We sent Jacob Rees-Mogg some Wigan-made Heinz Beanz after he called them 'absolutely disgusting'

Jacob Rees-Mogg caused a stir this week when he declared Heinz Baked Beanz were “absolutely disgusting”, so went sent him a complimentary tin of the Wigan-made food to try and change his mind!
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Jacob Rees-Mogg caused a stir this week when he declared Heinz Beanz were “absolutely disgusting”, so we sent him a complimentary tin of the Wigan-made food to try and change his mind!

The Commons leader expressed his displeasure for the breakfast food - tins of which are produced for all of Europe from a factory in Kitt Green - during a speech in Parliament about the recent divisive Weetabix advert, which recommended beans as a topping.

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Following a tongue-in-cheek call for a debate about whether beans on Weetabix would constitute a healthy breakfast, Mr Rees-Mogg spilled the beans on his breakfast preferences, admitting to the Commons that he prefers his Weetabix with hot milk and brown sugar.

Wigan Today reporter Liam Soutar boxes up some Heinz Baked Beans for Jacob Rees-MoggWigan Today reporter Liam Soutar boxes up some Heinz Baked Beans for Jacob Rees-Mogg
Wigan Today reporter Liam Soutar boxes up some Heinz Baked Beans for Jacob Rees-Mogg

“My personal preference, if I were to eat Weetabix, is not with baked beans – which I’ve always thought are absolutely disgusting,” The Conservative MP said.

“There was an advert, well I’m sorry if I’ve upset the makers of baked beans, there was a saying which is desperately politically incorrect nowadays – so I hope (shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz) will forgive me – their advertising slogan, ‘A million housewives every day pick up a can of beans and say Beanz Meanz Heinz’.

“But when I was a child this was corrupted to, ‘A million housewives every day pick up a can of beans and say ‘Yuck, throw them away’. I’m sorry that has always been my view of baked beans.”

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Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House and the MP for Chorley, stood up for his fellow Northerners, responding: “I think the good people of Wigan will be offended, where all the baked beans for Europe come from. I can see the factory are all sending their letters to the Leader now.”

We sent one tin to the House of Commons and donated three more to a foodbankWe sent one tin to the House of Commons and donated three more to a foodbank
We sent one tin to the House of Commons and donated three more to a foodbank

So, the Wigan Post decided to send Mr Rees-Mogg a letter of our own, inviting him to reconsider his tastes.

We purchased four cans of Heinz Baked Beanz from a local supermarket, donating three to a food bank and sending one, with the letter, to the MP’s office at the Houses of Parliament.

In the letter, we invited Mr Rees-Mogg to give Heinz Baked Beanz another go, while explaining that the proud key workers at the Heinz factory in Kitt Green had kept the entire continent well stocked with beans, and other tinned foods, throughout the pandemic.

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Whether Mr Rees-Mogg accepts, or even acknowledges the Wigan Post’s gesture, remains to be seen. Heinz workers also came out fighting following the controversial comments, saying that Heinz Baked Beanz go well with just about anything, from toast to Weetabix to a roast dinner.

Jacob Rees-Mogg MPJacob Rees-Mogg MP
Jacob Rees-Mogg MP

A spokesperson for the company said: “Everyone knows, as the nation’s favourite crafted by experts in Wigan, that Beanz Meanz Heinz.

“And the combination of two of the country’s most loved breakfast foods has certainly bean causing quite a stir on social media as well as among MPs.

“We believe that our Beanz taste great with everything, whether it’s Weetabix, on toast, or with your roast dinner. Beanz are a delicious addition to any meal – breakfast, teatime or dinner. And who are we to judge how people serve their Beanz?

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“But if you ask us, Heinz Beanz on Weetabix is a winner for a protein-filled start to the day. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!”

Our lighthearted letter to Jacob Rees-MoggOur lighthearted letter to Jacob Rees-Mogg
Our lighthearted letter to Jacob Rees-Mogg

Our full letter to Jacob Rees-Mogg:

Dear Mr Rees-Mogg,

We at the Wigan Post were saddened to hear of your distaste for Heinz Baked Beanz this week.

Your comments about their being "absolutely disgusting" certainly caused a stir among our readers and the proud key workers at Wigan's Heinz factory who, throughout the pandemic, have made sure that all of Europe still has plenty of tinned beans to enjoy.

So we've enclosed a gift for you, from the people of Wigan, and hope that you might give them another go. If we still can't change your mind, perhaps you could donate this tin to your nearest foodbank - just as we did with several tins when buying your gift.

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Failing that, there's the age-old charity option of bathing in them instead!

Yours sincerely,

The Wigan Post.

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