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Politics
Liam O'Dell
Aug 28, 2022
Related video: Jacob Rees-Mogg WFH note called 'smarmy' by civil servant on Question Time
BBC
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the minister for Brexit opportunities and government efficiency, isn’t exactly winning his fight against civil servants working from home – he’s now selling off government offices because employees are refusing to come in.
It comes after Mr Rees-Mogg attracted criticism earlier this year for leaving “passive-aggressive” notes on the desks of civil servants who don’t go into the office.
“Sorry you were out when I visited. I look forward to seeing you in the office very soon,” the message read.
Well, it seems the subtle shaming approach didn’t exactly work for the North East Somerset MP, as the Telegraph reports he’s going to sell off £1.5 billion of property in the next three years because offices in central London have been “under-utilised” over the last year.
Mr Rees-Mogg told the outlet: “Why should the taxpayer be made to fork out for half-empty buildings?
“We are cutting the cost of the public estate so that we can return money to the taxpayer. All spending on government property needs to be justified.”
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We agree entirely, Mr Rees-Mogg – shame Boris Johnson couldn’t really justify spending £28,000 in taxpayer’s money on the “painting and sanding of floorboards” in his Downing Street flat before paying the excess costs himself.
Awkward.
The selling off of the buildings will form part of a Government Property Strategy, which looks to make £2 billion in savings and will be published next week.
After the news was shared online, Twitter users couldn’t help but ridicule Mr Rees-Mogg’s failed post-it strategy:
\u201cHear hear. Finally he wakes up to the fact that greater flexible working provides better value for the taxpayer. The only question is why it took so long.\u201d— Dave Penman (@Dave Penman) 1661633952
\u201c@Telegraph So his little notes didn\u2019t work then? Shame.\u201d— The Telegraph (@The Telegraph) 1661637783
\u201c@PA @AlanaCalvert So you sell off the office you were supposed to return to?\u201d— PA Media (@PA Media) 1661668823
\u201c@PA @AlanaCalvert Mogg throwing a tantrum because civil servants won't listen to him.\u201d— PA Media (@PA Media) 1661668823
\u201cSo, #Jacob_Rees_Mogg having utterly failed to persuade civil servants to return to work in Govt. Offices - Is now to sell those London based offices (at the worst possible time - as regards realisation prices).\n\nWhat \u201cGovernment Efficiency\u201d! https://t.co/BgwkNVOK8Z\u201d— Dan Johnson | British Lawyer | +44 7788 537 187 (@Dan Johnson | British Lawyer | +44 7788 537 187) 1661665227
\u201cJacob Rees-Mogg: Have no fear. I'll drive those pesky civil servants back to the office with a relentless campaign of moaning and passive-aggressive notes.\n\nJRM, a few months later: Oopsie. That didn't work. Ok, I'll sell the offices instead.\nhttps://t.co/E0fA1JNpoR\u201d— Edwin Hayward \ud83e\udd84 \ud83d\udde1 (@Edwin Hayward \ud83e\udd84 \ud83d\udde1) 1661645025
This isn’t the only issue which has seen the cabinet office minister make headlines in recent days, as the individual responsible for government efficiency spent £1,300 travelling to Wales by car when he could have bought a train ticket for £98.
Never has our government looked more efficient…
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