Boris Johnson backs Jacob Rees-Mogg’s push to get civil servants back in the office

NUMBER 10 backed a push by Jacob Rees-Mogg last night to get officers back in the office.

Labor has accused ministers of bullying by politely questioning mandarins and officials not to work from home permanently.

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The Ride of Mr. Rees-Mogg has also caused controversy in the cabinet.

Culture Minister Nadine Dorries is reported to have said: “It has an air of something Dickensian about it. Why do we measure bodies behind desks? Why don’t we measure productivity?”

But the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said BoJo supported the efforts of Mr. Rees-Mogg.

“What the minister wants to achieve is to do everything possible to bring civil services back to pre-pandemic levels,” the spokesman said.

“That’s what he’s trying to do. This is supported by the Cabinet Secretary and of course the Prime Minister.”

A chart of public service shame revealed last week that just one in four employees in some departments had returned to their offices.

Whole offices are empty in Whitehall, despite the breathtaking rents.

But Labor Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves accused Mr Rees-Mogg of “bullying behaviour” and was “very old-fashioned” in suggesting workers come to work in person.

“BULLYING BEHAVIOR”

Ms Reeves told LBC: “I think it’s going to attract some really talented people if you don’t have to be in the office every day.

“This bullying behavior of the Brexit Secretary saying people have to be at their desks every day of the week and every hour – it’s very old fashioned.

“People work much more flexibly today.”

She also claimed that lower-paid call center workers could also benefit from working from home — even though millions of cleaners, store clerks and security guards are unable to do so.

Ms Reeves added: “If you have back office staff in banks, call centers etc, hopefully they can work from home as well, so I don’t think it’s just a class thing.”

A Tory source hit back last night, saying: “Taxpayers should take note that Labor does not believe the civil service should go ahead with the work the country expects of them.”