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Original poster

Nigel Farage calls for an end to working from home

716 replies

sally037 · 10/02/2026 10:06

Nigel Farage has doubled down on his attack on remote and hybrid working, calling it “a load of nonsense” and saying people are only productive when working face-to-face in the office. He argues we need an “attitudinal change to hard work” rather than focusing on work-life balance.

AIBU for thinking this idea is just bonkers and totally at odds with how most of the workforce actually wants to work now?

I can only think it appeals to the "pull the ladder up" generation. Don't give two fucks about anyone else as long as they are comfortable or those that are unable to wfh and want everyone else to be as miserable as them.

OP posts:
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MidnightPatrol · 10/02/2026 10:40

It’s strange how angry the concept of working from home makes some people.

Typically older people - the retired angriest of all about it.

It just demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of what modern (typically hybrid) WFH looks like.

Is it bitterness they couldn’t do it? Just not understanding what the modern workplace looks like? Not appreciating the pressures of FT dual income households? That families with small children typically have both parents working FT?

The examples of why it’s bad always seem to start with ’when I ring the council / my energy provider / other service I can’t get through’ and little else.

HappyFace2025 · 10/02/2026 10:40

Verv · 10/02/2026 10:39

I'd like to call for the end of Nigel Farage.

Indeed.

Verv · 10/02/2026 10:39

I'd like to call for the end of Nigel Farage.

HappyFace2025 · 10/02/2026 10:39

sally037 · 10/02/2026 10:38

They don’t need to ban it outright, they can incentivise employers to push people back into the office through taxation. If the Treasury were instructed to find a way to make businesses pay more tax when staff work from home, they absolutely would. There’s always a mechanism when there’s political will.

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Another taxation? Give me a break! Working from home should be up to the employer and not a decision of the nanny state.

CloakedInGucci · 10/02/2026 10:39

JacknDiane · 10/02/2026 10:24

I think nigel farage is the scum of the earth and can hardly look at his smug face but I think wfh is shit for youngsters and that's what I've got.
Renting a small room and working and sleeping in it all day is bloody crap.
I can see how its great if you have a home and space and can put a wash out or be at home after school...however I dont think this trumps the decline in mh that wfh brings to younger generations.

Edited

But would you ban it? Force companies to pay for more office space that they don’t think they need? While also claiming to be anti any rules and red tape that make it harder for businesses to operate?

DeftGoldHedgehog · 10/02/2026 10:39

Five jobs Farage can fuck right off. And all the journalists who WFH permanently giving this utter irredeemable bastard constant airtime.

Five jobs he's never "in the office" for.

Of course, the rules don't apply to them.

Slightyamusedandsilly · 10/02/2026 10:39

It's just another bandwagon for him to hop on. He'll go for anything that keeps his profile up and him in the fake news.

anniegun · 10/02/2026 10:38

From the man who barely attends the house of commons

Original poster
sally037 · 10/02/2026 10:38

ThatLoftyAquaDreamer · 10/02/2026 10:28

He cannot force every employer to force their employees in.

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They don’t need to ban it outright, they can incentivise employers to push people back into the office through taxation. If the Treasury were instructed to find a way to make businesses pay more tax when staff work from home, they absolutely would. There’s always a mechanism when there’s political will.

OP posts:
SerendipityJane · 10/02/2026 10:37

ThatLoftyAquaDreamer · 10/02/2026 10:28

He cannot force every employer to force their employees in.

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Why not. Look how Trump has strongarmed US companies to do what he wants. (Or more likely to pretend to do what he says he wants. Which can change on a dime anyway).

ConcernedOfClapham · 10/02/2026 10:36

You are not being unreasonable for thinking this is bonkers. Most of Farage’s ideas are bonkers.

HappyFace2025 · 10/02/2026 10:36

sally037 · 10/02/2026 10:13

It will probably start with the public sector, but there’s no reason it couldn’t be pushed onto private companies as well. There are some fairly obvious incentives at play, many major Reform donors have significant investments in office buildings and there’s also a sizeable older voter base that simply dislikes working from home and sees it as a lack of “proper” work. Add in a certain misery-loves-company mindset and you can see the appeal.

