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Has Johnson got it right clamping down on home working? – politicalbetting.com

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  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061

    Except the tax money you get off the rich can be spent on useful stuff. And many of the rich would like to see the rich taxed more, myself included, so it's not all about the politics of envy.
    You could take everything they have and distribute it if you wanted.
    The level that is 'rich' and the tax that is 'fair' will very from person to person but usually is 'more than me' for both.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620
    Cyclefree said:

    Off topic but am soo excited!

    The first of my Himalayan poppies has flowered. Look at that exquisite blue. And there are more about to flower.

    Plus the geums and clematis are really showing off.






    Ooh, saw some of these poppies in the botanical garden at Dawyck a few years back.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/dknott8/status/1402229894419976195
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620
    edited May 2022

    It's undoubtedly true that Covid has accelerated the move towards WFH. But it hasn't caused it. Flexible working patterns in the Civil Service, for example, started many years ago, particularly for London-based staff. Many colleagues came into London for 1-3 days a week, and worked at home for the rest of the week (obviously only where this was appropriate for the role). My own role was defined as WFH, with equipment provided, with regular visits to HO for meetings, training etc. The trend would have continued, but been slower, without Covid.

    Far too difficult for JRM to find this out, apparently.

    The funny thing is that the Civil Service seems to have been very 'flexible' in the 17th and 18th centuries which he reportedly favours, judging from contemporary accounts ...
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,607

    "prints off all emails"... 😂

    It’s a bugger when the parchment gets stuck in the printer.
    Parliament would be a better place if Rees Mogg worked from home permanently, but I assume he thinks coffee shops in London matter more than coffee shops in Midsomer Norton.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,483
    Mr. Stocky, been AFK, hence slow reply. Yep, that's the case.

    Mr. Dyed, I agree, a hybrid model will work best for many operations/individuals.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620

    It’s a bugger when the parchment gets stuck in the printer.
    Parliament would be a better place if Rees Mogg worked from home permanently, but I assume he thinks coffee shops in London matter more than coffee shops in Midsomer Norton.
    The Royal Mail stagecoaches on the Great West Road through Bath and past Marlborough do take rather a long time.
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 16,405

    You could take everything they have and distribute it if you wanted.
    The level that is 'rich' and the tax that is 'fair' will very from person to person but usually is 'more than me' for both.
    You need to use some objective yardstick for these things. I would use "rich" for the top 10% of the income distribution. 70-90% is "well off"; 30-70% is "middle income" and 0-30% I would call "poor".
    (Cue lots of people in the 10% claiming not to be rich because of how little money they have left at the end of each month after paying for the mortgage on their huge house, their recent holidays, private school fees etc etc...).
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061
    Polruan said:

    Sandwich less so, coffee quite often (based on an unrepresentative sample of "people in my team who live walking distance from somewhere to buy coffee). Actually the bigger difference is probably things like local food shops - if you commuted, going to the butcher or fishmonger wasn't an option because they were open 8-4, so it's supermarket or nothing. Now it's possible, which I would have thought would be the dream for the "save the local high street" wing of politics.
    How many local high streets sill have a quality butcher, fishmonger or greengrocers? And how will new start ups compete with supermarkets?
  • mwadamsmwadams Posts: 3,771
    Polruan said:

    I know that industries are all different, but in professional services, where we have the ready metric of chargeable time recorded and costs recovered, productivity is observably higher. I understand that in culture war world something can be objectively true and still "obviously laughable" but the real world picture is more complex. One thing worth remembering is how many of us really worked remotely anyway, because we all travelled to offices and then spent most of the day on calls to people in other offices. There's very little efficiency to that, and a lot of quality of life downside. All that's changed now is that remote working is done at a location of the worker's choosing rather than the employer's/
    The notion that people are super productive in offices and don't waste all their time in water cooler chats, tea runs, zoning out on Facebook etc is the laughable thing for me.

    The evidence is that the need for more formal collaboration and goal-setting is a huge benefit of WFH. And employees are happier which is well known to correlate with improved productivity.

