What kind of fucked-up, dysfunctional workplace is our government operating in?

[noblegiraffe]

Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament? Can't get through the day without a suitcase of wine in Downing Street, drugs everywhere in Parliament? Subsidised bars on work premises?

I guess the fact that they tried to make an exemption for the bars in the Houses of Parliament when introducing a curfew for pubs should have been a warning sign that there's far too much reliance on alcohol in our ruling classes.

There was a lot of talk about standards in public life during the Owen Paterson scandal. Surely not being pissed or high on the job is a basic standard?

Aside from the issue that they couldn't even stop having massive piss-ups during lockdown, AIBU to think that something needs to be done to introduce basic rules like 'If you're not safe to drive, you're not allowed to vote in new laws'?

If you wouldn't be happy with a teacher teaching your kids half-cut and would expect rules to prevent this, why should we tolerate our government ruling the country while making their way through the contents of the wine fridge?

People have been posting 'oh yes, it's always been like this'.

Well it shouldn't be in future.

I worked in publishing in the 90s and we all spent a lot of time in the pub. It was fine by me (and of course there was no pandemic, nor were we responsible for the wellbeing or safety of other people - though there was one pisshead whose car keys we used to pinch if he'd overdone it.)

I have a nasty feeling this is going to be jumped on by bullies and puritans and whinyarses to start a new crusade where anyone having more than a shandy after work is a Problem Drinker, and a lot of ordinary working stiffs will get the push, middle or lower management will be obliged to make public confessions and apologies and probably shunted off to some sharp-eyed grifter for 'therapy'... and the ruling class will carry on doing whatever they like, just more discreetly.

Boris needs to go. Not because of a few drinks at work (when did a few drinks become a party) but because he is not strong enough to lead during tough times - he doesn’t have the morel fibre.

I do wonder how Sir Keir justifies his beer at a work meeting (note these were apparently not a party) - photos available in The Sun and if the BBC bar was fully closed at the BBC during this period?

During WW2, bomber command and several other agencies had a play hard/work hard culture that included a lot of drink and the breaking of a lot of rules - were all the pilots despicable people - I don’t think so! I’m not suggesting the staff at Downing Street are Bomber Command, just in a similarly pressurised situation during a dire emergency - this is how some people cope.

But yes, Boris needs to go.

Thing is, even if they'd been socialising with tea and cakes rather than 'WAAA, BOOOOOZE!' the central issue would still have been that they were doing what they were insisting the general public be heavily punished for doing.

@TheUndoingProject

As a civil servant i’m particularly furious that the whole lot of us are being made to look like debauched idiots by a few twats in No. 10.

I agree......we could not share a box of biscuits this Christmas, despite gloves, sanitiser etc only something small, but the hysteria from those in charge when we asked what was acceptable was crazy!

@MistressoftheDarkSide - useful lists at www.parliament.uk/business/bills-and-legislation/current-bills/public-bill-list/ - my money's personally on this one though, bills.parliament.uk/bills/2839

That's what journalists should really be reporting on (along with little things like, oh, Afghanistan, refugees in the Channel, food security and climate change). Though I am very much enjoying hearing pennies finally drop in some Tory voter's heads, I don't know if there'll be any actual changes made, Westminster and most of the mainstream media make up far too incestuous a cabal for that, I suspect.

Still, we all needed something to replace Strictly, eh.

*voters'. For God's sake, is this site EVER going to have an edit function?!

If we’re going to use Bomber Command as an analogy, this is like Bomber Command having a party with all the lights on and no blackout while signalling their whereabouts to the Germans. Partying at No10 at that time was completely contrary to the National effort.

Of course it's not standard for the civil service to be drunk g and taking drugs! I really object to that - I'm assuming those making those comments have never worked in the civil service?

We do not drink while working and yes there are bars in Parliament which MPs use but there are no bars in the Department premises where most of us work.

