Pimlico Plumbers boss Charlie Mullins slammed after This Morning furlough rant from Marbella holiday home
This Morning viewers have hit out at Pimlico Plumbers boss, Charlie Mullins, after he called for an end to the government's furlough scheme - from his Marbella home.
On Thursday's show, Mr Mullins told hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford that the scheme needed to be shuttered "as quick as possible".
"Let's not kid anyone - the majority of people now are in a position to go back to work but unfortunately they don't want to go back," he said.
"If you're paying anybody to sit at home and do nothing, then that's what they're going to do."
Speaking from the grounds of his home in southern Spain, Mr Mullins went on: "Most people's workplace is too far from the beach for them.
"We need to end it, it's had its day. We needed to do it at the time, we now need to move on, get the economy going, get people back into the workplace and stop this stupid culture of people thinking that they can sit at home and just be paid for it."
Since, many viewers have reacted with anger to Mr Mullins' claims, with one saying: "I got made redundant from sitting at home and being 'paid for it' I haven't had my normal income and 80 per cent of my wage meant my bills were only just getting paid. It must be so easy to say that from all the way over in [Marbella] living an easy life."
This feature is a cheap and nasty way of shaming people. I want nothing more than to be back at work but unfortunately I’m unable to. How can you take him seriously while is moans from his villa in Marbella. I’m offended and switching off.
— Lily Avis (@lilyroseavis)
Another added: "A lot of people would love to go back to work Charles, but if their employers are following government guidelines then there's nothing the employee can do, and if they want to sit at home and relax then fine, they've probably been worked to the bone on minimum wage up to now."
@thismorning Charlie mullins is really getting my back up. My company has reopened and I've not been brought back when I want to. Furlough/lock down has ruined everything for me. My mental health has suffered and my marriage has fallen apart and I'm still out of work.
— Liam Madden (@LiamMadd23)
Others took issue with Mr Mullins discussing the scheme from his holiday home in Marbella.
Charlie Mullins saying furlough needs to be ended from his holiday home in Marbella feels like a perfect metaphor for late capitalism pic.twitter.com/FkXIP4P93P
— 'Client Journalism' Expert (@ClientJournoExp)
some man on ‘this morning’ talking about how furlough is encouraging people to be lazy and not work when they’re at home so they should fully end it all and get them back to work to fix the u.k economy. he says this... on camera... from his home... in marbella. pic.twitter.com/OyVMCfZTh2
— joe (@jxeker)
Confused man comes on @thismorning to argue everyone needs to go back to the office, from Marbella. pic.twitter.com/F8gC13FsjX
— Jonny (@JonnyWestbrook)
However, some viewers supported Mr Mullins' comments, saying: "Why are so many people so furious at the guy? He owns the company and can run it from anywhere he likes. He’s offering people the chance to get back to work and have full pay again. Jealousy is a horrid trait."
Another agreed: "Yes, people will actually only start to realise the restrictions being forced on their lives when they are made to get off their sofas and go back to work, everywhere needs to open up and people make their own choices, not moan about everyone else’s!"
Why are so many people so furious at the guy? He owns the company and can run it from anywhere he likes. He’s offering people the chance to get back to work and have full pay again. Jealousy is a horrid trait
— Oli Adams (@imperial_potts)
A lot of people would love to go back to work Charles, but if their employers are following government guidelines then there's nothing the employee can do, and if they want to sit at home and relax then fine, they've probably been worked to the bone on minimum wage up to now.
— SPUD. (@SPL1312)
Around 9.6 million workers in the UK had been furloughed as of August 2, according to Government figures. That means the Treasury is paying 80 per cent of the wages of those people, up to £2,500 per month.
Since August businesses have had to pay National Insurance and pension contributions for furloughed staff - coinciding with a spate of new redundancies. From September they will pay 10 per cent of wages, rising to 20 per cent in October. The scheme is currently planned to stop at the end of October.
About 1.2 million firms have used the furlough scheme, at a cost of around £33.8 billion so far. This is expected to rise to around £80 billion, the Government has said.
While the furlough scheme has cost a significant amount of money, some economists argue that extending it past October would be in the public interest.
Garry Young, deputy director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, said: “The planned closure of the furlough seems to be a mistake, motivated by an understandable desire to limit spending.
"The scheme was intended by the Chancellor to be a bridge through the crisis and there is a risk that it is coming to an end prematurely and this increases the probability of economic scarring.”
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