.. to be appalled by this news about Jacob Rees-Mogg on GMB today

"There are laws in place that cannot be changed."

Since when? Of course they can be changed. What do you think Brexit is all about, if it isn't changing laws?

Tim Farron was pretty much hounded out of office because of his Christian beliefs and yet JRM is applauded for 'being honest and upholding his personal beliefs'. Seems to be one rule for one and a different one for the other. I suppose the argument could be that Farron was leader of his party [which was also a 'liberal' party] and JRM says he has no intention of being leader of the Conservatives [currently a pretty regressive right wing party so it's ok to support outdated beliefs]. Then again, didn't Margaret Thatcher say the same once upon a time?

That is assuming way too much ( Postgate) for all we know he was very much pro life and would have agreed with JRM.
Tbh who cares if JRM cuddles an armfull of Bagpusses.This is all getting ridiculous.
All MP's have differing views on abortion and gay marriage and all sorts of things. There are laws in place that cannot be changed.

Lemongrove, Oliver Postgate was a conscientious objector during the war, and a member of CND afterwards. He would have been appalled.

Does being a catholic really mean that you can't think things out for yourself? That's a bit pathetic.

Well he would say that, wouldn't he?

What do you expect him to say? I'm working hard to find ways of restricting access to abortion.

PS A couple I know recently lost their unborn baby, just a week or two before the limit for abortions. This was a perfectly formed baby yet could have been legally aborted. The abortion laws have been very seriously breached many times and very few (if any) prosecutions.

But parliament does not have any support for a change in the abortion law. The majority of the population does not want change. It would need a massive upheaval to find and then elect sufficient MPs to make such a change and against the public wish.

Grammar schools are entirely different because there is very substantial support across the country for more of them.

I haven't read all the posts so I'm sorry if this has already been mentioned . . . . Kevin McNamara died recently. He was the MP for Hull North. At his selection meeting he stated he was a Catholic and against abortion etc. He thought that would have blown it for him but he was selected and to everyone's surprise he secured a 5-fold increase in his majority in the polls (which led to Harold Wilson calling a General Election and a landslide victory). Like JRM he never made any secret of his beliefs. Surely one's beliefs underpin one's decisions?

Of course nothing will change crozziefan23 but you underestimate how some people enjoy being appalled.

When he was interviewed he stressed that although he was against abortion in any event due to being a Catholic and against the taking of life at any stage in a foetus' life, he did stress that he was aware that the British law allowed abortion in certain cercumstances. There was no way he could change that. The same with same sex marriage. He was against it due to his Christian beliefs but stressed that British law accepted it and he was not going to try and change this. I like him a lot as he is an extremely astute MP. He has personal Christian principles but realises that not everyone in the country shares his views. In votes in the Commons his view was outvoted. He accepts this. So don't panic ladies. Nothing will change.

Could you imagine if he'd been elected chair of the Treasury select committee?
They would never get anything done with the filibusterer in charge.

Some posters are easily appalled, Tegan2
JRM standing near some Bagpuss and Clangers! ?

Good piece Jen.

She makes a good point that he is likely to chip away at access to abortion in the first instance.

I can't see that any comments have been removed, Veda. There is a post on this thread by you, and some comments on it as well.

Sewing machine is about the right age for his views, but I bet he's never used one.

Totally agree with it. However, am appalled to see JRM standing in front of cupboards full of Bagpuss's and Clangers. Oliver Postgate would be turning in his grave at the association...

I agree with Helen Lewis.

www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2017/09/dont-indulge-jacob-rees-mogg-modern-politics-series-jokes-getting-out-hand

Corbyn supported the IRA and Hamas and has such respect and admiration for the dictator of Venezuela, and claims to be a pacifist

True Baggs

Bags if you must be pedantic he represents the women in his constituency most of whom probably believe in a woman's right to choose. Suppose a constituent of Rees Moggs goes to his surgery asking for help because she is pregnant. What would he do? Can he recommend her to the correct services? or would that conflict with his religious beliefs.

Should somebody who is as pro-life as Rees-Mogg vote to bomb Syria?
Should he vote to replace Trident which if used will destroy millions of lives?

I actually commented on this but it wasn't allowed. Freedom of speech is disappearing like this second message probably will.

Re Corbyn, anniebach, people think he has principles though and I think that's why he's popular.

Re euthansasia, I'm not aware of any politician, or non-politician for that matter, who is in favour of euthanasia. I suspect that the RC Church confuses euthanasia with self-chosen and, where possible, self-administered assisted dying.