Boris Johnson today declares that working from home is not a good idea and calls for the return of the office.
Exclusive interview with Daily Mail: Prime Minister, David Cameron says that fully-equipped workplaces can increase productivity as well as revitalize cities and their centres.
He takes aim at Whitehall’s out-of-office culture and says: “My experience working from home was that you walk slowly back to your computer and forget what you were doing.”
His colleagues make staff more productive and more enthusiastic, he claims. He said, “I believe in the work environment.”
“And I believe that it will drive up productivity. It will get our cities centres moving during the weekdays. And it will benefit mass transit. Many businesses who have had a difficult time in the past will see a benefit.
Exclusive interview with Daily Mail: The Prime Minister said that fully-equipped workplaces will increase productivity, revitalize cities and help to revive their centres.
The Prime Minister made a wide-ranging interview and also promised to amend the law in the event that ‘Leftie attorneys’ block plans for Channel migrants to Rwanda.
He said that he’d be willing to “dig in” for those who try to frustrate the will of the people.
Johnson revealed that 50 illegal entrants to this country have been notified that they would be going to Rwanda in the next fortnight.
Sources within the Government say that they have prepared for an avalanche of human rights claims.
The Prime Minister promises to amend the law in the interview if the ‘Leftie attorneys’ block plans for Channel migrants to Rwanda.
Johnson responds that he will review the European Convention on Human Rights and says he would be open to answering questions. There is no way to deny that everything is on the table.
You can also find other developments here:
- Over plans to fire 91,000 civil servants, unions threatened strikes
- EU leaders were warned by the PM that he wasn’t bluffing about moves to dismantle the Northern Ireland Protocol.
- He said that Britain could escape a recession even with the grim economic data.
- To reduce the costs of care, a consultation has been launched to increase the number and availability of minder-cared children.
- Ministers reached an agreement to postpone a ban in supermarkets on the promotion of unhealthy foods.
- Johnson advised Vladimir Putin that he would ‘find a solution’ to the conflict in Ukraine.
- He indicated that he was considering trying to get over-50s back into the workforce.
Over Whitehall’s working from home culture, ministers have been locked in a battle with Civil Service unions.
Officials must attend work for just two to three days per week. Unions resist a complete return.
Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary to President Obama is likely to make a big push for the issue over the next few weeks amid fears that prolonged absences from the office could lead to productivity declines.
The Whitehall working from home culture is causing tension between ministers and Civil Service unions (stock photo).
Ministers have attributed the massive backlogs that have built up at Passport Offices and DVLA to large-scale homework.
Flexible working is a part of the PM’s role, but it will harm productivity and creativity if made a norm.
According to him, ‘not antediluvian’ about technology…things such as Zoom and Teams can improve productivity rather than being an excuse for people staying at home.
He added, “We must get back to the routine of going into work.” While there will always be people that disagree with me on this, I think people work better when they’re surrounded by others.
The FDA union which represents top civil servants said this week that work is no longer a place and asked ministers for ‘indiscriminate demands…for civil servants back to office-based working.
Jacob Rees Mogg, yesterday warned that calls from unions might lead employers to “offshoring” their workers.
The Brexit opportunities minister told LBC Radio: ‘It’s a very privileged thing to say – for people in manufacturing, work is a place, for people cleaning work is a place, for security work is a place, for millions of people across this country work is a place.
The idea that civil servants can go abroad to complete their work is somewhat misleading.
“Unless the FDA is implying that we should go for offshore, I would be surprised if Left-wing trade unions thought offshoring was the solution to our problems.
Plan by the PM to send thousands of Channel migrants from Rwanda to the United Kingdom is intended to destroy the business model for people-smuggling groups. It breaks the link between getting on a boat in France and starting a new life here.
There have been protests from the Left over this plan. The High Court has received legal complaints against the plan before the removals can begin.
However, the Prime Minister states that he remains determined to move the plan forward
Jacob Rees Mogg, yesterday warning that calls from unions may lead employers to “offshoring” their workers
Boris Johnson states that 50 migrants were warned by Boris Johnson they had two weeks to present legal representation, or risk being removed to an African state. (file photo used)
“There will be lots of opposition from legal firms who have for many years taken taxpayers’ funds to fund these types of cases and to block the willful will of the people. We are ready to do that.
“We are going to fight for it and we know that it will work. With the Leftie attorneys, we’ve created a detailed flowchart that shows all of the steps needed to get it done.
Johnson denies that the scheme is cruel and claims the Government must take action to stop the evil trade.
