Jacob Rees-Mogg mocked after being forced to cancel literary festival appearance by 'powers that be'

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.

As you can imagine, people didn't have too much sympathy for Rees-Mogg, with many speculating on who the mysterious 'powers that be'

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.

More: Image of Jacob Rees-Mogg lying down in Commons projected onto Edinburgh Castle