    There are exceptions, and you can do it badly, too. But in general, the data doesn't surprise me at all.
  • EPGEPG Posts: 6,729
    Businesses and staff do benefit, but we know what the government thinks about business.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,674
    Andy_JS said:

    I've got a hunch that working from home is a really bad idea. But it'll take a long time to find out whether that's right.

    If you don’t mind me asking, what do you for a living and have you worked from home?
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061

    You need to use some objective yardstick for these things. I would use "rich" for the top 10% of the income distribution. 70-90% is "well off"; 30-70% is "middle income" and 0-30% I would call "poor".
    (Cue lots of people in the 10% claiming not to be rich because of how little money they have left at the end of each month after paying for the mortgage on their huge house, their recent holidays, private school fees etc etc...).
    But we dont. Hence a lot of politics is politics of envy. It's human nature.
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,633
    Scott_xP said:

    Government transparency latest. Cabinet Office refuses to reveal cost of taxpayer of "custom built" wardrobe in former Johnson aide's office.

    Top scoop by @SophiaSleigh

    https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/cabinet-office-refuses-to-reveal-price-of-custom-built-wardrobe-for-ex-johnson-aide_uk_624c3061e4b068157f7c4540

    “Scoop” 😂😂😂😂
  • MrBristolMrBristol Posts: 29
    biggles said:

    I was doing that, then I forced myself to go for a walk when I finish work, and tie that as best I can to a given time. Psychologically gives you a “commute” and separation.
    Good shout, I might start trying that - seems like an easy fix to try.
    Cheers.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,224
    Polruan said:

    I know that industries are all different, but in professional services, where we have the ready metric of chargeable time recorded and costs recovered, productivity is observably higher. I understand that in culture war world something can be objectively true and still "obviously laughable" but the real world picture is more complex. One thing worth remembering is how many of us really worked remotely anyway, because we all travelled to offices and then spent most of the day on calls to people in other offices. There's very little efficiency to that, and a lot of quality of life downside. All that's changed now is that remote working is done at a location of the worker's choosing rather than the employer's/
    The problem is that some areas of government (local and central) haven't adapted to the new situation. Some parts of the system are still showing as "closed for COVID". Some GPs, for instance.

    WFH requires effort from both management and workforce.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061

    Mr. Stocky, been AFK, hence slow reply. Yep, that's the case.

    Mr. Dyed, I agree, a hybrid model will work best for many operations/individuals.

    Hybrid is the only way I can see that retains the city high street and viability of city centres. If not the next crisis becomes what WILL the government DO about our declining city centre economies?
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620
    edited May 2022

    How many local high streets sill have a quality butcher, fishmonger or greengrocers? And how will new start ups compete with supermarkets?
    Early days yet but doesn't have to be the old style shops like somerthing at Walmington-on-Sea. For one thing we buy much more from our local fish van as we are at home all the time (edit: when I retired and Mrs C started WFH part time, before the pandemic) - when we were working, we couldn't get to it, or get at a convenient fishmonger at all. Same with the community foodstore - easier to get in during the week. But I think the supermarket run will remain with us.
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 16,405

    But we dont. Hence a lot of politics is politics of envy. It's human nature.
    Yes I suppose it is. I don't think in those terms but I guess a lot of people do. Hence the successful Tory attacks on the "liberal metropolitan elite".
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,607
    Cyclefree said:

    Off topic but am soo excited!

    The first of my Himalayan poppies has flowered. Look at that exquisite blue. And there are more about to flower.

    Plus the geums and clematis are really showing off.






    Not off topic at all! As we are all currently taking a break from WFH, looking at flowers is the ideal relaxation.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061
    edited May 2022
    Taz said:

    “Scoop” 😂😂😂😂
    I'm unable to report facts or figures, I'm a newshound!

    I have a scoop - the cabinet office have not confirmed to me the price or colour of Boris Johnson's pants and whether they are tax payer funded
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,073
    Heathener said:

    Further to my first post on this thread, a slightly less angry response.

