MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has suggested that Hereford and South Herefordshire MP Jesse Norman has “a bone to pick” with Boris Johnson after the Conservative MP wrote a scathing open letter detailing the Prime Minister’s perceived failings.

In his letter Mr Norman, who has long been a supporter of Boris Johnson, laid heavy criticism at the Prime Minister's door, saying he could see no circumstance in which he could serve in a government led by Johnson.

ALSO READ:

Speaking to Sky News on Monday, Mr Rees-Mogg referred to Mr Norman being removed as an energy minister by Boris Johnson in a Cabinet reshuffle.

He said: “Jesse points out that he was energy minister – unfortunately, no proper energy plan was developed so Mr Norman must take responsibility for that. He doesn’t do so in his letter.”

After host Kay Burley pointed out Mr Norman’s criticism of Mr Johnson’s apparent sense of vindication from Sue Gray’s partygate report, Mr Rees-Mogg said: “The use of the word grotesque is a clear overstatement.

“Mr Norman is a distinguished figure and historian and you would have thought he would weigh his words more carefully, but he seems to have a bone to pick, not just with the Prime Minister, but with a whole range of Government policy.

Mr Rees-Mogg accused Mr Norman of “deciding that he simply doesn’t support the Conservative manifesto and drive”, adding: “I’m surprised that Mr Norman is disassociating himself from a manifesto on which he was so clearly elected.”