Why did Boris Johnson LIE about construction workers being in lockdown?
Remember Boris Johnson’s claim that he wanted construction workers to get back to work, in his speech on May 10?
The government subsequently said it wanted to re-start the UK housing market.
But here’s a thing:
Construction work never actually stopped.
This Writer has a friend who works in construction. She posted on Facebook, describing her seven weeks of “lockdown” as follows:
Mon 23rd March, Boris announces lockdown, very specific rules on when we can leave our houses. I cannot work from home but is it necessary I go to work?
Tues 24th March, go to work as normal.
After two days of bad press and abuse from public regarding construction sites still continuing, the company announces that all our sites are to ‘pause’ to take stock and risk assess what works we can carry out safely in line with PHE guidelines at close of business Weds 25th March.
Fri 27th March – Two days of risk assessing, creating one way systems and altering welfare to maintain social distancing later, we have approval from construction director to reopen site on Mon 30th.
Sun 29th – I wake up with a fever, spend all day in front of log burner with two duvets on top of me and am still cold. Message the boss to say I won’t be in in the morning and will be self isolating for 7 days.
Three days of fever and extreme fatigue follow where I alternate between sleeping for two hours, waking up, eating, watching TV for a few hours then sleeping again.
Thurs 2nd April – feeling a bit better, manage to make it out the house and go for a 3 mile bike ride.
Sun 5th April – Feeling better I message the boss to say I’ll be back at work in the morning.
Mon 6th April – arrive at work to find that, while I’ve been off, the project was requistioned by the NHS on 29th March. They want the building in 3 weeks time (now 2) and the job is now open 19 hours a day.
Next 2 weeks – a blur of 14+ hr days, not knowing what day it is.
Tues 21st April – Handover the building – 4 weeks early – delighted client
Sat 25th April – 1st day off in 3 weeks.
Mon 27th April – snagging time.
Sun 10th May – Boris says people who can’t work from home should start going back to work – WHAT 🙄 some of us never stopped !
Thurs 14th May – bored of snagging now, get phone call from director, report to Nightingale project Monday morning – time to go go go again.
Lockdown? What lockdown?
Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
Aye, there is a contstruction site in Burnley where they never stopped, building a new students accomodation block. They had strict notices up (for their staff, but alongside public footpaths) about physical distancing and that joe public and authorities had been scrutinising work sites, even with drones, to survey worksites and report any close working. To not follow the physical distancing rules etc was a sackable offence according to the notices.
I suspect every town will have a similar tale.
Roadworks didn’t stop either. I don’t know if it was highway maintenance or laying cables and replacing mains but it’s being going on in my area. Council litter pickers/street cleaners have continued to work too though I don’t know if that has been at a reduced rate. Bin collection has continued. My neighbour hasn’t stopped working in a factory that makes crates and pallets. Several businesses situated next to the foodbank warehouse have all carried on working; a paint plant, a sign makers, and another firm that makes production line machinery.
Oh dear another Tory fib but alot of my friends in this industry couldn’t afford to take time of but alot of places carried on working