    I think WFH has been one of THE great success stories to come out of covid. Not necessarily that it should be considered all the time. Of course social interaction is great and there are plenty of industries which do need face to face or hand to till action.

    But for the most part being able to work from home at least some of the time has revolutionised people's lives and, as mentioned by others below, has the capacity to breathe new life into communities far from the cities. I am by and large far more productive working from home. Yes I get up and make cups of coffee or tea but so what?

    It's threatening to the powers-that-be because it's a huge social revolution. But it's one arguably brought about by brilliant internet connectivity spreading around the world. Covid was merely the catalyst.

    This attack on WFH is a reactionary and retrograde step by Boris and chums.

    Why should Unions and Party of working people not be wary of it? If productivity appears up with home workers it may be because workers slip into longer working hours, the pay off is burn out and mental health, not getting their brains or bodies enough break away from work?
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,526
    edited May 2022
    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061

    Yes I suppose it is. I don't think in those terms but I guess a lot of people do. Hence the successful Tory attacks on the "liberal metropolitan elite".
    That was my point, yes. Both sides engage in this eagerly
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,322
    edited May 2022
    Nigelb said:

    For a self-professed Lib Dem, you're awfully fond of echoing the government line of the week on a fairly regular basis.

    The latest bit of posturing from Boris and and etiolated tw@t is not only utterly risible, but also utterly weird from a party which profess themselves to trust the market to sort our this kind of issue.
    Did you not expect there to be a reasonable possibility of a nanny state, highly interventionist government, when one of your two candidates for Prime Minister at the last election was Jeremy Corbyn?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,224

    It's undoubtedly true that Covid has accelerated the move towards WFH. But it hasn't caused it. Flexible working patterns in the Civil Service, for example, started many years ago, particularly for London-based staff. Many colleagues came into London for 1-3 days a week, and worked at home for the rest of the week (obviously only where this was appropriate for the role). My own role was defined as WFH, with equipment provided, with regular visits to HO for meetings, training etc. The trend would have continued, but been slower, without Covid.

    Far too difficult for JRM to find this out, apparently.

    +1 on COVID accelerating a trend.

    One reason that WFH was possible, is that many companies had the setup for this already. Every bank I've done work at has remote login as part of the induction/setup, for example.

    I think that where the balance shakes out to will be a bit of a journey. I've seen a lot of younger people who want to go back to work + play. That is, they travel into the city, work, then go out with their friends, network, socialise etc. How will this fit in with the older people with families, space at home, friends in the areas they live?
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,607

    I'm unable to report facts or figures, I'm a newshound!

    I have a scoop - the cabinet office have not confirmed to me the price or colour of Boris Johnson's pants and whether they are tax payer funded
    If you are a newshound, you can make up the figures. Nobody will expect you to care about the facts.
  • Andy_CookeAndy_Cooke Posts: 5,045
    The appeal is primarily to:

    - Corporate landlords who are seeing their market dry up and blow away
    - Older people (primarily retired) who go "that's not the way it was when I was growing up/young and is therefore wrong"
    - Those (often with minimal experience) who assume that everyone will only work when watched like hawks (possibly because that is what they themselves would do).

    (Plus a little to those who fetishise life of a century ago, such as JRM who obviously wanted to play at being an executive of the 1920s-1940s and now IS playing at being such. His daftness is simply that of a child who wants to play at "office" and visualised it from an earlier era)

    There are issues around home-working, especially for younger workers who have less space and facilities. There are issues around office workers, especially around the commute. Most places are settling into a hybrid working environment, and the three groups I mentioned are simply going to have to accept that.
  • Jim_MillerJim_Miller Posts: 3,264
    Years ago I read of an unusual solution to a problem employee. The man was productive but obnoxious. So the company rented an office for just him, away from his co-workers. (This happened, as I recall, in Silicon Valley. No details were given, for obvious reasons.)

