Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner (Image: Getty)
Angela Rayner’s civil servants are protesting over a work from home ban. Officials in the Deputy Prime Minister’s department have launched a “work to rule” campaign after being ordered to come into the office.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, the largest in the civil service, said the action at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) would start on Monday. The move comes after the closure of six offices, office attendance policies and the scrapping of “local-neutral” contracts.
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PCS president Martin Cavanagh told The Times: “From removing staff from an office before the lease expires to spuriously challenging lawful notices of industrial action, the employer seems intent to avoid proper consultation, disregard fair process and alienate its staff.
“Closing local offices while rigidly enforcing mandatory office attendance doesn’t make sense. The way out of this dispute is to negotiate, not frustrate.”
The protest means civil servants will do no more work than what is stated in their contracts.
They are understood to be angry because Ms Rayner, who is also the Housing Secretary, has spearheaded Labour’s workers’ rights reforms which include the right to request flexible working.
An MHCLG spokesman said: “We have engaged with unions and staff about a number of proposals, including plans to expand four offices outside of London and close six offices over the next two years as leases come to an end.
“The department will continue to have offices in every English region, as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and all staff affected will be able to continue in their roles.”
Tory MP slams Sadiq Khan as he is flabbergasted by illegal migrant camp on Park Lane
A Tory MP has slammed Sir Sadiq Khan over a migrant camp in one of London’s poshest neighbourhoods. Around 30 people started living in a makeshift tent village in Park Lane several weeks ago. They have now been moved on following an Express investigation. Before the site’s occupants were evicted on Thursday morning, the Shadow Home Secretary and London MP, Chris Philp, visited the camp. As he was being filled in on the situation, including organised begging being carried out from the site, by investigations editor Zak Garner-Purkis, Mr Philp suggested that the camp was deterring potential tourists.
The MP then expressed his shock at the police having not moved people at the camp for such a long period of time, adding: “It’s Sadiq Khan’s responsibility.” The land is under the jurisdiction of Transport for London (TfL), which the Mayor of London chairs. The pair approached a group of people at a table, some of whom then used clothing to cover their faces.
Chris Philp MP visited the migrant camp in Park Lane. (Image: The Express/Getty)
Mr Philp asked: “How come you’re living here in tents?”
In response, an individual shouted at him. The MP told him: ” Take it easy. Take it easy.”
The same man told Mr Phlip and the Express reporter to leave, but Zak retorted that they were in a public area and were allowed to stay.
Another man told Mr Philp that people at the camp are from Romania and Bulgaria, before appearing to ask Chris and Zak to go and speak to another group of people in the area. The camera pans to show a different man using a broom to sweep some litter on the ground.
The Express then asked why people in the camp were sitting and drinking beer when they claimed to be looking for jobs.
“If I’m looking for a job, I’m putting the effort into that,” Zak said.
Some of the migrants were seen drinking vodka at 6am and defecating in public, as previously reported by The Express. Bailiffs arrived at around 5am on Thursday to move those living at the camp on.
A TfL spokesperson said: “No one should be faced with sleeping rough on London’s streets. Park Lane is a busy part of the road network that is not a safe place for people to sleep rough and our focus has always been on the safety and welfare of everyone involved.
“We had to take enforcement action to regain possession of the site on two occasions last year, however, a number of people have returned with tents and other belongings. In order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved we were granted a possession order at the Central London County Court in May.
“Outreach efforts have been continuing, but the encampment has remained in place, meaning we have been left with no option but to take further enforcement action to gain possession of the site. There is no safe option for rough sleepers to remain at the site, and we will continue to work with our partners to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.”
The Express also contacted Sir Sadiq’s office for comment, which deferred to TfL.
