A HEREFORDSHIRE MP has hit back at comments made by MP Jacob Rees-Mogg in the wake of his explosive letter to Boris Johnson.

Hereford and South Herefordshire MP Jesse Norman made national headlines yesterday (June 6), when he publicly announced that he had no confidence in Boris Johnson's leadership ahead of a crunch vote to decide the Prime Minister's future.

Writing that he could see no circumstance in which he could serve in a government led by Johnson, Mr Norman levelled a series of criticisms at the Prime Minister.

In his letter, he accused Mr Johnson of presiding over a culture of casual law-breaking at 10 Downing Street during Covid, putting the Union gravely at risk, and lacking a mission, while branking the Rwanda policy 'ugly' and accusing him of trying to import elements of a presidential system of government that is entirely foreign to our constitution and law.

Mr Norman also said sensible planning had been replaced by empty rhetoric.

"As a former Energy Minister I can tell you that there is, for example, zero chance that this or any government will be able to build a nuclear power station a year at any point in the next decade," he wrote.

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His letter drew criticism from prominent MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who referred to Mr Norman being removed as an energy minister by Boris Johnson in a Cabinet reshuffle while speaking to Kay Burley yesterday.

“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,” he said.

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.”

But Mr Norman has responded this morning, publicly disagreeing with Mr Rees-Mogg.

"Just for the record, the direct opposite is true," he said.

"While I was at BEIS the Government massively expanded offshore wind and renewables, commissioned Hinkley Point C and put in place the UK Industrial Strategy."