    That extreme case should remind us that working directly with others can make us more productive -- or less productive, depending. So working from home can help or hinder, depending on the individuals.

  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,324

    If you don’t mind me asking, what do you for a living and have you worked from home?
    If he's a shotfirer in a limestone quarry then he's got a bloody good point about WFH being a really bad idea.
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,633

    If you are a newshound, you can make up the figures. Nobody will expect you to care about the facts.
    Likes, retweets, clickbait.

    Modern journalistic priorities.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,073

    He'll be saying he will step down if he hasn't done anything wrong next.
    Beergate and Starmer hypocrisy, wasn’t that very important or something? was all the rage two weeks ago, where’s it gone? Should we report it to police as gone missing?
  • Jim_MillerJim_Miller Posts: 3,264
    From previous thread: This detail from Wikipedia is too fun not to share: Kamala Harris is a member of the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco. (It's a church with quite a history. https://www.thirdbaptist.org/ )
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,224

    Why should Unions and Party of working people not be wary of it? If productivity appears up with home workers it may be because workers slip into longer working hours, the pay off is burn out and mental health, not getting their brains or bodies enough break away from work?
    Other issues -

    - Companies push the cost of the office on the worker. Bring your own desk. bring your own laptop. Bring your own chair.
    - Some people can't afford enough space to have a home office.
    - Next step is "if you don't live in London, why are we paying London rate?"

    I'm alright. I am in hard core IT, so I have a very high end computer to start with.

    Plus I work for the high end white collar outfits. The place I'm working at sent an Addison Lea delivery at the start of the pandemic - I could have had my entire office setup sent hime, for free. Including standing desk, £800 office chair, monitors etc etc. For the majority of the working population, that is a WTF?!? more than WFH.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061

    Beergate and Starmer hypocrisy, wasn’t that very important or something? was all the rage two weeks ago, where’s it gone? Should we report it to police as gone missing?
    It hasn't disappeared, like Partygate it will be resolved one way or another when the police finish their snooping around.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,942
    In this, as in so much, a lot of it is projection.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,073
    Carnyx said:

    Ooh, saw some of these poppies in the botanical garden at Dawyck a few years back.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/dknott8/status/1402229894419976195
    What sort of amazing drugs can be derived from Himalayan poppy? 💠
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061
    edited May 2022
    Starmers team say no change in position as an FPN is the only form of demonstrating wrongdoing. Which seems to be digging an unnecessary hole.
  • mwadamsmwadams Posts: 3,771

    Other issues -

    - Companies push the cost of the office on the worker. Bring your own desk. bring your own laptop. Bring your own chair.
    - Some people can't afford enough space to have a home office.
    - Next step is "if you don't live in London, why are we paying London rate?"

    I'm alright. I am in hard core IT, so I have a very high end computer to start with.

    Plus I work for the high end white collar outfits. The place I'm working at sent an Addison Lea delivery at the start of the pandemic - I could have had my entire office setup sent hime, for free. Including standing desk, £800 office chair, monitors etc etc. For the majority of the working population, that is a WTF?!? more than WFH.
    Businesses *need* to budget for this, and you cannot do it half-heartedly. This is about a real change-around. You are not *allowing* your staff to WFH, you are *requiring* your staff to WFH - and you have to enable them to do so.
  • nico679nico679 Posts: 6,277
    The government shouldn’t be telling companies what to do with their employees re working from home .

  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830


    That's not a garden, this is a garden (Tresco, Scillies)
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,224
    mwadams said:

    Businesses *need* to budget for this, and you cannot do it half-heartedly. This is about a real change-around. You are not *allowing* your staff to WFH, you are *requiring* your staff to WFH - and you have to enable them to do so.
    Finishes laughing.

    There are plenty of businesses where the staff get a small laptop, and are told to fight for a desk in the hot desk office. No monitors, etc.

    Those guys will see WFH as another opportunity.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,526
    edited May 2022

    Starmers team say no change in position as an FPN is the only form of demonstrating wrongdoing. Which seems to be digging an unnecessary hole.

