By Barry Speker OBE
A delightful late summer break at Gardone Riviera on the shore of Lake Garda was greatly enjoyed. Accessible from Newcastle’s International Airport direct to Milan Bergamo to avoid departure at an ungodly hour. It is a splendid opportunity to savour resorts around Italy’s largest lake, including Bardolino, Salo and Garda.
As the summer holidays shrink to a memory, returning to work for many means staying at home. Working from home (WFH) was a practical expedient introduced at the start of the pandemic to save the country from economic decline. The internet and in particular Zoom and Teams video conferencing enabled every kitchen or bedroom to become a virtual office.
Many enjoyed the flexibility provided and the freedom from commuting. Whether productivity increased is open to question. For many WFH resulted in a sub-optimal working and isolation.
Whilst some can benefit from WFH including those who are immobile from disability or genuine pressing domestic circumstances, it has obvious and serious setbacks. For this reason, Labour’s proposal to command employers to consider it is of concern. The government intends to enshrine WFH as a statutory employment right as part of a number of new rights. Business leaders fear that productivity will suffer and will damage Britain’s image as a favourable destination for investment.
Flexibility is to be encouraged but account must be had of the tendency to shirk and waste time. For those starting their career, there is a need to exchange ideas and learn from experienced colleagues; significantly WFH can destroy continuity and teamwork and damage companies where creativity and innovation suffers from lack of group discussions. The government should think long and hard of consequences before pressing on with populism producing major economic damage.
Protestations about modest roots and deprivation may be good material for stand up comics but less convincing for politicians. As a ruse for attracting electoral support, the claims of humble beginnings often seem unconvincing. Prime Minister Harold Wilson drank beer and smoked a pipe in public but preferred cognac and Cuban cigars in private. Having smoothed off rough edges, Margaret Thatcher and John Major made much of the grammar school upbringings, to meet criticism of Tory domination by Eton and Oxford.
There is no challenge to Angela Rayner raising in every interview that she is of working class origin, while Sir Keir Starmer is incapable of not saying “my dad was a toolmaker” to everyone.
Politicians feel the need to indulge in a prolier-than-thou challenge to produce working class credentials. Kemi Badenoch should be discouraged. While acknowledging her middle-class roots, she claims she ‘became working-class when I was 16 working at McDonalds’. Her parents were a doctor and a professor, she attended an international school and was an associate director at Coutts Bank.
Kemi should emphasise her valid credentials rather than chase a ‘woman of the people’ agenda.
Just over a year after the senseless felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, it appears the acer pseudoplantanus is not going quietly. Its destruction caused an outcry. In life the sycamore was a beloved but quietly acknowledged landmark but in death it has become an environmental totem as well as a marketing marvel. The stump of the tree has itself become a tourist attraction , something of a shrine and a symbol of man’s inhumanity to tree!
At the nearby Sill visitor centre the memory of the tree is immortalised and commercialised.A huge mural of the tree adorns the gift shop and there are ‘Sycamore Gap tree at sunset’ fridge magnets(£4), coasters (£5), mugs (£12) and prints (£19) on sale. A new exhibition is due to open starring a portion of the trunk.
Already famous for starring in the Hollywood block-buster Robin Hood:Prince of Thieves, the felling of the tree has rooted its place in the annals of British folklore.
Sales of the merchandise continue to boom and also on offer is a murder mystery novel Sycamore Gap by LJRoss. Seeds from the tree have been cast in silver by Northumberland jewellery maker Kirsty Taylor who has created necklaces, bracelets, cufflinks and earrings.
There is even hope to recreate the tree itself. 50 seedlings from the tree have sprouted – the first having been presented to King Charles to plant in Windsor Park.
A true case of finding a gap in the market.
The words “I will love it if we beat them” uttered by then Newcastle United Manager Kevin Keegan, are long remembered not only by football fans. His passionate statement was in 1996 when Newcastle United almost beat Manchester United to the Premier League title.
Rob Ward’s play ‘Love it if we beat them’, presented at Live Theatre, is a political drama exploring the age-old questions What is power without principle? And What are principles without power? It explores a time of significant change in the North East communities and captures a special moment in recent history. It is not to be missed.
barryspeker@hotmail.com