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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
The Jouker

People can't get over this picture of 'efficiency minister' Jacob Rees-Mogg at work

Jacob Rees-Mogg invited photographers into his Westminster office, with mixed results

JACOB Rees-Mogg out of touch? Perish the thought.

The Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency has been on a crusade recently to get supposedly work-shy civil servants back in the office.

The Tory has written to Cabinet ministers calling on them to issue a clear message to staff about a “rapid return to the office” and has been leaving notes in empty Whitehall workspaces with the message: “I look forward to seeing you in the office very soon.”

He’s also backing Boris Johnson’s plan of slashing around 90,000 Whitehall jobs in a bid to save taxpayers’ money.

But after a photo was shared of Rees-Mogg in his Westminster office, social media users started to doubt his credentials as efficiency minister.

The picture, from the Telegraph, shows a smiling Rees-Mogg behind his large desk. Eagle-eyed readers noted there was something missing, however.

Telegraph Associate Editor Christopher Hope tweeted: “No computer clogs up Jacob Rees-Mogg’s neat desk in Whitehall. Just a carriage clock, ‘in’ and ‘out’ trays, some writing paper and a box of Crème Eggs. Old paintings on the wall. This is office life as it should be!”

Not everyone agreed.

Former SNP councillor Mhairi Hunter replied: “This will be why he doesn't understand working from home.”

Comedian Christopher Macarthur-Boyd commented: “How are you going to criticise people for working from home when you don’t even have an office in your office.”

Labour MP Alex Sobel added: “Desk of deeply unproductive man living in the past!”

Amazingly, it seemed like just about everyone who saw the picture was far from impressed.

Pollster Mark McGeoghegan wrote: “Minister for Government Efficiency … Has a civil servant print off his emails and pop them in his in-tray.”

Comic David Baddiel added: “Good example of how Rees-Mogg is basically cosplaying, to the applause of those who love the idea of that character, ‘Old-Style English Gent MP’. Because *of course* an MP needs a f****** computer. Where else would they get their porn, for a start?”

Another Twitter user posted: “Jacob Rees-Mogg is 5 days older than me, but somehow I got taught to progam computers at school & university and then continuously throughout my working life, but somehow he missed out completely.”

Given the social media reaction, it’s probably a good thing for Rees-Mogg that he doesn’t have a work computer.

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