In a stunning political mea culpa, prominent Conservative figure Jacob Rees-Mogg has openly admitted that his hardline Brexit strategy ultimately contributed to the party's catastrophic general election defeat.
The former Business Secretary conceded that pushing for a more extreme separation from Europe had disastrous consequences, driving traditional Tory voters into the arms of Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
The admission that shocked Westminster
During a candid discussion on his GB News programme, Rees-Mogg made the extraordinary confession: "We asked for too much... The lesson is if you ask for too much, you end up with nothing."
This remarkable turnaround comes from one of Brexit's most ardent champions, whose previous unwavering stance made him a darling of the Eurosceptic movement.
How Brexit fractured the Conservative vote
Political analysts suggest Rees-Mogg's admission reveals a painful truth about the 2024 election outcome. The Conservative Party's pursuit of an ultra-hard Brexit created a perfect storm that:
- Alienated moderate Conservative voters in key constituencies
- Enabled Reform UK to position itself as the true party of Brexit
- Split the right-wing vote across numerous marginal seats
- Destroyed the fragile coalition that delivered Boris Johnson's 2019 victory
The Farage factor
Rees-Mogg specifically highlighted how Reform UK, under Nigel Farage's leadership, successfully exploited the Conservatives' Brexit overreach. By claiming the Tories had betrayed the Brexit revolution, Reform siphoned off crucial support in areas that should have been Tory strongholds.
"The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result," Rees-Mogg noted, acknowledging the strategic failure.
A warning for the Conservative Party's future
This admission represents more than just post-election analysis—it serves as a stark warning to the Conservative Party as it begins its leadership contest and rebuilding process.
The fundamental miscalculation on Brexit strategy has left the party with its worst election result in modern history, losing numerous senior ministers and potentially facing years in the political wilderness.
As Rees-Mogg himself put it: "We've ended up with a large number of Labour MPs who will take us back into the European Union." The ultimate irony for the Brexiteers who wanted complete separation may be that their approach guaranteed the opposite outcome.
