Dear Willie and Eric

Dear Willie and Eric,

Willie, I saw your reported interview in the Sunday Telegraph.

If I can paraphrase , you say " work harder " and " stop complaining ". These seem to be the 2 clear messages and they were echoed by you Eric on the Sunday Politics.

A coordinated message then from our government ministers.

Guys I hear you loud and clear.

If you would bear with me for a moment, I'd like to consider your " work harder " comments in a little more depth.

As I am employed in a small business I have to say that the idea of working harder had passed us by.  We are so grateful for your advice because the idea had not occurred to any of us !

I don't think we are stupid, its just that the 60 + hours a week we already work does tend to leave limited time for philosophical considerations of the wider economy. Did I mention that the hours over the standard 40 are unpaid but worked happily to ensure that the company survives and we all have a job. 

So we could work harder certainly but how best to do it ?

If we follow your example Willie it seems that when you do extra hours you do it for yourself as opposed to the country or your constituents. I'm  of course referring to your 2 books that you have written whilst being an MP, and also the income you have earned on the " " rent a gob " speaking circuit.

But of course if the extra work we are being asked to do is for ourselves not our primary employers , I am unclear as to how this helps the economy ?  Added productivity perhaps but certainly no reduction in unemployment.

Eric suggested that we needed more sales and exports. Sorry cannot help with the exports ( service company ) but more sales ? You'd think we might have come up with that one ourselves. Of course, to sell more there has to be a demand.

The more I think about it the more I reckon demand is  the problem. The economy is in recession ( 2nd time under your stewardship ) ie shrinking. Now I haven’t got the politics , philosophy and economics degree you have, but if the economy is shrinking doesn’t that indicate demand is down ?

But I remain convinced I must work harder ! It might help if I worked smarter too but what to do ?

As a former management consultant Willie, surely you have some ideas ? I'd be so grateful if you could share? Eric as a former consultant in an Employment practice you must know easy ways to work harder ?

Now i don’t want to appear mercenary guys ? but if I do this extra work, is there anything extra in it for me ? You see my living standards are falling because I haven’t had a pay rise for ages and ages and you know with inflation, etc I could do with a bit extra.

I know I'm a bit simple ( hence your sage advice ) but is it right that I do this extra for nothing ? As Leaders, it comes naturally to you to inspire ! I'd certainly  be inspired if you published a list of all the activities you do without pay that relate to your Job.

Can I mention the " stop complaining " comment advice. This is brilliant ! So much energy is wasted by complaining about things you cannot change.Like the past for instance, ie the public finances you inherited or Europe or the latest election results. Onwards and upwards I say !

Just for clarity though ? If I disagree with you and air that view, am I complaining ? Or am I debating or in a positive way offering an alternative solution or point of view. If everything I say is a " complaint " and I must stop " complaining " then why bother with political discourse or even parliament ?

Willie you've confused me again. But I promise I will continue to do my best and learn. I will strive to be better ! That's of course what you want. Call me Dave says so himself that you should be looking looking after ( and representing )  the " hard working strivers " . That's me :-).

Just as a quick aside, if your unemployed or unable to work through illness surely you don’t quite fit that definition ? Of course we all recognise that if outside " the strivers " definition we shouldn’t be looking for representation from the Conservatives. Message received loud and clear on that one.

But I come back  to how to work harder ??? You see it troubles me. Don’t worry though I see a way forward. I'm going to have less holiday this year. Down from the 6 days I had last year. And even better I'm going to keep all my leisure time ( and money ) in the UK by not gallivanting abroad. If all the MPS took all their holidays in the UK this year do you not think it would be a good idea ? More money and demand in the UK economy ?


Finally, I hope you don’t think I'm being presumptuous by referring to you  as Willie and Eric. No offence is intended but I feel that we must be an intimate level. I don’t know how this arose because I have never met either of you and I certainly don’t belong to the exclusive clubs you do willie like the Carlton and Bucks clubs. I think our relationship is based on the fact that you seem to know me so well that you know I need to work harder.

Best regards,

A born again striver