Jacob Rees-Mogg has faced intense backlash after posting a video urging British citizens to “do their duty” in a future war, acknowledging that “people have to die to save their country.”
The former government minister was hammered from all sides of the political spectrum on Monday, after he went on an eight-minute rant compelling the British public to ‘do their duty’ and maintain a stiff upper lip. However, his views on how far that commitment must stretch has caused uproar.
His controversial remarks led many online critics to call him completely out of touch and a “bellend.”
Jacob Rees-Mogg, who has never served in the armed forces, has not indicated that he plans to sign up and fight for his country.
Many critics share the view that Jacob Rees-Mogg should practice what he preaches by volunteering for service himself rather than demanding the ultimate sacrifice from others.
Speaking to the camera from a posh, upmarket dwelling, Jacob Rees-Mogg argued that Brits must fight or risk the country being “taken over” before declaring that some people “may have to die to save their country”—remarks that have left a very sour taste.
Jacob Rees-Mogg directly warned that Britain could face a war in the next few years, stating that citizens must be willing to join the armed forces, do their duty, and even face circumstances where they “have to die to save their country.”
Jacob Rees-Mogg went on to argue that a nation’s survival depends on this willingness to sacrifice, warning that failing to do one’s duty leads to a country being taken over—citing the fall of Ancient Rome as a historical example—while concluding that duty is a noble, though difficult, necessity.
Many critics who share that perspective have pointed out the irony of Jacob Rees-Mogg warning about a future foreign takeover, given his own frequent commentaries on GB News slamming what he describes as “porous borders” and the breakdown of UK immigration controls.
This sentiment is at the very core of the public backlash, with many critics questioning how an incredibly wealthy, titled politician like Jacob Rees-Mogg gets to dictate the duties and ultimate sacrifices of ordinary working-class citizens.
This exact point has been a major theme across social media, with many everyday citizens echoing the sentiment that people have lost the motivation to fight for a country that they feel no longer represents their identity or prioritises their interests.
Many critics share the view that the public’s real duty is to oust an out-of-touch upper class that refuses to pay its fair share, rather than fighting wars on their behalf, and critics argue that Jacob Rees-Mogg repeatedly failed to “do his duty” during his time in government, pointing to his defence of Boris Johnson during Partygate, his attempts to alter parliamentary standards rules to protect a lobbying MP, and his controversial treatment of civil servants.
