Tory MP Andrew Bridgen apologises for saying Jacob Rees-Mogg is 'cleverer' than Grenfell residents
Tory MP and prominent Brexiteer Andrew Bridgen has apologised after he defended Jacob Rees-Mogg's Grenfell comments by saying the leader of the House of Commons would have survived the Grenfell blaze because he was more "clever" than the residents. He admitted he was "wrong."
In what is shaping up to be a bad PR day for the Conservative party, Bridgen appeared on BBC's PM show to defend his Tory colleague for is "uncharacteristically clumsy" comments in which he suggested victims of the fire which killed 72 people should have used "common sense" to leave the building.
Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire appeared on the BBC and said: "Jacob is a leader. He's an authority figure and what he has failed to realise is that in a life-threatening and stressful situation most people will defer to the advice of an authority figure, be that someone from the fire authority or the police,v and not come to their own conclusions."
He went on: "As we know, in regards to Grenfell that advice was flawed.
When asked by host Evan Davis if Rees-Mogg was saying he he wouldn't have died because he was "cleverer" than the people who took the fire brigade's advice, Bridgen replied:
But we want very clever people running the country, don't we Evan?
And that is a bi-product of what Jacob is. and that is why he is in a position of authority. What he is actually saying is, he would have made a better decision than the authority figures who gave that advice.
Bridgen backtracked on his comments, but it was far too late
Bridgen's comments went down like a lead balloon, with many calling them "callous"
Many people are saying it's an embarrassing day for the Conservatives
Earlier, Rees-Mogg apologised for his comments as well following intense backlash online.
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