Jacob Rees-Mogg

Minister adds climate change to role after Liz Truss fails to hire dedicated energy minister.

If we were to have a ‘one in, one out’ or ‘one in, two out’ rule [where a piece of regulation is scrapped for every new one instituted], you would end up excluding net zero, as we previously excluded EU regulation, and then you’re tinkering at the edges because you’re common sense dictates that if the Meteorological Office cannot forecast the next season’s weather with any success it is ambitious to predict what will happen decades ahead. Perhaps one day the world will end, giving the last group to predict it the satisfaction of being right – but as many have been wrong so far it does not seem wise to make public policy on the back of these fears. A former No 10 adviser said: “I always think it’s better with the devil you know with Tory MPs and we might just be about to find out. Unfortunately, the climate is now what’s at stake. It is understood he had no problem in working with Rees-Mogg but wanted to continue promoting net zero.

Mr Rees-Mogg has courted controversy over his long-running campaign to encourage civil servants to stop working from home.

Throughout his political career, Mr Rees-Mogg has largely espoused free market views and called for de-regulation, which he referenced in his opposition to the European Union. He was most recently described as owning “less than 13%” of the business but disclosed plans to reduce his stake to 5% by 2027. Mr Rees-Mogg stepped down as chief executive of the business when he was first elected a member of parliament for North East Somerset in 2010. Mr Rees-Mogg was brought up in a family steeped in the Conservative Party – his late father William Rees-Mogg was the editor of The Times newspaper for 14 years until 1981, before being made a life peer of the party seven years later. The youngster, who was being driven in his father’s Rolls-Royce at the time, professed his love of money and how he enjoyed attending shareholder meetings. Business leaders considered Mr Kwarteng to be a capable pair of hands as he tackled a raft of hefty challenges, ranging from supply disruption to rampant energy price inflation during his tenure as business secretary.

Jacob Rees-Mogg was named as the UK's Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, a crucial role in charge of the on-going energy ...

Green businesses and investors say prospect of green energy sceptic as cabinet minister in charge does not inspire confidence.

But close associates say he changed his mind while in office, earlier this year taking a strong stance in favour of renewables as a solution to the Ukraine-related rise in energy prices. He takes the brief at a time of unprecedented crisis for the UK’s energy industry, and for bill-payers, both domestic and in business. Dave Timms, head of political affairs at Friends of the Earth, said: “Extracting more fossil fuels is a false solution to the energy crisis. Rebecca Newsom, head of politics at Greenpeace UK, said: “Rees-Mogg is the last person who should be in charge of the energy brief, at the worst possible moment. And I think the cost of it is probably unaffordable.” An investor in oil and coal mining through Somerset Capital Management, the fund management firm he co-founded and still benefits from financially, Rees-Mogg has many times voiced climate denialism – even to the extent of misrepresenting climate science.

JACOB Rees-Mogg is to oversee a revolution in energy policy for Liz Truss which could see many of Boris Johnson's previous Net Zero goals ditched in favour ...

As previously revealed by Express.co.uk, Mr Rees-Mogg, who was Boris Johnson’s Brexit Opportunities minister, has been handed the role of Business Secretary which puts him in charge of resolving the energy crisis. However, it is understood that a new energy cap policy costing £130 billion is to be brought in to prevent bills from rising over the winter. It is understood that he and the new Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng have been in discussions with the energy supply industry to end the current embargo on new oil and gas exploration.

The former minister for Brexit opportunities has taken on the role from Kwasi Kwarteng, who has been promoted to Chancellor. Rees-Mogg is one of the most high- ...

More recently, he courted controversy for his lax attitude towards official Covid rules, including crossing from one lockdown tier area to another to attend a Latin mass. It is thought he was kept out of the spotlight for the rest of the election campaign as a result. A staunch Brexiteer, he was a key ally of Boris Johnson during his time as prime minister, staying loyal to the former leader to the last.

Newly appointed business secretary, who has previously questioned the UK's net zero drive, will oversee energy and industrial strategy.