Jeremy Hunt was last night rounded up by Conservative MPs after he said that Johnson still has a big mountain to climb’ to win next general elections.
Ex-Foreign Secretary said that it wasn’t fair to blame the Conservatives for their losses in last week’s local election on midterm blues.
“To win an election the Conservative Party must promise a healthy NHS, and tax cuts. He said that if people have to choose one, they won’t win.
A Tory ex minister said, “History has proven that divided parties lose elections.” If Jeremy would stop criticizing the public and if he stopped scheming, then there are better chances for Tories to win.
WFH? WFH?
Jason Groves is the Daily Mail’s Editor
Boris Johnson cannot resist boasting.
He tells the group of youngsters, “I can remember running down the Olympic track” in Beijing.
Incredulously, the children look at him and sing: “Really?” What did you do?
He laughs sheepishly as he revises his claim and states: “Well, you tried to sprint.”
The incident was later revealed to have involved a race in Bird’s Nest with Guto Hari, his press assistant. They are now back together after more than ten years apart.
Both men wore suits. Both men wore suits.
Although the PM suffers from a severe cough, he is not ill.
While he will not comment on Sir Keir Sterner’s “Beergate” woes but he does smile when asked about his feelings of schadenfreude at the trouble the Labour leader is in over claims of lockdown rule breaking.
Concerning his Partygate scandals, now resulting in 100 fines to No 10 staff, the man insists that he’ll have more to say once police complete their thorough investigations.
He believes that things are moving much more smoothly than it might appear, even though there is still discontent among his own MPs.
Later, Solihull activist John McDonnell appeared shocked at Labour’s failures to exploit Government’s midterm woes. He stated that it was “absolutely remarkable” that the Opposition had managed net gains of 22 seats in England, despite the hardships the country has endured and all that has been thrown at the Government.
New data shows that GDP grew by just 0.8% in the first three months and shrank in March, as people tightened their belts.
However, when asked if Britain could avoid recession the PM is optimistic.
‘Yes!’ He replies. “If we keep making the same investments in infrastructure, technology, and skills.
“I won’t pretend it’s easy, but I believe the fundamentals of this project are strong.
There is huge demand for the UK and many opportunities. The UK receives a lot of international investment.
Johnson, for example, gushes over the Stoke-based ceramics company Churchill China.
“They’re booming,” he said of the company that is adding 300 more employees in order to cope with increased EU demand which has shot up by 30%.
He says that the current economic problem facing the country is completely different to that of the 1980s and 1990s, when millions were effectively sent to the scrap heap. They felt that they could not contribute to society because there was mass unemployment.
Jason Groves wrote: “He won’t talk about Sir Keir’s Beergate woes but he can’t stop a wide grin from creeping across his face whenever asked if he’s ever felt a touch of schadenfreude over this tangle that the Labour leader got into over claims of lockdown rule-breaking.”
At the Swedish Prime Minister Harpsund this week, Mr Johnson and Magdalena Andersson signed a statement of political solidarity.
“But that’s not the case.” There are actually businesses that are so strong, and in such high demand, that it is necessary to hire more people.
According to the PM, there will be an effort to recruit more 50-year-olds into the workforce after the pandemic.
He also mentions measures included in the Queen’s Speech, which focuses on infrastructure, skills training and rebuilding energy supplies to support future growth.
He insists on the need for growth in order to reduce the living costs, given the dire state of public finances.
There is little doubt in the government that more economic assistance will come this year. The Tory call for tax reductions has become louder every week.
However, the PM will not go into details. He does however extol the potential for the government to reduce its spending in order to save the taxpayer.
At a Cabinet meeting ministers told him to cut 91,000 positions from Civil Service staff of 475,000. He is now in his home, having just returned from an emergency pandemic.
He says, “We need to lower the costs of government in order to decrease the cost living.”
The plan, which could save around £3.5billion a year, has already provoked howls of outrage from trade unions.
Can the tax cuts be funded with these savings? Although the PM isn’t able to say exactly, he suggests that the savings could be used for tax cuts.
British politics are not plagued only by economic problems.
Next week, Johnson will make the final decision about whether or not to push ahead with legislation to allow the Government suspend part of Northern Ireland Protocol to address the post-Brexit Trade Checks that threaten to create a wedge between Province and rest of UK.
This threat has sparked alarm in Washington as well as Brussels. His ‘dear and dear friends’ within the EU have threatened a trade war to counter it.
