Fuloughing the housekeeper and gardener

[namechangedforthisverything]

AIBU to think that furloughing the housekeeper and gardener at your own house is wrong? It seems not legally, but morally? Just because the scheme technically allows it aren't we as civilised animals supposed to aspire to do the right thing?

It's Steve Coogan furloughing housekeeper and gardener at his £4m house. It's in the Daily Fail and the Sun and they've contacted him and he's admitted it and said he's done nothing wrong.

I suppose there will always be dreadful people in the world but I just think this is disgusting. AIBU? Or because it's technically legal, is it ok?

[CrazyTimesAreOccurring]

I was just reading this. Luvvy labourite leaps on the bandwagon!! I agree that the furlough scheme isnt for millionaires who earn more in interest a day than they would be paying out.
Shame on him, VB, RB and all the others who have shown their true colours. Grabbing a freebie when they can

[AlwaysCheddar]

He’s a beep!

[NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1]

Well, it's a bit tight of him but technically he's done nothing wrong.

However, only his gardener or his housekeeper could have reported this story to the daily mail so i'm guessing he's an arsehole employer anyway, otherwise why would they embarrass him like that.

[LellyMcKelly]

I don’t think it’s anything to do with his political leanings. It’s more to do with the fact that Coogan is a knob. Always has been, always will be.

[Francina670]

The gardener and housekeeper will have friends and neighbours. Everyone knows who’s furloughed.

[LaureBerthaud]

Why do people on MN think it's oh so witty to call it the Daily Fail?

[LemonPudding]

Why do people on MN think it's oh so witty to call it the Daily Fail?

To show their contempt for it. I prefer The Daily Heil.

[Wiltinglillies]

*Why do people on MN think it's oh so witty to call it the Daily Fail?

Does anyone think they're being witty, or just acknowledging that it's a horrible paper full of right wing gossipy judgement

IMO 'Daily Heil' is much better.

[hfrdgftcsdg]

Why do people on MN think it's oh so witty to call it the Daily Fail?

Makes me cringe so badly.

[Wiltinglillies]

Omg, cross post

[Kittenlicker]

Daily Fail...not witty but accurate.

[BuffaloCauliflower]

@LaureBerthaud it’s nothing to do with wit (though it is indeed true) the DM regularly lift entire threads from here and write about them/publish them with comment. They obviously don’t want to link to threads that say bad things about them so it’s a good habit not to write their name directly for safeguarding against stealing

[StrawberryBlondeStar]

He's done nothing illegal, but I would say morally wrong. Typical champagne socialist. Do I as say not as I do.

[AJPTaylor]

I hate the daily mail.
Steve Cogan is a total knob. You should try reading his autobiography. No don't it will Just encourage him!

So, is no housekeeping or gardening taking place at chez Cogan? Is he running round with a vac himself? Weeding his flower beds?

[Medievalist]

But surely the job retention scheme is for employers who would otherwise have to make their staff redundant due to lack of income because of the covid lockdown?
I'm sure Steve Coogan has a few quid stashed away that would cover their salaries without bankrupting him. What a total jerk.

[Alsohuman]

So, is no housekeeping or gardening taking place at chez Cogan? Is he running round with a vac himself? Weeding his flower beds?

Precisely. Hope HMRC reclaims the money. It’s far worse than benefit fraud. Actually I suppose it is benefit fraud.

[sarahC40]

Coogan is clearly an arse. We call it the Daily Shite if we have to refer to it

[Curlyshabtree]

Steve Coogan once told my cousin that his sunglasses cost more than she earned in a month....
Total knob.

[PamDenick]

It’s not illegal. The papers seem to jump on these celeb stories from time to time. Victoria Beckham has been subjected to this exposure, as has Gordon Ramsay.
These stories sell papers, have Jo Public clutching his/her pearls and sometimes, but not always, are released on a day when there’s a more pertinent or damaging story regarding the current government. For instance, the details of Mr Johnson and Jennifer Acuri investigation will be released today.

[CrazyTimesAreOccurring]

Wonder if he is making up the extra 20% himself - doubt it somehow!!

[InfiniteSheldon]

I can't see why they've been furloughed both could work in isolation no need for furlough.

[BossAssBitch]

Coogan is a massive a hole.

And 'Daily Fail' isn't meant to be witty, just one of many the less 'respectful' names for an odious 'newspaper', Daily Fail, Daily Heil, The Hate Mail, Daily Wail, etc etc

[CrazyTimesAreOccurring]

If it were illegal, we wouldnt be talking about it. Because it would be illegal.... that is the whole point. Is it right to do something legal, just because you can. Or should a basic sense of decency overule that thinking

But very interesting about the BJ/Acuri info! Makes me wonder how long the Coogan info has been stalled for then

[Marpan]

Well if they were his full time staff why not. They can’t work. So if the scheme wasn’t there they would be made redundant.

Otherwise, they would be self employed and have to fill out the paperwork themselves.

[Jimdandy]

Technically he’s done nothing wrong.

I can see the moral argument, same as Victoria Beckham using the scheme and Richard Branson etc. It’s the same principle as when Katie Price did not fund her own son’s transport to school despite being a millionaire.

Should these millionaires be able to access these schemes or should there be a cut off point where their wealth should be used first?

Considering you’re only allowed a limited number of savings before your entitlement to state benefits tapers off I would argue it should be the same for them. But as usual the little people/poor don’t matter!!