But everything that Jacob Rees-Mogg has said on energy is stuck in the past.” [Terms of use,](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/user-policies-a6184151.html) [Cookie policy](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/cookie-policy-a6184186.html) and [Privacy notice.](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html) “No government that’s remotely serious about tackling the twin climate and nature emergencies would even contemplate putting Jacob Rees-Mogg in charge of that portfolio,” said Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion. “We’re not trying to become net zero tomorrow. [Privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en) and [Terms of service](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en) apply. “2050 is a long way off,” Mr Rees-Mogg told LBC at the time. Ed Matthew, campaigns director at independent climate change think tank E3G, said: “A Business Secretary who doesn’t understand we are in the midst of a green energy revolution or that this is the best way to bring down energy bills and generate economic growth would leave the business community in complete despair. Ed Miliband, shadow secretary of state for climate change and net zero for Labour, said: “We need an energy secretary for the 2020s not the 1820s. [said ](https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/oil-gas-north-sea-rees-mogg-b2050519.html)Boris Johnson’s government wanted [“every last drop” of oil and gas ](https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/oil-gas-north-sea-rees-mogg-b2050519.html)from the North Sea dismissing warnings that a renewed push for fossil fuels would ruin the UK’s chances of achieving net zero by 2050. [net-zero sceptic views ](https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/oil-gas-north-sea-rees-mogg-b2050519.html)but will now lead the department responsible for the country’s strategy to reach net zero emissions by mid-century. [Saphora Smith](/author/saphora-smith) Comments [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/oil-gas-north-sea-rees-mogg-b2050519.html), who [once ](http://web.archive.org/web/20181219223952/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/10398635/Climate-change-alarmism-caused-our-high-energy-prices.html)blamed high energy prices on “climate change alarmism”, has been [appointed ](https://twitter.com/10DowningStreet/status/1567245923255816193)energy secretary in Liz Truss’ new cabinet to the widespread dismay of environmental campaigners. Climate activists and opposition politicians described the Conservative MP’s appointment as secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy as “deeply worrying.”

"Liz Truss has put fossil fuel-loving, deregulation-obsessed Jacob Rees-Mogg in charge of both energy and climate crises."

Appointing him to the brief now suggests the Tories have learned nothing from some years of energy policy incompetence. “Liz Truss has put fossil fuel-loving, deregulation-obsessed Jacob Rees-Mogg in charge of both energy and climate crises – he is not a serious person and this is not a serious government. He tweeted: “It is an honour to be appointed as the new secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy.

Mr Rees-Mogg has courted controversy over his long-running campaign to encourage civil servants to stop working from home.

Throughout his political career, Mr Rees-Mogg has largely espoused free market views and called for de-regulation, which he referenced in his opposition to the European Union. He was most recently described as owning “less than 13%” of the business but disclosed plans to reduce his stake to 5% by 2027. Mr Rees-Mogg stepped down as chief executive of the business when he was first elected a member of parliament for North East Somerset in 2010. Mr Rees-Mogg was brought up in a family steeped in the Conservative Party – his late father William Rees-Mogg was the editor of The Times newspaper for 14 years until 1981, before being made a life peer of the party seven years later. The youngster, who was being driven in his father’s Rolls-Royce at the time, professed his love of money and how he enjoyed attending shareholder meetings. Business leaders considered Mr Kwarteng to be a capable pair of hands as he tackled a raft of hefty challenges, ranging from supply disruption to rampant energy price inflation during his tenure as business secretary.

Jacob Rees-Mogg has taken over the energy brief as part of the new Prime Minister Liz Truss' cabinet reshuffle.

It is an honour to be appointed as the new Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. - Lord True – leader of the House of Lords - Penny Mordaunt – leader of the House of Commons - Nadhim Zahawi – chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and equalities minister - Wendy Morton – secretary to the treasury (chief whip) - James Cleverly – foreign secretary

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the minister who will oversee the UK's energy and climate strategy in Liz Truss's cabinet, has long been dismissive of the looming ...

We need to be thinking about extracting every last cubic inch of gas from the North Sea.” The last thing we need is another climate dinosaur like Rees-Mogg.” [Terms of use,](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/user-policies-a6184151.html) [Cookie policy](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/cookie-policy-a6184186.html) and [Privacy notice.](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html) [Privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en) and [Terms of service](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en) apply. [spoken enthusiastically of getting “every last drop” of oil and gas from the North Sea.](https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/oil-gas-north-sea-rees-mogg-b2050519.html) He told LBC: “We want to get more oil out of the North Sea, we want to get more gas out of the North Sea. [without declaring that was a founder of a firm with financial interests in those sectors.](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/tory-backbench-mp-jacob-reesmogg-failed-to-declare-interests-9923362.html) In the same year he was referred to the Parliament’s standards watchdog for speaking in debates in the House of Commons in support of the tobacco, mining and oil and gas industries He described the green movement as “doomsayers” and said the solution to the government’s energy woes was the free market and that it should ditch the “the environmentalist obsession”. [have concerned green activists](https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/jacob-rees-mogg-business-secretary-climate-truss-b2161243.html) and saw him branded a “climate dinosaur” by Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey last month. The controversial minister, who has been appointed to the role of secretary of statement for business, energy and industrial strategy, has dismissed climate science as “alarmism” and criticised the closure of coal-fired powers station. [Jacob Rees-Mogg](/topic/jacob-rees-mogg), the minister who will oversee the UK’s energy and climate strategy in Liz Truss’s cabinet, has long been dismissive of the looming catastrophe of global warming.

So now he's got a Proper Job and is charged with overseeing the country's energy and climate strategy, and leading the government's relationship with business, ...

