Civil servants who refuse to get back to the office cold lose their jobs, suggests Jacob Rees-Mogg

JACOB Rees-Mogg last night suggested civil servants who refused to get back to the office would end up losing their jobs.

He spoke out as it was revealed Whitehall offices were still half empty.

Ministers are slashing 91,000 civil service jobs as part of a massive drive to cut costs for taxpayers.

Mr Rees-Mogg told The Sun: “People will no doubt draw their own conclusions as to whether they think they ought to be in the office when an organisation is reducing numbers.”

He also revealed he is deciding which understaffed government buildings could be ditched.

He said: “It is probably too early to say which particular body which is very empty is finding that its lease will not be renewed on central London property. But that is happening as we speak.”

Half of Whitehall staff are still refusing to get back to their offices.

Foreign Office staff are the worst offenders, while the Home Office and the Wales Office are also largely empty.

Speaking while on a tour of fish and chip shops in Lincolnshire, Mr Rees-Mogg also backed Tesco for halting the sale of some Heinz products in a price row.

He declared: “Well done Tesco and boo to Heinz.

"I think Tesco is marvellous because it is standing up for the consumer.”

He also backed moves to slash tariffs on food to ease cost rises.