Remote work doesn't thwart productivity. It boosts focus. Data: Government workers are 12% more productive when randomly assigned to work from home. They're more efficient where it's quiet. Most people aren't shirking from home. They're escaping distractions and long commutes.

MHCLG picket line at Newcastle this morning with NEC member Saul Cahill and comrades from DWP Tyneside and Northumbria showing their #Solidarity Also nice to see the return of the #PicketLinePooch #PCS #PCSonStrike

NEC candidate Joe Dale at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Gov Newcastle picket lines

Well done to PCS in MHCLG. When I talk of that department, I always mention that Angela Rayner, the supposed friend of the trade unions, refuses to meet PCS in her own department, and this boycott extends to all her ministers.

Of course for the UK government, a Labour government at that, facts such as these haven't got in the way of forcing staff into the office a fixed proportion of the working week. PCS recognises that many jobs require workplace attendance, many don't.

One of the shows that got me into international affairs as a teenager & doing Iranian history courses at uni, was "Iran and the West" a 3-part BBC documentary series from 2009. These days it can be found on YouTube, and I'd still recommend it. youtu.be/Yfkqf_wWEsM

One of our demands that gets less attention is re location neutral recruitment. This means inc all our locations (& homeworking) on most job ads. The homeworking point is crucial to encouraging disabled applicants esp- something you'd think they'd be very aware of right now!

This Your Party drama has come at the perfect time. The Summer I Turned Pretty ends and The Summer I Turned Petty begins.

Nick Robinson coming out swinging in favour of... sending the children down the mines?