Johnson is under heavy pressure within his own party due to the many reports of lockdown parties in which he and his employees were involved. An investigative report on ‘Partygate’, published last week, blames him for failing leadership.
The appointment of 52-year-old Jacob Rees-Mogg as secretary of state for the opportunities presented by Brexit seems to fit into Johnson’s efforts to bring the party back together. Many backbenchers within the Conservative party had asked the government to highlight the positive aspects of Britain’s departure from the European Union.
The eccentric Rees-Mogg is considered an influential member of the very conservative wing in the Tory party. He had previously been noted for trying to appease outraged British fishermen about the consequences of the Brexit deal. “What matters is that we have our fish back. They are now British fish and therefore better and happier fish,” he declared in parliament more than a year ago.
Until now, Rees-Mogg was the party leader of the ruling party in the British House of Commons. He is succeeded as “Leader of the House” by Mark Spencer.