Jacob Rees-Mogg urges the Royal Mint to produce a special coin in honour of ‘remarkable national treasure’ Captain Sir Tom Moore
- NHS fundraiser and WWII veteran Captain Sir Tom Moore died on Tuesday
- Last night Boris Johnson led a clap for the 100-year-old and healthcare workers
- Jacob Rees-Mogg has urged Royal Mint to honour him with commemorative coin
- Comes amid Mail campaign for permanent public memorial for Captain Tom
A coin in honour of Captain Sir Tom Moore should be brought forward by the Royal Mint, according to Jacob Rees-Mogg.
It comes after Sir Tom, who raised more than £32 million for the NHS during the first Covid-19 lockdown, died on Tuesday.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Boris Johnson encouraged the UK to clap for Sir Tom at 6pm on Wednesday in tribute.
Raising the issue in Parliament today, Conservative former minister Caroline Nokes told the Commons: ‘Captain Sir Tom Moore taught us that tomorrow is a good day.
Captain Sir Tom Moore, who died aged 100 on Tuesday, should be honoured with a commemorative coin by the Royal Mint, according to Jacob Rees-Mogg
‘Can I ask (Mr Rees-Mogg) as Lord President of the Privy Council to use his influence to bring about a commemorative coin for this remarkable national treasure and a debate in this House?’
Mr Rees-Mogg, Leader of the House, responded: ‘(Ms Nokes) has the most brilliantly obscure knowledge because the approval of all coins does indeed come before the Privy Council on the suggestion of the Royal Mint.
‘I hope that as Lord President I do see a proposal from the Royal Mint in due course.’
He added: ‘Captain Sir Tom Moore dedicated his life to serving his country and others, and he showed the value of all life that he in his hundredth and hundredth and first year showed that somebody of great age can make as important a contribution as anybody else in the country did over that last year.
Raising the issue in Parliament today, Conservative former minister Caroline Nokes told the Commons: ‘Can I ask (Mr Rees-Mogg) as Lord President of the Privy Council to use his influence to bring about a commemorative coin for this remarkable national treasure and a debate in this House?’
‘It is a reminder to all of us of the value of life and why it’s been right to protect life as far as we possibly can during this incredibly difficult period.’
Mr Rees-Mogg then offered a prayer in Latin, saying: ‘Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescat in pacem. Amen,’ which translates to: ‘Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Rest in peace.’
It comes after Boris Johnson last night joined the national clamour for a statue of Britain’s Covid hero, Captain Sir Tom Moore.
Asked to back the Daily Mail’s call for a permanent public memorial to the Second World War veteran, the Prime Minister said it was something that the country could get behind.
Capt Tom – who raised an astonishing £33million for the NHS by walking laps of his garden in lockdown – died on Tuesday at 100 after testing positive for Covid-19.
Praising this newspaper’s ‘excellent’ initiative, Mr Johnson said he would work with Capt Tom’s family to decide the most fitting tribute.
It comes after Boris Johnson last night joined the national clamour for a statue of Britain’s Covid hero, Captain Sir Tom Moore
It came as MPs, celebrities, campaigners and the nation united to back the Mail’s rallying cry for a memorial.
Meanwhile, Britain came to a standstill last night to clap for a man who fought for his country both in the war and when the pandemic hit.
Asked about the Mail campaign, Mr Johnson told a Downing Street news conference: ‘On the issue of a statue for Captain Tom Moore, a public memorial of some kind to Captain Tom, I’m absolutely of course open to that.
‘I know that that’s the kind of thing that people would want to support and we’ll be working with his family to see what they feel is most appropriate and be taking that forward… so I think your campaign is an excellent one.’