1/ In my entire career I have always been disruptive. (Obvs) Always taking a line not well trodden, it’s just the way I’m made.

But, I believe in balance, where every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

2/ Today we debated the exodus from office block to home office and I posed a statement, on the opposite side to the one you might expect me to take.

3/ I was surprised at the amount of ppl in support of large businesses being able to cut their costs massively with no opposition, but with vociferous support. Because it suited the employee to work from home.

4/ Three things struck me.
1. Ppl who are employed need and desire, more than anything, a better balance in their lives
2. They don’t care if their employer makes huge profits in doing so.
3. They don’t care who is hurt in order to achieve this fulfilment.

5/ On the other side of the coin, small business owners were worried about the effects on their own business and on other small business owners. Wanted to support this change, but didnt know how we would afford the collateral damage.

6/ Every job loss is a real person, with the same hopes and needs as those ppl that want to, or have to remain working from home.

We will leave these people behind, as others gain their perfect balance. That doesn’t sit well with me.

7/ Although I of course agree that a wider and fairer distribution of skills and wealth across the country isn’t only desirable, it’s an utter necessity. Especially for all those left behind communities and in the medium term it will provide jobs, local wealth & a fairer society.

8/ But. The short term shock of a mass “work from home”, will decimate the micro economy. Taxis, window cleaners, office cleaners, office maintenance, cafes, newsagents, local barbers, restaurants etc. Millions of ppl will lose their jobs.

9/ Whilst I’m disruptive and proud of that, I’m not a psychopath. We need balance. A mix of home working and office working and incentives for businesses to keep their offices open over the short term, with a longer transition to this “new way” should surely be the aim.

10/ We can’t wash our hands of vast sectors of the economy, because “we want what we want”. It’s selfish, it’s short sighted and it will do lasting damage to the fragile low paid communities I thought we all wanted to support.

11/ “a change is coming get over it” is very Brexit and very Thatcher. Seemingly embraced though by many on the left and that’s ok, Thatcher had a vision too. But the left don’t remember her fondly because she left them behind. (Unless they gained of course)

12/ I guess what I’m saying is, yes a better balance is desirable, but we need to remember those that will be left behind and ensure the transition is balanced and careful and the government can afford to support it.

13/ like you, I have little confidence any party has the foresight or desire to think long term, when an election is due in 4 short years, why should they?

But it was a good debate. I enjoyed it. Bugs in the morning, choose bland food.