Graft and gas
The reasons that the comments by Liz Truss about the lack of “graft”of UK workers are so telling is because they are both rubbish and the basis of the whole philosophy of the Tory party.
It is true that the average British worker is far less productive than a French, German or American worker and by a huge margin. The reasons for this are, however, little to do with the workers.
The main causes are bad education and training (the Government and companies’ fault), lack of investment (the government and companies’ fault) and terrible management (the fault of a system which rewards very average, under qualified bosses with obscene amounts of money).
Workers are, as a result, low paid and try to make up for this by working longer hours, so they have to graft harder than other countries’ workers because of other peoples’ mistakes and ignorance.
But for the Tory party it cannot be them or their business supporters’ fault, it must therefore be those lazy, good for nothing, idle, unambitious workers.
How to solve such a problem?
No, let’s not improve state education, training, apprenticeships, invest more or force managers to have qualifications which fit them for their work.
No, we have to remove more worker protections, keep pay down, cut more red tape, and lower corporation tax.
The “graft” remarks are not just insulting, ignorant and wrong, they are the basis for this government’s policies.
No wonder the UK has not just appalling productivity figures but that they are also getting worse.
Forcing “lazy” workers to work longer, without the right leadership, training or tools for the job is a guarantee of failure, and now, government policy.
It also explains some of the lack of concern by the government over higher gas prices.
They believe that if you have problems paying your bills, it is because you are lazy, that’s not their problem, you just need to graft harder.
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.