Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg’s teenage son leapt to his defence when disgraced former cabinet minister Matt Hancock made a joke about him during a speech to schoolboys at Eton.
Hancock, who was Health Secretary during the pandemic, told his audience that Sir Jacob was “not a good politician” - according to The Times Diary.
That prompted 16-year-old Peter Rees-Mogg, who was in the audience, to take to the floor to defend his father as “a great man”, before adding: “Especially as he remained loyal to his wife”.
Hancock resigned as health secretary in June 2021 after footage emerged of him kissing his aide Gina Coladangelo during a time of strict Covid rules.
The former health secretary was pictured in CCTV footage embracing Ms Coladangelo, then an aide at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
In announcing his resignation, he said he owed it to the public to “be honest when we have let them down as I have done”.
At the time of the footage, the country was in the middle of Step 2 of the lockdown roadmap which meant that non-essential shops were open but hospitality businesses were closed.
Social distancing was still in force and people could not socialise indoors with anyone not in their household or support bubble.
Mr Hancock left his wife, with whom he had three children, for Ms Coladangelo after the affair became public knowledge.
He has since sought to forge a career on reality TV, with appearances on Channel 4’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!
Speaking to The Telegraph, Sir Jacob said: “I think Peter was brave to stand up in front of hundreds of boys to take on a senior figure.
“It shows backbone and from my point of view admirable loyalty.”
