Jacob Rees-Mogg is under fire after leaving strange notes on empty desks in an apparent attack on government officials working from home.
The cabinet minister has been called a “bully and patron”, while other critics have suggested that his work overseeing Brexit opportunities did not give him enough work.
The notes read: “I’m sorry you were out when I visited him. I look forward to seeing you in the office very soon “, and they are signed” with all good wishes “.
But courtesy on the surface comes after Mr. Rees-Mogg wrote to all cabinet ministers, demanding “a clear message to government officials in your department to ensure a quick return to the office.”
The minister, who is also in charge of “government efficiency”, also published a table showing how many employees were at their desks on average this month.
Dave Penman, head of the FDA’s civil service union, said he was “not sure that’s true” when he first saw the notes, which were shared on Twitter.
“I have not seen one of these virgin green felt boards since I was a civil servant 25 years ago. If so, this is the most rude, condescending act I have ever seen from a minister, “he said.
Helen Morgan, a Liberal Democrat MP, called it a “meaningless nasty gesture”, while Labor’s Justin Midders said: “Please someone introduce it to email and Zoom”.
Others cited the infamous incident when Mr Rees-Mogg was photographed lying on the front bench of the Commons in September 2019.
The act was described as “the physical embodiment of arrogance, power and contempt for parliament” – and the clearest example of a minister “lying in parliament”.
Other ministers have stepped up criticism of departments and quangos, which have maintained Covid’s “hybrid work” policies, which require staff to be on site two days a week.
But they were accused of ignorance, claiming that working from home meant that civil servants were less productive or efficient in their work.
Some officials say they have been told they can enter the office for a limited number of days because there are no free desks or the building has been sold.
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