Commuters packed onto busy London Tube trains during today’s rush hour while civil service unions went to war with Boris Johnson as Covid curbs are scrapped.
Photos at around 7am today showed a busy Piccadilly Line, with many workers forced to stand because no seats were left. Traffic data from TomTom showed that more people in London, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool and Newcastle are driving to work compared to Friday last week.
But civil service unions have launched an all-out rebellion against the Prime Minister’s bid to get Britain back to work as the Omicron wave fades.
The embattled Tory leader has dropped official WFH guidance and demanded civil servants set an example by returning to their desks.
Yesterday, Mr Johnson ordered Cabinet ministers to ensure their Whitehall staff resumed ‘normal working patterns’ as soon as possible.
But union bosses branded the PM’s demands ‘insulting’ and claimed the move to get workers back in the office was ‘reckless’. Mr Johnson’s critics have claimed that the change to Covid rules is one of a series of crowd-pleasing policies to divert public attention from the lockdown party scandal and appease mutinous backbenchers as he fights for his political life.
The Public and Commercial Services union, which represents civil servants and other public sector workers, warned against a ‘headlong rush’ back to the workplace. The FDA union also reacted angrily, saying the world of work had ‘changed for good’.
Tory MPs and business leaders demanded that Mr Johnson face down the unions – saying failure to act would be disastrous for the economy.
Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith called the unions ‘selfish’ for backing continued home working as the threat of Covid wanes.
‘When they eventually go back to their office there won’t be anywhere to get a sandwich from or sit down in a pub – they’ll all close,’ he warned. ‘It’s selfish and self-centred just to stay with hybrid working. If unions had their way you’d get paid for doing no work, but the reality is that we should be back at our offices.’
Commuters travel on the Piccadilly line through Holborn station in Central London at about 7am this morning
Commuters wait for a Piccadilly line train at King’s Cross St Pancras station on the London Underground at about 7am today
Commuters travel on the Piccadilly line through Central London during the morning rush hour at about 7am today
Commuters walk along a passageway at King’s Cross St Pancras station on the London Underground at about 7am today
Commuters travel on the Piccadilly line through Holborn station in Central London at about 7am this morning
Commuters sit on the Piccadilly line this morning as they travel through Central London on their way to work at about 7am
Data published by Transport for London shows commuter traffic over the past two years (January 2020 to 2022). It reveals the number of workers travelling by bus or Tube, and commuter footfall across the capital, remains way down on pre-Covid
The Cabinet Office has refused to put a target date on when ministers want to see a full return of Whitehall staff – leading to fears that many could stay working from home for weeks.
One source at the Ministry of Justice suggested workers would return only in phases rather than en masse.
Mr Johnson continued to face claims over the ‘Partygate’ row, as a Tory MP made extraordinary allegations of ‘blackmail’ by Conservative whips.
Tory former minister David Jones added: ‘It’s time to return to a more normal way of living. That includes returning to the office, which is significantly healthier than being holed up at home.
‘People benefit hugely from interaction with colleagues. It’s better for mental health and also helps professional development. We also need to restore vibrancy to our urban centres, thereby helping our economy to grow.’
Lord Rose, former chairman of Marks & Spencer, told LBC Radio he had been calling for a return to the office for months.
He added: ‘I cannot believe that we’ve got a nation sitting at home now cowed by this Government, because they’re fearful of this virus – which has been unpleasant, it has killed a lot of people – but it is something we now have to live with.’
Last night, Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said ministers had been told to get their offices ready for the full return of staff.
However, when contacted by the Mail, individual departments refused to say when all staff would be expected to return to the office. They also refused to say what proportion of officials were working in the office at the moment.
Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA, said it was ‘insulting’ to ‘force’ officials back to the office.
‘The idea that forcing civil servants back into the office will somehow show a lead to the rest of the economy is frankly insulting to all those businesses who have made decisions that enhance their efficiency and profitability.’
The PCS union said: ‘There should not be a reckless, headlong rush to increase numbers at workplaces. Instead, there needs to be a properly planned approach, which allows the employer and the union to negotiate safe arrangements.’
An aide to one minister said: ‘There are still not as many officials in the office as there should be.’
Health Secretary Sajid Javid admitted his department could not get all the staff in because there was not enough space.
It comes as business giants began calling staff back to offices yesterday after Mr Johnson scrapped work-from-home guidance.
Large banks, advertising firms and insurers announced plans to return to the office – although most said flexible working arrangements would remain in place.
Big Four accountancy firm KPMG said it ‘welcomed’ the end of the Government guidance and told staff in England to come into the office at least two days a week.
Investment bank Citi sent a note to staff highlighting the benefits of office working, including that they are ‘better able to generate the energy and collaborative spirit’ it thrives on.
It told workers to return to their desks for at least three days a week while taking regular tests.
HSBC said its staff started returning to the office yesterday, while Standard Chartered asked employees to come in from Monday.
Citigroup and Goldman Sachs said they also plan to resume office working.
Havas, a French advertising agency with 11,500 staff worldwide, told the BBC it would ‘fully reopen’ its London HQ from Monday.
Commuters make their way down an escalator on the London Underground network at about 7am this morning
Commuters sit on the Piccadilly line this morning as they travel through Central London on their way to work at about 7am
Chris Hirst, of Havas, told Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘Many of our employees really do want to come back, but there are some people who are nervous.
‘We will be talking to those people individually and finding solutions that work for them.’ Insurance firm Zurich said it was ‘excited’ to welcome staff back but most would continue on a hybrid basis.
The announcements came as hospitality bosses highlighted the devastating impact working from home had on city centre pubs, restaurants, cafes and shops.
Greater Manchester’s night-time economy adviser Sacha Lord said high streets have ‘severely lacked’ much-needed footfall.
And UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said the sector needs the support of communities ‘more than ever’.
‘The removal of working from home guidance in England is a huge boost for hospitality operators, as they started 2022 low on cash after a second cancelled Christmas, deep in debt after two years of restricted trading, and facing soaring costs on so many fronts,’ she added.
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