I imagine it would be done indirectly rather than by an outright ban, for example through taxation. Companies could be required to report WFH levels via ONS returns, with higher rates or levies applied where home working is widespread. That would effectively make WFH too expensive for many employers, even if it’s working perfectly well for staff.

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And I'm guessing the people it would impact most are women who juggle their work life with school drop offs etc. Both DDs work from home as well as going into the office twice a week. They wouldn't be able to function if they had to spend every working day on a long commute into their office.

Bonkers idea but it's Farage, who can't be arsed to serve his own constituency full time.

bloomchamp · 10/02/2026 10:35

YesSirICanNameChange · 10/02/2026 10:29

Doesn't he also want welfare reform?

Why don't people understand that if you want more disabled people off benefits and in employment, work from home is one of the reasonable adjustments that could make a huge difference?

This!

I work from home three days a week. I’m physically disabled. Honestly there’s no jobs for people like me. I’m only in this position as I was already employed when I very suddenly lost my mobility. My employers gave been wonderful at accommodating my disability. There’s not many, if any that would employ me now in my position

WilliamsandWatsonAQuitterneverwinsNsoul · 10/02/2026 10:33

PoorPhaedra · 10/02/2026 10:28

I’m guessing he either has money invested in, or is getting strongly lobbied by, the firms who build, run and let office blocks and the surrounding rental space for sandwich chains.

Oh yes ,there will definitely be something in it for him and his mates.

HappiestSleeping · 10/02/2026 10:31

@sally037 I think you are confusing Farage for a true politician.

He only says what he believes will get him elected, with no further thought of anything. None of Reform's policies stack up to any scrutiny, and Farage himself has a track record of disappearing once the result comes in (a la Brexshit). Should he ever be elected, I would fully expect him to disappear the following day as he knows he has no way to deliver anything.

The only reason to worry is because the electorate seems to buy in to his bullshit.

mamajong · 10/02/2026 10:30

Wtaf has it got to do with that knob? Baffling to me that there are people who actually support and agree with this idiot. I think business decisions are best left with the business owners, they probably know whats best fir their business!

randomchap · 10/02/2026 10:30

More evidence that he is a knobhead

How often does he work from his workplaces, Clacton or the House of Commons?

He seems to avoid doing that job completely

ThatLoftyAquaDreamer · 10/02/2026 10:29

chipsandpeas · 10/02/2026 10:19

the company i work for recently moved to fancy posh offices, if they instigated a everyone back in office 5 days a week theres not enough seats for us all

Many councils have sold property off especially to help with balancing the budgets. There's not enough room in all organisations.

YesSirICanNameChange · 10/02/2026 10:29

Doesn't he also want welfare reform?

Why don't people understand that if you want more disabled people off benefits and in employment, work from home is one of the reasonable adjustments that could make a huge difference?

BitOutOfPractice · 10/02/2026 10:29

Being lectured about hard work by Nigel Farage is like being given budgeting advice by a billionaire.

PoorPhaedra · 10/02/2026 10:28

I’m guessing he either has money invested in, or is getting strongly lobbied by, the firms who build, run and let office blocks and the surrounding rental space for sandwich chains.

ThatLoftyAquaDreamer · 10/02/2026 10:28

LeoniesDiaspora · 10/02/2026 10:26

Surely it’s up to the individual employer?

He cannot force every employer to force their employees in.

AnneBoleynsNecklace · 10/02/2026 10:27

Richard Tice lives in Dubai 😂😂😂😂

LeoniesDiaspora · 10/02/2026 10:26

Surely it’s up to the individual employer?

JacknDiane · 10/02/2026 10:24

I think nigel farage is the scum of the earth and can hardly look at his smug face but I think wfh is shit for youngsters and that's what I've got.
Renting a small room and working and sleeping in it all day is bloody crap.
I can see how its great if you have a home and space and can put a wash out or be at home after school...however I dont think this trumps the decline in mh that wfh brings to younger generations.