Labour MP wipes the floor with Royal Mail CEO at Select Committee hearing

[@stuartoldroyd4295]

I'm a postie, it is 100% true that we were told/asked that we DO prioritise tracked and large parcels,if I'm a whistle-blower then I'm a whistle-blower!! The workforce is NOT behind Simon Thompson..... We will vote to strike again!!!!

[@yootaobe5536]

I'm curious why is it a bad thing though? Parcels are generally priority for most receivers, if its a letter it can be sent by email, i would assume legal and confidential mail is sent recorded which bumps it up the priority list.

[@kevintaylor1789]

I'm a Postman too, and that's what we've been told. Tracked items over letters.

[@PeachesandCream225]

good on you!

[@stuartoldroyd4295]

@@yootaobe5536 it's a bad thing,my frame/fitting had nhs letters, maybe bank statements, maybe last warning letters, obviously up to Christmas,cards,maybe things that family have sent to other members that live on their own, there's still generations of families that only communicate through letters, yes, parcels are another priority, but mail left in depot for up to a week is NOT the way to treat customers.......its not an aggressive reply by the way, Just stating that mail is a service obligation.

[@stephenbamber7408]

@@yootaobe5536 The sender has paid for a service, the recipient is expecting that service & the postie is being prevented from forfilling that contract. Irrespective of the mails contents the contract should be completed. A good many people still rely on a letter as opposed to an email. It may require a signature to complete a transaction. Assumptions can be misleading. Recorded mail is signature on reciept not a guaranteed delivery window. It can be purchased as 1st or 2nd class.

[@RahTee1]

Darren Jones is such a great MP, every time he is on a select committee he does a good job. Authoritative, intelligent questioning and doesn't let them get away with giving half arsed answers. Labour really should get him in front of the public more often because he's impressive.

[@paulwainwright6903]

Sounds to me like he ought to join reform.

[@TheWaveGoodbye-Music]

@@paulwainwright6903 Nah he actually cares about class politics not identity politics and not pandering dog-whistles to a small minority of dissatisfied tory voters. But thanks for splitting the right wing vote :)

[@kamachi]

Completely agree. He would be far more appealing to the general public than Sir Starmer albeit that election is already won thanks to the Conservatives committing electoral suicide relentlessly.

[@b62boom1]

@@paulwainwright6903 Reform are funded by the Russians, just like the other Tories.

[@paulwainwright6903]

@@b62boom1 who exactly ?

[@laurieharper1526]

Excellent questioning. That MP is good. Wish more were like him.

[@monkeytennis8861]

He'd be great on Question Time

[@paulweeks2006]

He is Very Very good ! I have followed Darren for many years even though he is not my MP ! He is outstanding for his constituents of Bristol North West and is just the most grounded, decent, honest MP that I have ever had the pleasure to watch and follow ! I just wish he was my MP .....

[@Notalloldpeople]

The questioning on the spilt businesses was excellent. Didn’t we, the pubic, sell a single entity with all the advantages of cross subsidy to support continued services to ‘unprofitable customers’?

[@johnjephcote7636]

I wonder whether that CEO had a textbook stuffed down the back of his trousers, just in case...

[@dubnubgtd8538]

Held him to account. Young and promising. He may be a good leader one day

[@griffin2674]

As an ex Postie of 23 years, it breaks my heart watching the destruction of this once great institution. This MP absolutely wiped the floor with this CEO, made him appear absolutely useless. I thought Crozier was bad in my day but god help RM with idiots like this at the helm. Keep going posties, the country is on your side.

[@iliketowatchvideos47]

Bring back moya green 🤣

[@calzonie5763]

@@cassk9999 Are you serious ? 🤣 you sound like you’re on Thompsons side or you’re a troll

[@cassk9999]

@@calzonie5763 I’m not on Thompson’s side however I’m looking at a business point of view from all angles a person who’s only ever been taught to think like an employee can’t see past his own habitual ignorance

[@kewins1234]

They are destroying Royal Mail.

[@cassk9999]

@@kewins1234 they are wankers but they are not destroying anything but the working condition of ordinary working class people that’s all for greed and profit, customers are not really their priority because if it was the organisation wouldn’t be so far behind on technology and service and if 1 postal worker doesn’t come in because of sickness or annual leave and everything goes to shit , they are underestimating postman/delivery man knowledge and experience an ordinary relief worker can’t take the pressure or pace

[@jensatts7125]

Every time I watch Darren Jones, I'm blown away by him. His questions are direct and to the point and he doesn't let these people worm their way out of answering. Get him on the front bench ASAP.

