New Health Minister Therese Coffey told authorities to “be positive”, it was announced today.
His new office as head of the government’s Ministry of Health and Welfare sent staff a list of instructions on the karaoke-loving lawmaker’s “job preferences.”
It included a ban on technical jargon and the use of Oxford commas, as well as asking employees to stay positive.
Recipients of the email described him as “extremely dismissive” and said Ms. Coffey “doesn’t want to solve problems”.
Therese Coffey’s office, who has just begun her new job as head of the government’s Department of Health and Social Welfare, has sent staff a list of instructions on the karaoke-loving lawmaker’s “job preferences.”
Others, however, defended the style guide, arguing that the current communication tactics used in Whitehall’s medical corridors would hit the boss “from the ceiling.”
The guide was distributed to DHSC staff Ms Coffey had hired last week when the new Prime Minister Liz Truss announced her cabinet.
It was also sent to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), a branch of the DHSC responsible for tackling communicable diseases, replacing the now defunct Public Health England.
Both institutions face the prospect of job loss amid a crackdown to eliminate bureaucracy and save millions of taxpayers’ money.
Earlier this year, UKHSA, the top public health quango launched by Matt Hancock during the Covid pandemic, was told to lay off 40% of its 2,000 employees. Employees of local health protection teams with temporary contacts stood at the cutting board.
At the same time, officials are said to be “demoralized” by official proposals for below-inflation wage increases.
Some permanent employees received a 2.5% salary increase to help manage the rising cost of living.
MailOnline requested a copy of the e-mail sent from DHSC on behalf of Ms. Coffey, but did not receive it.
In a line that saw the letter, the Financial Times said: “Be positive – if we did something good, let’s say it and avoid double negativity.”
Jacob Rees-Mogg posted a similar style guide when he was appointed to the role of leader of the House of Commons in the Boris Johnson government.
Staff were advised not to use the Oxford comma used to separate the last two items in a list of three or more items.
By the way, forbidden words and phrases include: many, due, unacceptable, true, yourself, fate, achieved, speculate, meet, detect and disappoint.
Ms Coffey has previously discussed her dislike for Oxford commas on social media and said in 2015 it was one of her “inner hatreds”.
Source: Daily Mail
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