Jacob Rees-Mogg took a break from talking about Brexit to spill the beans on what Christmas is like in the Rees-Mogg abode.
Speaking to Julia Hartley-Brewer on the talkRADIO breakfast show, Mr Rees-Mogg said that, although the Tory party was still divided over Brexit, he was looking forward to a lively Christmas with his wife Helena and children Peter, 11, Mary Anne, 10, Thomas, eight, Anselm, six, Alfred, two, and Sixtus, one.
“It’s a fairly traditional christmas. Loads of children, which is the fun of Christmas,” he said. “As you know, I’ve got six children, who are in an enormous degree of excitement.
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“They want to find out what their presents are going to be, they’re taking boxes and shaking them. The excitement is building at a fever pitch.
“They’ll get a stocking on Christmas morning, they’ll then open the presents before lunch, and we’ll then have lunch before settling down to the Queen’s speech.
“Before you worry that I haven’t mentioned church, we go to mass on Christmas Eve. We take the children to an early midnight service, then I often go to midnight myself later.”
Politics chat
As for the conversation over dinner, Mr Rees-Mogg said it was likely to turn political.
“When you’re around the Christmas table, do you talk politics? Is Brexit likely to crop up?” asked Hartley-Brewer.
“You’ve known me quite a long time. Have I ever had any other conversations about politics? What on earth would I be talking about if I wasn’t talking about politics?” he said.
Entertainment would come in the form of a James Bond film if Mr Rees-Mogg was in charge of the TV remote, or Peppa Pig if the kids get their way.
Hard Brexit, but no hard sprouts
Surprisingly for an ardent Eurosceptic, Mr Rees-Mogg said he’s a fan of Brussels sprouts - as long as they’re not too hard (unlike Brexit, some might say).
“I like Brussels sprouts. I’m not a great vegetable eater, I’m more meat and potatoes, but Brussels sprouts are one of the few vegetables I actually like,” he said.
“They’re not easily cooked, sometimes they’re solid like bullets, and I like them cooked a bit softer than that.”
“And what are you hoping for for Christmas?” asked Hartley-Brewer.
“There’s a lovely story about the British Ambassador to Washington, and if he’s asked what he wants he says a small box of glace fruits, when the French and German ambassadors have asked for world peace,” said Mr Rees-Mogg.
“One should be realistic about one’s desires at Christmas.
“I think a small box of glace fruits, not that I particularly like glace fruits, is more realistic than everybody suddenly agreeing on Brexit. It would be a nice idea - but as long as they were agreeing in my direction!”
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