Civil servants who have broken the rules have let us all down and they should be disciplined. But this is by no means reflective of the whole culture of our workplaces.

I work in a part of the public sector and there is no alcohol on the premises, or during a work break. In my contract. Won't say where so as not to be outing.

Same should apply across the government.

I would definitely sign a petition requesting alcohol be banned in all working areas of no 10 & 11, the entirety of the Houses of Parliament and all government offices. They should not be drinking while supposedly running the Country (into the ground for their own benefit).

@noblegiraffe

You did imply that the DfE must be pissed on Fridays

I was a Civil Servant for many years. We were mostly criticised for drinking tea all the time. There used to be the bun wagon which came round with savouries in the morning and cakes in the afternoon. The cuts did for that.

@Ted27 The DfE were a disgrace during the pandemic. I'd probably have more respect for them if they blamed it on being pissed. Coming out with that stuff sober is an embarrassment.

@Hercisback

No the DfE was not a disgrace, we were working our socks off, Gavin Williamson is another matter

Perhaps your part of it wasn't a disgrace, but Gavin didn't write or release the guidance single handedly. Give over that the whole DfE was working their socks off, if they were then they are either under resourced or horrendously out of touch with the classroom and schools.

It seems crazy to me that our country's run by people off their tits on coke and alcohol. Maybe politicians like to use them for "performance enhancement" . Apparently the reason why Hitler was fond of stimulants too. Amphetamines.

All this shit makes it quite apparent to me that democracy in the UK is a lie.

@Blinkingbatshit

I would definitely sign a petition requesting alcohol be banned in all working areas of no 10 & 11, the entirety of the Houses of Parliament and all government offices. They should not be drinking while supposedly running the Country (into the ground for their own benefit).

I agree. How can anyone not!

[quote Ted27]@Hercisback

No the DfE was not a disgrace, we were working our socks off, Gavin Williamson is another matter[/quote]
The guidance released by the DfE was a disgrace in content, design and delivery. Gavin was incompetent but I can’t imagine he was solely responsible.

Just like with E-ON and OVO and their piss taking with solutions to keep warm (star jumps, porridge and socks) this Government seems to have just sat around drinking, thinking up new and crazy ways to see how far we would all go... mandating us not to attend funerals, not to seek medical treatments, not to visit dying loved ones.

They must have had such a laugh at how the vast majority obeyed the rules, as they partied on.

@Hercisback

Who do you think ultimately signs off guidance?
And yes like every public sector service we are underesourced.
When Marcus Rashford shamed Boris into the free school meals, who do you think got a massive scheme like that stood up in a matter of days ?
It was people like me, and those that were left short staffed on business like usual such as getting funds out to schools who worked all hours

@Ted27 But he doesn't write it, it would also be impossible for Gavin to read (and understand how it would apply) to every school context. That is why he has 'experts' in education to write it for him. I agree Gavs a complete tit but you can't blame him for all the DfE faults.

The FSM funding took forever to come through via the official system. I know stuff like this takes time to set up and I've no doubt you personally worked hard. But the Edenred vouchers etc was just another way to line private company pockets.

[quote Ted27]@noblegiraffe

You did imply that the DfE must be pissed on Fridays[/quote]
Yes, that was a comment on the quality of work produced rather than a serious suggestion.

Every profession, has the rouges, the go getters, the team leaders, that drive results and agendas, and every person or most, use various strategies to unwind or to ramp up and enhance their abilities, as for the legalities of the various methods, I'll leave that part of the debate for the legal and public relations team to process.

There is an interesting, but slightly separate, conversation to be had re: the impossibility of delivering good policy within the dysfunctional context of the current government. I feel every sympathy for the DfE, at every level - I can guess at the background to putting out rushed and inadequate guidance.

[quote Ted27]@noblegiraffe

You did imply that the DfE must be pissed on Fridays[/quote]
TBF sometimes their communications make it look as though they are.