When asked about the remarks on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Javid said he did not know the context in which the comments had been made but believed British workers were the hardest working in the world. Javid, who has backed Truss in the Conservative leadership race, said: “Well, I know what you’re referring to, but I don’t know the context of that comment when it was made. I think it was over a decade ago, but what I recognize and have long recognized as business secretary, as chancellor, in all the government jobs I’ve had, is that governments need to do even more to improve productivity us. “Now, when it comes to British workers, they are the hardest working in the world.” In the recording, made while Truss was chief secretary to the Treasury, a role she held from 2017-2019, she said: “If you look at productivity, it’s very, very different in London to the rest of the country. But basically… this has been a historical fact for decades. Essentially, it’s partly a matter of mindset and attitude, I think. It is basically work culture. If you go to China it’s very different, I can assure you.” Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. He said there was a “fundamental issue with British work culture” and that if the UK wanted to be “richer and more prosperous” then this would have to change. “There’s a little thing in Britain about wanting the easy answers,” he said. “That is my reflection on the election and what has come before, and the referendum – we are saying that it is all of Europe that is causing these huge problems… it is all these immigrants that are causing these problems. But actually what needs to happen is more … more grafting. It’s not a popular message.” When asked about the comments at a leadership event in Perth on Tuesday night, Truss insisted she still believed British workers could be more productive. He said, “I don’t know what you’re referring to there [but] What we need in this country is more productivity and we need more economic growth.” Labor criticized Truss’ comments on the recording. Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “With wages shrinking thanks to the Tories’ failure to get inflation under control and years of lackluster growth, it is very insulting for Liz Truss to effectively label British workers as lazy . I would have hoped that she had moved on from the days of the Britannia Unchained fiasco, but it seems that this is the plan for her future government.”
