Just days after becoming the internet's favourite meme for literally taking a lie down in the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg has been forced to cancel an appearance promoting his book.
On Friday evening the Tory MP took to Twitter to announce that he would no longer be showing his face at the Henley Literary Festival where he was due to speak about his new book The Victorians — Twelve Titans Who Forged Britain, which apparently isn't very good at all.
In his tweet, Rees-Mogg blamed 'the powers that be' on the cancellation, writing:
I am sorry to be unable to fulfil this and other commitments related to my book. Unfortunately, I have been told that I am not allowed to do them by the powers that be.
I am sorry to be unable to fulfil this and other commitments related to my book. Unfortunately I have been told tha… https://t.co/gT7Mf64AQo— Jacob Rees-Mogg (@Jacob Rees-Mogg) 1567804000
As you can imagine, people didn't have too much sympathy for Rees-Mogg, with many speculating on who the mysterious 'powers that be'
@Jacob_Rees_Mogg Nasty Cummings won't let you go to Henley with your Winnie the Pooh book. That's sad. 😭— David Rushent #NotMyCountry #NotMyPM (@David Rushent #NotMyCountry #NotMyPM) 1567804226
What a snowflake! https://t.co/UIWlIKGKU2— James Oh Brien (@James Oh Brien) 1567840918
@Jacob_Rees_Mogg What a shame, I had my organic free range rotten quail eggs already to throw.— James@curtisuk (@James@curtisuk) 1567804643
@Jacob_Rees_Mogg My novelty history gift book with dicks all over the front is about 10,000 places higher in the Am… https://t.co/YNsfqPmga3— James Felton (@James Felton) 1567842668
@Jacob_Rees_Mogg https://t.co/9lzw7J6art— Femi (@Femi) 1567804084
@Jacob_Rees_Mogg I'm sure the 2 people that were going to attend will be devastated .— PoliticsIsPrimitive (@PoliticsIsPrimitive) 1567804297
@Jacob_Rees_Mogg https://t.co/CEztoqaZRy— Kishan Devani BEM 💙 (@Kishan Devani BEM 💙) 1567804321
@Jacob_Rees_Mogg Given the reviews it’s probably for the best.— Andrew James (@Andrew James) 1567804092
@Jacob_Rees_Mogg “The powers that be”. Who could you mean?— Paddy Briggs 🇪🇺 Woke, European and proud of it (@Paddy Briggs 🇪🇺 Woke, European and proud of it) 1567804521
Interestingly the official statement on the Henley Standard website cited a 'conflict of interest' over Rees-Mogg's forced cancellation. They wrote:
Jacob Rees-Mogg has cancelled his sell-out appearance at this year’s Henley Literary Festival.
The prominent Brexiteer was due to speak about his new book, The Victorians — Twelve Titans Who Forged Britain, at Christ Church in Reading Road on October 4.
Organisers said he could no longer attend due to a “conflict of interest” with his new cabinet position.
The MP for North East Somerset was appointed Leader of the Commons following Boris Johnson’s election as leader of the Conservative party and Prime Minister in July.
The festival said ticket holders had been notified.