He said: "Net zero is going to be a huge regulatory cost and that is an issue for the country to face and to face up to … But everything that Jacob Rees-Mogg has said on energy is stuck in the past.” “No government that’s remotely serious about tackling the twin climate and nature emergencies would even contemplate putting Jacob Rees-Mogg in charge of that portfolio,” said Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion. Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats told the FT: “For years Jacob Rees-Mogg has been on the wrong side of the argument. If we were to have a ‘one in, one out’ or ‘one in, two out’ rule [where a piece of regulation is scrapped for every new one instituted], you would end up excluding net zero, as we previously excluded EU regulation, and then you’re tinkering at the edges because you’re ignoring the biggest piece of regulation." Rees-Mogg has voted against some measures to help the climate. Perhaps one day the world will end, giving the last group to predict it the satisfaction of being right – but as many have been wrong so far it does not seem wise to make public policy on the back of these fears. common sense dictates that if the Meteorological Office cannot forecast the next season’s weather with any success it is ambitious to predict what will happen decades ahead." The last thing we need is another climate dinosaur like Rees-Mogg.” Rees-Mogg has claimed that “climate alarmism” is responsible for high energy prices and that it is unrealistic for scientists to project future changes to the climate because meteorologists struggle to correctly predict the weather. In April 2022, he said he wanted “every last drop” of oil and gas to be extracted from the North Sea as he dismissed warnings that a renewed push for fossil fuels would ruin the UK’s chances of achieving net zero by 2050. [new prime minister](https://www.indy100.com/news/liz-truss-wins-tory-vote) begets a new cabinet, and everyone's least favourite toff Jacob Rees-Mogg has been appointed to the role of secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy by Liz Truss.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, who now oversees the UK government department responsible for energy and climate change, has called to extract "every last drop" of oil and ...

New polling, [released this morning by trade body RenewableUK](https://www.renewableuk.com/news/615931/Polling-in-every-constituency-in-Britain-shows-strong-support-for-wind-farms-to-drive-down-bills.htm), found 77 per cent of people think the two technologies should be used to lower electricity bills. [he said in 2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frs1Glq8pmw%202014). [he rejected](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/jacob-reesmogg-cabinet-north-sea-grant-shapps-prime-minister-b992366.html) calls for a windfall tax on oil and gas companies “so they get every last drop out of the North Sea”. Wind power is [now nine times cheaper than running a gas power station](https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-record-low-price-for-uk-offshore-wind-is-four-times-cheaper-than-gas/). Mrs Thatcher would say this is about the facts, that’s why she she was so tough about climate change and that’s what the facts are — so we better get on with it.” [ongoing energy crisis](/article/2336109-uk-energy-crisis-sparks-rush-for-firewood-despite-air-pollution-fears/), Rees-Mogg will play a key role in the new government and, based on his past statements, the appointment appears to be good news for companies extracting fossil fuels and bad for some firms wanting to accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy. Unless that changes very rapidly, the UK has no chance of escaping this situation anytime soon,” says Chris Venables at the Green Alliance think tank. [electricity market reform](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-launches-biggest-electricity-market-reform-in-a-generation), and whether to ease development of new onshore wind and solar farms. [his new department commissioned earlier this summer](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scientific-review-of-shale-gas-launched) but is still sitting on. [rapidly rising energy bills](https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/default-tariff-cap-level-1-october-2022-31-december-2022). [as the website DeSmog has](https://www.desmog.com/jacob-rees-mogg/), reveals a record of contrarian views. [Environment](/subject/environment/)

The new Business Secretary has signalled support for fossil fuels and warned against 'climate alarmism'.

The International Energy Agency has warned that no new oil or gas fields can be developed if the world is to meet its goals to curb global warming to 1.5C – beyond which the most dangerous impacts of climate change are expected. But Liz Truss’s new Government is reported to be set to invite applications for drilling licences to explore new fields in the North Sea, and lift the fracking moratorium, as part of efforts to curb high energy bills. The appointment also comes in the run-up to Cop27, the UN climate conference, where countries will be under pressure – amid devastating floods, heatwaves and droughts around the world – to deliver on their promises of climate action made at the UK-hosted Cop26 last year.

Britain's new energy minister, Jacob Rees-Mogg, is one of the most recognizable politicians in Britain, known for his old-fashioned double-breasted suits, ...

He’s also an avowed supporter of fossil fuels who’s flirted with climate skepticism. Britain’s new energy minister, Jacob Rees-Mogg, is one of the most recognizable politicians in Britain, known for his old-fashioned double-breasted suits, an exaggerated upper-class accent and a love of archaic parliamentary traditions. [@BloombergUK](https://twitter.com/BloombergUK) and on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BloombergNewsUK/), and wrap up your day with [The Readout newsletter](https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/readout?itm_source=inline) with Allegra Stratton.