How to work out who you can trust on Brexit

Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, Labour MP Kate Hoey, and Nigel Farage. Photograph: Lauren Hurley/PA. - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images

A radio presenter has a theory that you can work out which politicians are trustworthy on Brexit by looking at what they have to gain.

James O’Brien said that he had pondered over the issue of which politicians can be trusted after being asked the question by a member of the public.

After much thought he realised that it comes down to looking at what those MPs have to gain from what they are endorsing.

He took examples of Remain campaigners Anna Soubry and Ken Clarke, and Brexiteers like Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Speaking on his LBC Radio programme, he said: ‘You can’t come up with a job description that deserves all of our trust. So who can we trust in the context of Brexit?

‘So I realised the question we should always ask is what’s in it for them?

‘What’s in it for Ken Clarke, as he explains why he will vote for the withdrawal agreement? Damage limitation I suppose.

‘What’s in it for Anna Soubry? She’s painted a target on her back that some deeply unsavoury people have started taking aim at. She doesn’t emerge from this if Brexit is somehow stopped any richer or more famous.

‘Now look at the people who are intrinsically associated with Brexit – ask yourselves would he be where he is today without Brexit?

‘Jacob Rees-Mogg has ceased to be a figure of fun for some people and become, inexplicably, someone respected. What’s in it for him? Some people point out that his investment fund is very heavily embedded in emerging economies. The two funds that are going to open up in Dublin. The curious celebrity.

‘For most so-called Brexiters, what’s in it for them? See how many are in bed with these weird right-wing lobby groups that pretend to be think-tanks and educational charities and you know they want less regulations, they want workers’ rights to be reduced.

‘All other Brexiters have left is sovereignty.’