Boris Johnson as prime minister to North Korea and everyone is confused

Could it be that all is not well in Brexitville?

As Boris Johnson looks set to be elected leader of the Conservative Party – and become Britain’s next prime minister – it seems that there is no love lost between Johnson and a prominent Brexiteer.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the European Research Group (a pro-Brexit group of conservative MPs) appeared on Good Morning Britain this morning. Rees-Mogg, who is publicly backing Johnson for leader, was asked if he’d been offered a job in Johnson’s cabinet.

Rees-Mogg laughed, but then replied:

No, I don’t think there are any vacancies in Pyongyang, so I’m not holding my breath.

On Twitter, people were confused, asking:

Did Jacob Rees-Mogg just compare a Boris Johnson premiership to North Korea?

It’s unclear exactly what Rees-Mogg meant by the comment, which seems as though it was intended as a slight on Johnson. This is odd because, just weeks ago, Johnson and Rees-Mogg were side by side speaking out against Theresa May’s doomed Brexit deal. Rees-Mogg also backed Johnson for leader not long ago.

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Rees-Mogg is known for his odd turns of phrase. After all, he tweets in Latin practically as often as he tweets in English. But it's certainly strange, even for Rees-Mogg, to compare an ally's premiership to a murderous dictatorship.

Though, appearing on LBC shortly after, Rees-Mogg appeared to backpeddle, saying:

I will be happy to help Boris any way I can.

Whatever the reason behind the dig (or the backtrack) it seems that Johnson is going to have his work cut out uniting Brexiteers as he attempts to reset the Brexit process.

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