    Well that's not true. Big Dom was told by the plod he did a thing without getting a FPN.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061

    Well that's not true. Big Dom was told by the plod he did a thing without getting a FPN.
    Precisely
  • MISTYMISTY Posts: 1,594
    nico679 said:

    The government shouldn’t be telling companies what to do with their employees re working from home .

    the government is also telling huge multi-national companies what businesses they should be in. Invest in green energy please, BP and Shell.

    Nobody seems worried about that.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,073
    edited May 2022

    Other issues -

    - Companies push the cost of the office on the worker. Bring your own desk. bring your own laptop. Bring your own chair.
    - Some people can't afford enough space to have a home office.
    - Next step is "if you don't live in London, why are we paying London rate?"

    I'm alright. I am in hard core IT, so I have a very high end computer to start with.

    Plus I work for the high end white collar outfits. The place I'm working at sent an Addison Lea delivery at the start of the pandemic - I could have had my entire office setup sent hime, for free. Including standing desk, £800 office chair, monitors etc etc. For the majority of the working population, that is a WTF?!? more than WFH.
    Yes. Already in this thread, at this first glimmer of hybrid working “the office has downsized from 4000 to 400 desks, we can’t go back in.”

    Whose paying the heating and electric bills for the 4000 now?

    “Sod big government, the market is deciding.”

    The Unions and Labour Party and their supporters on here are fools - longer hours, pay privileges lost, no clear head change from work, mental health, all the work costs piled on the workers, passive upskilling workers need killed stone dead. Meanwhile Boris and Mogg are sticking up for the workers of this country.
  • mwadamsmwadams Posts: 3,771

    Finishes laughing.

    There are plenty of businesses where the staff get a small laptop, and are told to fight for a desk in the hot desk office. No monitors, etc.

    Those guys will see WFH as another opportunity.
    Oh, I don't disagree. Most businesses are shit and won't see most of the benefits from enabling remote working because they won't enable remote working.
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,180

    Might have just had enough of it.....not a natural politician so perhaps did not know what he was letting himself in for.
    Possible - also could be aware of the red sharks swimming around him..
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,359
    nico679 said:

    The government shouldn’t be telling companies what to do with their employees re working from home .

    So there should be no regulations in this area? Interesting. ;)
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 30,205

    I'm unable to report facts or figures, I'm a newshound!

    I have a scoop - the cabinet office have not confirmed to me the price or colour of Boris Johnson's pants and whether they are tax payer funded
    If, as you imply, the wardrobe is unimportant, why is the government set on keeping it secret?
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 30,205
    Spectator TV on Covid court cases working through the system:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Ygnf1obA4

    It is not just partygate and beergate.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,224

    Yes. Already in this thread, at this first glimmer of hybrid working “the office has downsized from 4000 to 400 desks, we can’t go back in.”

    Whose paying the heating and electric bills for the 4000 now?

    “Sod big government, the market is deciding.”

    The Unions and Labour Party and their supporters on here are fools - longer hours, pay privileges lost, no clear head change from work, mental health, all the work costs piled on the workers, passive upskilling workers need killed stone dead. Meanwhile Boris and Mogg are sticking up for the workers of this country.
    How long before the lightbulb goes ping about civil service London Weighting.....
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,224
    RobD said:

    So there should be no regulations in this area? Interesting. ;)
    Remarkably little. For example - you hunch over a shitty laptop at the dining table. When it's the to sue about your bad back... is the company responsible?
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,324
    I shot down a drone that some arsehole was flying over our property at the weekend so I am fully expecting a visit from the Old Bill at some point. If I disappear it's because the WiFi is shit in HMP Frankland. (MANPADS employed: Adler A110, 24" barrel, #5 steel shot)
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,224
    Dura_Ace said:

    I shot down a drone that some arsehole was flying over our property at the weekend so I am fully expecting a visit from the Old Bill at some point. If I disappear it's because the WiFi is shit in HMP Frankland. (MANPADS employed: Adler A110, 24" barrel, #5 steel shot)

    #AnarchistsForPropertyRights
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,073

    If, as you imply, the wardrobe is unimportant, why is the government set on keeping it secret?
    Wardrobegate. We demand answers.