The PM claims that the Stormont Assembly elections have brought an end to the long-standing sore. They were won by Sinn Fein, the returned Unionist parties and a mandate to stop power-sharing until it is ended.
“The trouble with the current circumstances is that Ulster unionists just won’t come back in now,” he said.
As Prime Minister of UK, I have one priority: the Good Friday Agreement. Legally, morally, and politically that is what we should be focusing on.
He agrees with his theme and suggests that EU talks of a trade conflict are exaggerated when it comes to an issue which has ‘pretty straightforward bureaucratic solutions’.
“Does anyone know what my real thoughts are about this?” He says. “I believe that in terms of the current scale, and the overall sweep of events, we are trying to fix a very complex political problem in Northern Ireland with some fairly simple bureaucratic solutions. We have to get that done.
Are he lying about destroying the protocol as many in Brussels think? “I am not lying in my concerns about Stormont or where we should go. It is urgent that it be restored to normal.
Ukraine is another example of the UK’s relationship with Volodymyr Zelesky. This has enabled the UK to provide arms for the country, and also pay some wages to those who are fighting for the homeland.
Is this a proxy war as Vladimir Putin suggests?
‘No. You can lend a hose to your neighbor if their house is on fire.
Johnson said that Putin’s ‘catastrophic error’ was made. He added: ‘If Putin thought that he would be able to get less Nato to his doorstep, it’s likely he is going to prove 100 percent wrong.
Groves wrote that the Prime Minister ‘has no interest in pursuing unproductive dialog with the Russian tyrant’
“If your neighbor is being attacked by an armless robber, give him or her a weapon. You don’t have to fight the burglar.
It’s quite a different scenario. It’s morally right, humane and compassionate to assist the Ukrainians in defending themselves from this barbaric, unprovoked attack that is completely unnecessary.
According to him, Putin made a “catastrophic mistake” and added: “If Putin believed he would get less Nato at his door, he will be proven likely to 100 percent wrong.”
He has not shown any interest in engaging with Putin’s tyrant.
He says, “I will be truthful with you. At the moment, I don’t know what it would mean to have a discussion with Putin.” He said, “He has broken international law. His troops are systematically committing war crime.”
“And he is getting more deeply involved in a disaster that he has caused.” He needs to take advantage of Russia’s incredible support and find a way to get out.
The PM has been preparing to face the “Leftie attorneys” who threaten a flood of lawsuits to stop his plans to disrupt the business model for the Channel’s people-smuggling gangs by sending illegal immigrants to Rwanda.
According to him, 50 migrants were warned that they will have to present legal representation within two weeks or be removed from the country.
Although he acknowledges the legal challenges facing ministers, he says that they are ready to fight the battle, even if the law has to be changed.
“There will be lots of opposition from legal firms who have for many years taken taxpayers’ funds to build these types of cases and to stop the willful willful willful willful willful willful willful willful will.
“We are ready to do that. We will dig in for the fight – we will make it work. With the Leftie lawyers, we’ve created a detailed flowchart that shows all of the steps.
Is this possible? He says, “We’ll examine everything.” “Nothing is off-limits.”
He is a bit irritated by the Left’s claims that the policy was inhumane.
The PM wants to see Britain’s workers return to work, especially in the Civil Service. Stock photo.
Because it would have been too dangerous, he says he has abandoned the idea to turn back boats on the Channel. He says, “I was not prepared to give those orders because it could lead to loss of lives, and that’s what I am going to do.”
“So we had no other choice but to invent something more innovative. I believe this will mark the beginning of a strategy that many countries will begin to follow.
“But, clearly some people will object to it because they have absolutely bogus reasons. Because they are in favor of everyone’s freedom to travel freely between borders, they will be opposed it. It’s simply not sustainable.
The PM wants to see Britain’s workers return to work, especially in the Civil Service where thousands must only go to work for two to three days per week.
He laughs, saying, “My experience working remotely is that you have to spend a lot of time getting another cup of coffee and then you walk very slowly back home to your computer and forget what you were doing.”
He is, however, using humor to illustrate a point. The Prime Minister states, “I believe in workplace environments.”
“And I believe that it will drive up productivity. It will get our cities centres moving during the weekdays. And it will benefit mass transit. Many businesses who have had a difficult time in the past will see a benefit.
He claims he doesn’t feel antediluvian regarding technology like Zoom as long as it is being used for productivity, and not to be an excuse for people staying at home.
He is firm in his conviction that people can be more productive and more energy when they surround themselves with other people. Warning to Civil Service. He’s not kidding.