The Cotswolds and Cornwall have been bought by civil servants as a way of ‘gambling’ so that they won’t have to go back to work.
Sources in government said that Whitehall officials had relocated to allow them to continue working from home (WFH), according to sources.
Sources claim that they have contacts with key personnel who live in Cornwall and North England, but still receive London wages.
Pictured: Civil servants bought homes in Cornwall and Cotswolds to ‘gamble’ so they won’t have to go back to work again
An insider claimed that civil servants were betting they would never be forced to work and had ‘taken an opportunity’ during the pandemic by purchasing homes outside Whitehall.
However, the source said that having multiple teams working in an office simultaneously ‘hampered the ability of the group to function’ as well as impacting the productivity and efficiency of government departments.
Luke Johnson (entrepreneur, former Chairman of Pizza Express) stated that Whitehall senior officials are motivated to maintain the home-work culture.
He said that the medium- and high-ranking public sector managers probably reside in beautiful homes with gardens. They are saving money on their commutes. They don’t mind if it means they get a salary cut if they need to return.
Marazion is a small village located in Cornwall to the west. According to one source, they have contacts with key staff members who are living in Cornwall or the North of England and still earning London wages.
According to another Government source, the relocation of civil servants to the Cotswolds was a ‘lovely decision’ for them and not for their junior staff (who get paid very little).
Boris Johnson last Wednesday urged government departments to be an example to the private sector by returning to normal office patterns, after Covid WFH guidelines were lifted.
According to the Prime Minister, ‘Across Whitehall’, it is important to lead by example and to ensure everyone goes back to work.
After official data revealed that Covid infection rates were declining in the UK, Plan B guidance to “work at home” was removed last week.