    First question. If they simply answered surely it would be a brief story quickly forgotten - by not answering the fools have erected a huge sign - LOOK HERE, LOOK AT THIS,
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620

    What sort of amazing drugs can be derived from Himalayan poppy? 💠
    Oh, I don't know - might make you feel a bit blue.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620

    Wardrobegate. We demand answers.

    First question. If they simply answered surely it would be a brief story quickly forgotten - by not answering the fools have erected a huge sign - LOOK HERE, LOOK AT THIS,
    OTOH it could be a cardboard box bus style dead feline/live squirrel.
  • UnpopularUnpopular Posts: 913

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620
    Dura_Ace said:

    I shot down a drone that some arsehole was flying over our property at the weekend so I am fully expecting a visit from the Old Bill at some point. If I disappear it's because the WiFi is shit in HMP Frankland. (MANPADS employed: Adler A110, 24" barrel, #5 steel shot)

    Was it hovering or how much did you have to lead it?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,400

    I can't help thinking WFH 2-3 days a week is a worst of all worlds outcome. You can't move to a new area, have a much better home. You still have to be tied to the commute.

    Employers who embrace 0 days a week in the office, with maybe a 2 days a month catch-up with all staff together (expenses paid) are going to be far more attractive to the best minds. Partly because it says "we trust you".
    That's becoming our model: three days of in person every six weeks or so.

    That said, I'm not sure it's doing anyone's livers any good.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,159
    Dura_Ace said:

    I shot down a drone that some arsehole was flying over our property at the weekend so I am fully expecting a visit from the Old Bill at some point. If I disappear it's because the WiFi is shit in HMP Frankland. (MANPADS employed: Adler A110, 24" barrel, #5 steel shot)

    If you find yourself on the run, please make your way to Scotland and shoot down every Instagrammer drone too.

    Fed up of my walks being accompanied by that endless whine.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,526
    edited May 2022
    Unpopular said:

    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    A couple of protection officers. But it isn't exactly the job of those individuals to be wondering about if subsection 28, subparagraph 89 of the COVID laws at that time were breached, depending on how you interrupt the length of the meal, the number of beers etc.
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,607

    Yes. Already in this thread, at this first glimmer of hybrid working “the office has downsized from 4000 to 400 desks, we can’t go back in.”

    Whose paying the heating and electric bills for the 4000 now?

    “Sod big government, the market is deciding.”

    The Unions and Labour Party and their supporters on here are fools - longer hours, pay privileges lost, no clear head change from work, mental health, all the work costs piled on the workers, passive upskilling workers need killed stone dead. Meanwhile Boris and Mogg are sticking up for the workers of this country.
    I wonder how many people working from home are aware of their right to claim part of their energy costs, council tax, etc, against their income tax?
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061

    If, as you imply, the wardrobe is unimportant, why is the government set on keeping it secret?
    I mean the story is already out. A custom built wardrobe was put in overnight. It's not going to be millions of public funds.
    Huff are hoping for a figure so they can do a full pearl clutch piece. They dont care what the figure is.
  • FlatlanderFlatlander Posts: 4,924
    edited May 2022
    Dura_Ace said:

    I shot down a drone that some arsehole was flying over our property at the weekend so I am fully expecting a visit from the Old Bill at some point. If I disappear it's because the WiFi is shit in HMP Frankland. (MANPADS employed: Adler A110, 24" barrel, #5 steel shot)

    If there's no CAA registration number on it, it doesn't exist...
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,073
    edited May 2022
    Unpopular said:

    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,073

    I mean the story is already out. A custom built wardrobe was put in overnight. It's not going to be millions of public funds.
    Huff are hoping for a figure so they can do a full pearl clutch piece. They dont care what the figure is.
    Without a figure we can imagine all sorts going on. Just release the figure, not make it the Secret Wardobe scandal.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,073

