Local MP and Transport Minister, Jesse Norman has shown his support for Jacob Rees-Mogg as a potential leader of the Conservative party.

A poll of Tory activists for the ConservativeHome website last week put Jacob Rees Mogg in second place as their preferred next party leader, just behind Brexit secretary David Davis. Minister Jesse Norman who has previously been considered to be backing Boris Johnson.

In a interview with Centre Write, the magazine of Tory thinktank Bright Blue, he said: “I think Jacob Rees-Mogg would be an outstanding candidate,” he replied. “I can only admire the Moggmentum that’s already underway.”

Although often described as a ‘Young fogey’ Mr Rees-Mogg has seen his popularity soar and he has gained an army of fans all over social media. Even his family are enjoying some of his notoriety as his newborn sixth child, Sixtus, has become an Instagram icon.

Mr Rees-Mogg who favours wearing double-breasted suits and is very upper class, speaking in a sharp, received pronunciation accent, is also an Old Etonian, like MP Jesse Norman.Mr Norman has contacted the Ross Gazette to say that this was a light hearted response to a question in an interview about whether Mr Rees-Mogg would make a good candidate but he is not backing him.