MP's book claims Brits are 'lazy'
A CONSERVATIVE MP has defended a controversial new book that claims British workers are among the laziest in the world.
Chris Skidmore is one of five Tories who have co-authored a book which says too many Brits prefer a lie-in to working hard.
The new book, called Britannia Unchained – Global Growth and Prosperity, is due to be published next Thursday but leaked excerpts have already caused a storm.
It says: "Once they enter the workplace, the British are among the worst idlers in the world. We work among the lowest hours, we retire early and our productivity is poor."
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Although Kingswood MP Mr Skidmore did not write the passage himself, he and his four young Parliamentary colleagues have put their names to the whole of the book, which says Britain can learn lessons from the booming economies of China and Brazil.
The MP told the Post: "Clearly this is just a section of a book that has a wider argument.
"But it's important that we can have an open and honest discussion about where we want the British place in the world to be."
Mr Skidmore said it was also necessary to tackle the country's "benefits culture" to compete with the world's powerhouses, and claimed local jobs fairs he had organised in Kingswood showed there were opportunities for unemployed people.
But Kerry McCarthy, Labour MP for Bristol East, was not convinced.
She said: "It's an insult to his constituents, many of whom are working extremely hard and have to hold down more than one job just to make ends meet.
"It just shows how out of touch he is with many of his constituents' lives."
In an article written to preview the book's launch next week, Mr Skidmore says Britain's entrepreneurs need "blood, sweat and tears" if they are to create the next Google or Facebook.
He writes: "Grit and graft are every bit as essential as that first brilliant brainwave."
The book by Mr Skidmore and colleagues Kwasi Kwarteng, Priti Patel, Dominic Raab and Elizabeth Truss is seen as an attempt to seize the intellectual leadership of the Tories for the radical right.
Comments
by katachua
Monday, September 10 2012, 4:19PM
“@TorysRule
"@katachua, you sound like a born loser."
No, my Tory friend, just a realist. I got out and started my own company rather than looking for recognition in the Company. Best thing I ever did.
If you seriously think that working hard and doing your best gets recognition, then you must either be in management or Inhuman Recourses.”
by bris28
Monday, September 10 2012, 2:56PM
“Does this MP include politicians to be idle? Many of them spend lots of time on so-called fct-finding trips overseas. Does that count as work or holiday?”
by pillowfight
Sunday, September 09 2012, 5:12PM
“The lazy ones get up to £350 p/w for doing nothing. Where is the incentive to get off of there lazy butts and seek a job?”
by BobbyH77
Sunday, September 09 2012, 12:33PM
“Perhaps Chris Skidmore should get his own house in order before criticising others. I wrote to Chris (who is my MP) a few weeks back and I haven't heard a peep back since - when are you going to reply Chris?”
by adadses
Sunday, September 09 2012, 12:29PM
“We must never forget, the Conservative principle is high unemployment. It was the great lady herself who said that capitalism requires a large body of reserve labour to keep wages low, attack workers' rights in the name of liberalising the workforce and to combat inflation. For lazy do not read 'does not get out of bed in the morning' but 'enjoys an 8 hour day, sickness, parternity and maternity pay, holiday pay and other employment rights enshrined in law'. We have to remember we work more hours then the rest of Europe, and, as David Cameron was recently trumpeting, we are rising up the competition leagues when it comes to worker output.”
by TorysRule
Sunday, September 09 2012, 9:33AM
“@katachua, you sound like a born loser.”
by TorysRule
Sunday, September 09 2012, 9:25AM
“@artglad, something tells me that there are not very many of those people.
In any case, what do you care? Why are you so bitter? It's not as though it costs you anything.”
by artglad
Saturday, September 08 2012, 4:05PM
“Could it be that the laziest people around are the filthy rich, people that don't have to work because of inherited wealth.
Maybe some of them do a little "work" to amuse themselves, relieve their boredom, try to boost their ego, but nevertheless they are the true scroungers.”
by katachua
Saturday, September 08 2012, 12:30PM
“@TorysRule
"If you work hard and produce good results, making yourself invaluable to your company...you haggle for stock."
Pure fantasy - I quote:
The man who works and does his best,
Gets the sack like all the reast.”
by jn007
Friday, September 07 2012, 11:21PM
“That Tory MP CHIRST SKIDMOE, WHAT A NERVE HE IS GOING TO ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT INOT OUR COUNTRY, WHAT ABOUT YOU MP TAKING BRIBES, CALIMING EXPENSES YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO, WAHT ABOUT MR LAWS WHO IS BAKCK IN YOUR GOVERENT FOR DISHONESTLY CLAAIMING MONEY FOR HIS PARTNER, SO THOSE IN GLASS HOUSE SHOUD NOT THROW STONES.”