    I wonder how many people working from home are aware of their right to claim part of their energy costs, council tax, etc, against their income tax?
    Hasn’t WFH tax rebate already scrapped?
  • eekeek Posts: 29,739

    I wonder how many people working from home are aware of their right to claim part of their energy costs, council tax, etc, against their income tax?
    You can't - there is a token £6 per week allowance I believe for working from home.
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,792
    Dura_Ace said:

    I shot down a drone that some arsehole was flying over our property at the weekend so I am fully expecting a visit from the Old Bill at some point. If I disappear it's because the WiFi is shit in HMP Frankland. (MANPADS employed: Adler A110, 24" barrel, #5 steel shot)

    Amusing, but I suspect that will be their excuse to revoke your shotgun certificate.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061

    Without a figure we can imagine all sorts going on. Just release the figure, not make it the Secret Wardobe scandal.
    I suppose the calculation is who exactly is going to be wasting much spleen venting on the great wardrobe Profumo affair, so they can afford to irritate the Huff
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 6,280

    Without a figure we can imagine all sorts going on. Just release the figure, not make it the Secret Wardobe scandal.
    Narniagate.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,324
    Carnyx said:

    Was it hovering or how much did you have to lead it?
    Hovering outside the kitchen fucking window. Mrs DA was out and knows nothing about it. It's going to be a lovely surprise for her.
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,607
    eek said:

    You can't - there is a token £6 per week allowance I believe for working from home.
    What about self employed?
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620
    Dura_Ace said:

    Hovering outside the kitchen fucking window. Mrs DA was out and knows nothing about it. It's going to be a lovely surprise for her.
    Ah, that does put a new complexion on the matter. Quite ironic really though given what you used to jockey.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,073

    Amusing, but I suspect that will be their excuse to revoke your shotgun certificate.
    Even with a camera on it snooping on Mrs Ace in the bath?

    I sense a national test case, and PB celebrity in the dock and on every front page by end of the week.

    “I done it for my wife’s honour, and would do it again tomorrow, as every Englishman should have the God given right to. They shalt not covet their neighbours ass with their drone.”
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,792

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    It could be that he is that that people believe is a rare thing in politicians - a person with genuine integrity. I think you can probably also list Brown, Major and Thatcher, and perhaps Cameron in that list. It is not as rare as apologists for Boris Johnson would like you to believe.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,854
    rcs1000 said:

    That's becoming our model: three days of in person every six weeks or so.

    That said, I'm not sure it's doing anyone's livers any good.
    Scrolling quickly through the thread I thought that said "three days in prison every six weeks or so".
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 30,205

    How long before the lightbulb goes ping about civil service London Weighting.....
    Has the government not already mentioned this? In any case, we have discussed this before with regard to the private sector who even before Covid were moving jobs out of London and even out of the country so they could pay lower wages.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,322
    Dura_Ace said:

    Hovering outside the kitchen fucking window. Mrs DA was out and knows nothing about it. It's going to be a lovely surprise for her.
    Has she not noticed the massive shotgun hole in the shattered kitchen window yet?

    Anyway, good on you. What was it doing spying through your kitchen window. ****. 'em!
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,526
    edited May 2022

    It could be that he is that that people believe is a rare thing in politicians - a person with genuine integrity. I think you can probably also list Brown, Major and Thatcher, and perhaps Cameron in that list. It is not as rare as apologists for Boris Johnson would like you to believe.
    Brown had integrity. You are having a laugh right. A man who knew nothing about 2 guys sitting right next to him organising disgusting smear campaigns.

