*Geraldine Scott, Political Reporter | Chris Smyth, Whitehall Editor, June 15 2022, The Times*
Jacob Rees-Mogg has been accused of “hypocrisy” after he criticised attempts by officials to collect data on when MPs attend the House of Commons.
The minister for government efficiency warned a WhatsApp group that officials were collecting data to “count the days” MPs had used their security passes to access parliament so that they could answer freedom of information requests. Rees-Mogg said: “I do not know why the Commons desires to track our movements in this way.”
Rees-Mogg has supported forcing civil servants to return to the office and has left notes in empty Whitehall workspaces. Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, said: “It would appear that the hypocrisy of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s outrage at having his attendance in parliament monitored is completely lost on him. As a senior public servant, he probably expects to be trusted to judge when it’s necessary and when it’s not to attend.
“This is exactly how civil servants feel about his obsession on working from home and one-size-fits-all approach to dictating the number of days in the office.”
Rees-Mogg, who is also the minister for Brexit opportunities, said that the “lefty” request had revealed that out of 154 sitting days he had been present for 159 and had therefore been in parliament when the Commons was not in session.
It is understood that Rees-Mogg received concerns about the data collection from MPs across the political spectrum and from varying intakes.
Meanwhile, thousands more civil servants have been hired. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show the equivalent of 479,040 full-time civil servants in March 2022, 10,910 more than a year earlier. Numbers are at their highest since June 2010. A government source said the prime minister was “clear about the importance of reducing the cost and size of government for the benefit of taxpayers at a very difficult time”.
In fairness even before working from home became common, it was always the case that MPs had multiple workplaces and would split time between Westminster and their constituency.
I think it also strains believability that officials need this for FOI. I’m not specifically an expert on it, but as I understand it FOI doesn’t require public bodies to collect information specifically to meet requests. If “how many days did my MP attend?” is a common FOI query, Commons authorities can provide useful information in other ways such as doing a Hansard search for how often the MP spoke or voted.
MPs absolutely should be monitored for this. Their constituency deserves to know and Westminster should have it accessible.
I have to jump through hoops to be entitled to my ESA and PIP, they’re being paid something like 7x what I am so they can jump through some hoops too.
>Rees-Mogg said: “I do not know why the Commons desires to track our movements in this way.”
Because you are telling other people they have to come into their office while you are seen asleep in yours.
If it was up to me you would have one of those socks my baby has that tells me when he is asleep.
Never mind he’s going to level up the North. How’s that going clowns?
They will tolerate this for the same reason MPs will never vote to make it illegal to post political leaflets through your front door – politicians never legislate against themselves.
So MPs are using security cards to enter and exit parliament? Security cards registered against individual people? On a security system that more than likely has reporting software.
Just run a report and be done with it.
Greasy fucks should be live streamed 24/7, from multiple angles, with full archives available for review. Maybe add a shock-collar round their ballsack set to “extra crispy” to be set off at the first sign of any impropriety.
If they have nothing to hide they have nothing to fear.
How can he be present for 159 out of 154 sitting days?
He can be present for 159 days and there can be 154 sitting days, but he can’t be present for 159 out of 154 sitting days.
He could have been present for 0 sitting days, but still there for 159 days as there are 365 days in a year.
Not to mention that he’s consistently voted in favour of mass data collection and retention on the public by the government. One rule for us, eh?
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Article contents:
*Geraldine Scott, Political Reporter | Chris Smyth, Whitehall Editor, June 15 2022, The Times*
Jacob Rees-Mogg has been accused of “hypocrisy” after he criticised attempts by officials to collect data on when MPs attend the House of Commons.
The minister for government efficiency warned a WhatsApp group that officials were collecting data to “count the days” MPs had used their security passes to access parliament so that they could answer freedom of information requests. Rees-Mogg said: “I do not know why the Commons desires to track our movements in this way.”
Rees-Mogg has supported forcing civil servants to return to the office and has left notes in empty Whitehall workspaces. Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, said: “It would appear that the hypocrisy of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s outrage at having his attendance in parliament monitored is completely lost on him. As a senior public servant, he probably expects to be trusted to judge when it’s necessary and when it’s not to attend.
“This is exactly how civil servants feel about his obsession on working from home and one-size-fits-all approach to dictating the number of days in the office.”
Rees-Mogg, who is also the minister for Brexit opportunities, said that the “lefty” request had revealed that out of 154 sitting days he had been present for 159 and had therefore been in parliament when the Commons was not in session.
It is understood that Rees-Mogg received concerns about the data collection from MPs across the political spectrum and from varying intakes.
Meanwhile, thousands more civil servants have been hired. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show the equivalent of 479,040 full-time civil servants in March 2022, 10,910 more than a year earlier. Numbers are at their highest since June 2010. A government source said the prime minister was “clear about the importance of reducing the cost and size of government for the benefit of taxpayers at a very difficult time”.
In fairness even before working from home became common, it was always the case that MPs had multiple workplaces and would split time between Westminster and their constituency.
I think it also strains believability that officials need this for FOI. I’m not specifically an expert on it, but as I understand it FOI doesn’t require public bodies to collect information specifically to meet requests. If “how many days did my MP attend?” is a common FOI query, Commons authorities can provide useful information in other ways such as doing a Hansard search for how often the MP spoke or voted.
MPs absolutely should be monitored for this. Their constituency deserves to know and Westminster should have it accessible.
I have to jump through hoops to be entitled to my ESA and PIP, they’re being paid something like 7x what I am so they can jump through some hoops too.
>Rees-Mogg said: “I do not know why the Commons desires to track our movements in this way.”
Because you are telling other people they have to come into their office while you are seen asleep in yours.
If it was up to me you would have one of those socks my baby has that tells me when he is asleep.
Never mind he’s going to level up the North. How’s that going clowns?
They will tolerate this for the same reason MPs will never vote to make it illegal to post political leaflets through your front door – politicians never legislate against themselves.
So MPs are using security cards to enter and exit parliament? Security cards registered against individual people? On a security system that more than likely has reporting software.
Just run a report and be done with it.
Greasy fucks should be live streamed 24/7, from multiple angles, with full archives available for review. Maybe add a shock-collar round their ballsack set to “extra crispy” to be set off at the first sign of any impropriety.
If they have nothing to hide they have nothing to fear.
How can he be present for 159 out of 154 sitting days?
He can be present for 159 days and there can be 154 sitting days, but he can’t be present for 159 out of 154 sitting days.
He could have been present for 0 sitting days, but still there for 159 days as there are 365 days in a year.
Not to mention that he’s consistently voted in favour of mass data collection and retention on the public by the government. One rule for us, eh?