Use of Unemployed in Jubilee: Call for Inquiry

[Kromovaracun]

Following a report by the Guardian a couple of days ago, there seems to have arisen a call for an inquiry into the use of jobseekers for stewarding. There are claims that some of them went unpaid, and some were paid 'apprentice' wages, and that they were forced to sleep under London Bridge overnight by Close Protection UK.

Unfortunately, I've only managed to find a couple of sources who comment on this without copy-and-pasting the Guardian story.

http://www.guardian.c...mployed?newsfeed=true

http://www.globalpost...ondon-bridge-incident

http://www.thisissome...143-detail/story.html

Is an inquiry justified? Do you believe these reports? If you don't believe them, do you welcome an inquiry?

[Davethedog]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/.../uk-politics-18329526

"Do you believe these reports?" I am speechless that you could in anyway try to justify the way these people were treated.

[Kromovaracun]

^Oh, I don't. I personally believe them. And I believe an inquiry is perfectly justified. I just predict there'll be people on the site who insist that it isn't true, and I was hoping to pre-empt it and get them to justify it.

[ummmm]

It's been on the news this morning....

[Kiki-frog]

Like Ummmm says, it was on the news this morning. I believe the reports, and I do think it needs to be investigated.

[andrew1707]

>> "Use Of Unemployed In Jubilee: Call For Inquiry"

That's no way to talk about the royals.

[jno]

it was in the Guardian a couple of days ago, though it rather looks as if other news sources played it down. Anyway, yes, deeply unpleasant if true. Low wages aren't necessarily a problem; being told to sleep under a bridge is.

[Ellipsis]

It was on the R4 Today programme this morning. I suggest you listen to the 10 minute interview with John Prescott and Molly Prince here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk...d_9726000/9726250.stm

It sounds a bit of a storm in a teacup to me ... the incident under the bridge was a plain logistical cockup by Close Protection UK. The helpers left to pitch a tent in the rain were pitching their own tent, which they had taken along despite being told that a tent would be provided (which it was, and erected), seemingly because they didn't want to sleep in mixed accommodation.

[jno]

"logistical cockup" may explain it; it hardly excuses it, and still merits investigation. The royals didn't seem to suffer such logistical cockups.

[TheNovice]

unpleasant and wrong, and the company who is at fault needs to be called to account. It seems Lord (ha ha ha) Prescott has called for an inquiry - Labour still trying to spend our money. A spokesman for the company has explained what happened and is trying to sort it out. No doubt with some compensation.

I sometimes think the Guardian, far from being a paper of gravitas, is turning into the Daily Mail of the left!!!! Sensationalist headlines....'coachloads of people...' etc.

[TheNovice]

Jno - investigate (fully) yes, inquiry as referred to by Prescott (he's called for the Home Secretary to hold an inquiry) no, far better and more important things to spend money on. Think my typing fingers ar suffering post jubilee trauma....taking me ages to type anything and even longer to spell things correctly!!!!!

[jno]

Prescott is keen that the same thing should not happen with the Olympics. So am I.

No doubt with some compensation.

Any evidence for this? So far, they've just claimed that those who worked without pay didn't want to be paid, which sounds unique.

[d9f1c7]

what's to enquire about? It seems all the details are known.

[jno]

how "logistics errors" like this come about, perhaps?

[d9f1c7]

some one made a c0ckup on the accomodation front, there you go no enquiry necessary. Why do we always call for an enquiry at the drop off a hat? All it does is fatten up some lawyers.

[Sqad]

d9..... absolutely correct.....I agree entirely. Everybody has made a mistake or two in their professional lives, but in the past 10-20 years we seem to need someone to blame...a scapegoat and of course as you say the inevitable "inquiry"

Yes the lawyers and barristers must be rubbing their hands...austerity? What austerity?

[youngmafbog]

Why cant we hold or do anything in this country without someone finding a fault?
Yes, someone should be hauled over the coals for messing up, but not at a national enquiry level. Wha utter nonsence and its not as if the Levinson enquiry (another total waste) hasnt lined the Briefs pockts