celebrity news

Steve Coogan criticised after furloughing gardener and housekeeper at country estate



Steve Coogan has come under fire from a Tory MP after placing his gardener and housekeeper on the government furlough scheme.

The Sun reports that the staff work at the comedian’s country home and were unable to travel to the estate due to social distancing rules.

The furlough scheme, introduced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak in March, sees affected employees receive 80 per cent of their wages from a taxpayer-funded pot.


Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen criticised the 54-year-old Alan Partridge star’s decision, telling The Sun: “The furlough scheme is to protect businesses that are suspended and can’t operate during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’d be difficult to see how Steve Coogan’s earning potential has been diminished.

A Tory MP criticised Coogan, pictured (PA)

“The grass is still growing in his back garden and his house still needs cleaning.”

He added of Labour Party supporter Coogan: “He’s certainly a Conservative now.”

A source told the publication: “The workers are gutted they can’t make it in because of the coronavirus situation.

“It was established it wouldn’t be possible to continue working with the social distancing measures in place

“So Coogan took advantage of the furlough scheme while they’re unable to come in.”

Coogan recently played a high street fashion tycoon in the film Greed ()

In response to the paper’s report, the comedian told The Sun: “This non-story has more to do with my legal actions against the publishers of The Sun and campaign for press reform than anything else.”

A representative for Coogan declined to comment further when contacted by Standard Online.

Good Morning Britain’s Piers Morgan was quick to criticise Coogan’s decision.

Speaking on Thursday’s edition of the ITV breakfast programme, he described the actions as “tone deaf.”

“He’s the great man of the people […] the man who said ‘I don’t get anything for free, I pay for everything,’ yet he’s furloughing the gardener and housekeeper,” Morgan said.

He added: “I pay mine (staff), it’s called doing the right thing.

“This now wins the Victoria Beckham award for tone deafness when you use government money to pay the staff.”

His comments alluded to fashion designer Beckham’s recent U-turn after placing some staff at her eponymous brand on the furlough scheme.

Last month a spokesperson for the company announced: “We now believe we can navigate through this crisis without drawing from the government furlough scheme.”



READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.