Rees-Mogg Warns Against 'Ethno-Nationalism' and 'Isolationism' on the Right

Former Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has sharply criticized elements within the Right, both in Britain and the United States, warning against what he describes as "revolutionary" populist movements and "ugly isolationism." In a commentary piece, Rees-Mogg expressed concern over the fiscal policies and perceived ideological shifts of Reform UK, and echoed critiques of the American "America First" doctrine, particularly as promoted by figures like Tucker Carlson.

Rees-Mogg lauded a recent speech by Kemi Badenoch at the Conservative Party conference, which he characterized as a "bold and uncompromising defense of traditional Tory values." He contrasted this with the stances of Reform UK, which he argued are not truly conservative but "revolutionaries" flirting with "increasingly extreme political positions."

"The truth is that Britain's historic conservative tradition is now under attack from both of those populist forces - just as much as from the Left," Rees-Mogg wrote. He specifically cited Reform UK's proposals, such as potentially scrapping the two-child limit on benefit payments and raising the income tax personal allowance, which he deemed "unaffordable." The former Leader of the House of Commons also criticized Reform's stance on inheritance tax and what he called the "pernicious 'ethno-nationalism'" promoted by some figures within the party, suggesting it questions whether non-white citizens can be considered fully English. Rees-Mogg invoked Badenoch's remarks, stating that the idea that black members of the English football team cannot be proper Englishmen is "nonsense, and dangerous nonsense at that."

He drew parallels between these domestic concerns and trends on the American Right. Rees-Mogg recounted a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, describing the former Fox News host as "perfectly charming - but deeply naive about the reality of global affairs." Rees-Mogg asserted that Carlson and "ideological bedfellows" are promoting an "ugly isolationism inflected with bizarre Putinophilia," which he believes makes war more likely by emboldening potential aggressors. He stressed the ancient principle of statecraft: "if you want peace, you must prepare for war," and emphasized that "the territorial integrity of nation states must be defended at all costs."

Rees-Mogg concluded by expressing hope that Donald Trump and future Republican nominees would resist this "insular defeatism" and reaffirmed his belief in the core tenets of conservatism, particularly sound money and equality under the law, which he sees as differentiating the Conservative Party from these populist movements.