    Anyway, Starmer appears to have reversed ferreted already (I presume his team realised they left themselves in a dodgy position). Only an FPN is apparently really when you have done something wrong, despite Big Dom being a well known example of the plod judging he did something wrong, but no FPN, and of course Starmer was all over that inconsistency.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061

    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,277

    You need to use some objective yardstick for these things. I would use "rich" for the top 10% of the income distribution. 70-90% is "well off"; 30-70% is "middle income" and 0-30% I would call "poor".
    (Cue lots of people in the 10% claiming not to be rich because of how little money they have left at the end of each month after paying for the mortgage on their huge house, their recent holidays, private school fees etc etc...).
    The bottom 5-10% need a separate label from the rest of your band. The gap between those is bigger than between well off and middle income.

    Also income and assets are no longer as closely correlated as they used to be, which confuses things. A middle income fiftysomething is not just richer than current a well off twentysomething (both in your scales) but will also on average end up as relatively richer at retirement, as they had access to housing assets at much lower prices relative to earnings, and were taxed less.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,324

    Even with a camera on it snooping on Mrs Ace in the bath?

    If they had been doing that then it wouldn't have been the drone that was getting shot.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,754

    How long before the lightbulb goes ping about civil service London Weighting.....
    Custom and practice. It’s getting a bit late in the day. An equal pay claim the other way round, however….
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,792

    Brown had integrity. You are having a laugh right. A man who knew nothing about 2 guys sitting right next to him organising disgusting smear campaigns.
    OK, strike him from the list. I was trying to have a bit of balance. Robin Cook then. Ugly fecker, but he had integrity.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822
    edited May 2022
    Dura_Ace said:

    Hovering outside the kitchen fucking window. Mrs DA was out and knows nothing about it. It's going to be a lovely surprise for her.
    I thought a jar of picked tomatoes (or, if you haven't got any of those, a jar of pickled gherkins or onions) was the MANPAD de choix for this kind of situation.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,400
    Dura_Ace said:

    If they had been doing that then it wouldn't have been the drone that was getting shot.
    You'd kill your own wife, just because someone else had seen her naked???
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,073

    I suppose the calculation is who exactly is going to be wasting much spleen venting on the great wardrobe Profumo affair, so they can afford to irritate the Huff
    Narniagate as Blanche said, there is something obviously special about this wardrobe. It’s had a portal installed, probably to the off license.
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,792
    Dura_Ace said:

    If they had been doing that then it wouldn't have been the drone that was getting shot.
    Intrigued that you used steel shot. Is your garden an SSSI?
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,322

    OK, strike him from the list. I was trying to have a bit of balance. Robin Cook then. Ugly fecker, but he had integrity.
    What about his dalliance with Gaynor?
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,135
    Breaking: Sinn Fein’s @MaryLouMcDonald says they’ve had a “tough” meeting with the pm and clear that the British govt priority is not getting Stormont up and running. https://twitter.com/AnushkaAsthana/status/1526200658948497408/photo/1

    She says “in the mind of Boris Johnson government here in the north” involves placating dup on protocol. “Our absolute dismay” that this is where we are at.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,324

    Has she not noticed the massive shotgun hole in the shattered kitchen window yet?

    Anyway, good on you. What was it doing spying through your kitchen window. ****. 'em!
    I reckon it's some sort of semi-sophisticated rural burglary operation. Flying ISTAR missions to look for quad bikes, etc. to nick.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,526

    OK, strike him from the list. I was trying to have a bit of balance. Robin Cook then. Ugly fecker, but he had integrity.
    Alan Johnson is the obvious example.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,557
    Cyclefree said:

    Off topic but am soo excited!

    The first of my Himalayan poppies has flowered. Look at that exquisite blue. And there are more about to flower.

    Plus the geums and clematis are really showing off.






    Another reason to WFH. Nothing gives more joy than walking round your own garden in the sunshine - on a tea-break from work.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,073

    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
    Still doesn’t answer the question though, what exactly are you proving they did wrong, even for just an advisory note?
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061

    Narniagate as Blanche said, there is something obviously special about this wardrobe. It’s had a portal installed, probably to the off license.
    Party wardrobe. Custom party out of touch food bank gate.
    Huff are on to them.
This discussion has been closed.