[@ianstafford2218]

I agree. Get him on the front bench where he could tell the world where it is going wring. So easy to do that. Criticising instead of waking up to the reality of how business functions.

[@bradleyforde2601]

Front bench?. He should be leader cum Prime Minister. Darren Jones and Ed Balls would be a fantastic team.

[@silondon9010]

Thompson was humiliated 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@donnyjay9046]

Integrity is everything, and reputation is paramount.

[@996o0o966]

He now is!

[@abjectio]

Seeing a CEO on the hot seat truly brings joy to my heart. I can only imagine the cheers of the postal workers when they watched this.

[@CB19087]

There was lots of cheering! We watched in the canteen at work! Now you can all see what we've had to put up with these last several months!

[@i1mel404]

Absolutely! No one can stand him at RM.

[@greghancock5465]

No cheers yet mate. Personally I've seen enough of this double talk over the past two years to make me think ST has been put in place to tear down Royal Mail into shareholder chunks. He's paid to have a brass neck. Thats it.

[@G4RY1159]

@@i1mel404 I wonder why lol

[@G4RY1159]

@@greghancock5465 It was a DAM Good welder that gave him the brass neck

[@AdamBaranowski-br4kc]

What a terrific job Darren Jones does at these Committees. Always holding people in power to account, clearly does his homework, polite but tough.

[@fritzhenning1]

'Wipes the floor'......disagree. I thought the CEO was fluent in his responses, sought to give straight answers to some aggressive questioning, and kept his cool. Darren Jones is good and this was a good exchange. Score draw methinks, but a bit like P&O there is basically nothing parliament can do apart from huffing and puffing. When will those responsible for the Horizon fiasco be held properly to account?

[@theweatherman1874]

Brilliant.We need more people like this,(much like RMT reps Mick Lynch and Eddie Dempsey.) As you rightly point out hold people in power to account, have the facts and are polite in responding

[@MicroCatalyst]

@@fritzhenning1 Dodging questions in a polite voice is not acceptable in this context. That is exactly the attitude that results in people thinking that the Tories are competent. Confidence is not synonymous with competence. Some of the most confident people you will meet are complete morons. This government is rife with such individuals, and this CEO doesn't seem much better. Also, the original comment didn't even contain the phrase 'wipe the floor', which you inaccurately quoted. Perhaps the attention you paid to reading the original comment is on par with the attention you paid to focusing on the questions and answers in this video.

[@robCaB]

He's very impressive.

[@ireneteareblessed]

I agree.

[@paulweeks2006]

Darren is just the most superb MP - his work rate and availability for his constituents is just amazing ! I have followed him for many years ( even though he is not my MP ) as he explains complex situations so that his constituents can understand the detail. He really is the most outstanding Labour MP and I hope that he will soon hold a Senior post in the shadow cabinet. His questioning and the way he utterly destroys this excuse for the CEO of the Royal Mail is just off the scale ! We need an army of Darren's to expose these charlatans .......

[@williammcdermid2892]

Just discovered Darren, every time I see him he's calm, collected to the point, he deff studies beforehand n let's them hang themselves, for they've underestimated him. Future leader?

[@froufou100]

I have never heard of him and am glad I have now! He is indeed on the ball!

[@lat1419]

Key - LABOUR MP.

[@nigelwilliams2547]

Bit like Boris then........

[@jeffsuter344]

@@nigelwilliams2547 Johnson is an incompetent fool.

[@juliamaitland7160]

At last! An MP with some integrity and real skill

[@bluebottle1617]

He certainly doesn't have any time for bullshit or waffle!

[@EmmaBlackman-m3o]

He should be the next Labour leader!.

[@Jak0032]

As a postie: - We are tracked by PDAs, including stops as little as 3mins (a quick water break in the van) - If its too busy I am told to take tracked and parcels and leave mail - Our rounds are too big to complete each day unless its very light - They are making these rounds even bigger, despite knowing they are not realistic due to the PDA data! - Unless your item is a special or tracked (basically if the customer can check its status), they do not care!

[@SteveForteGMR]

Thank for clarifying this. From a customer angle, I saw the PDAs being used as a tool to scan parcels and post which require proof of delivery. Hearing that they're being used to track speed, including breaks, is pretty disturbing.

[@Jak0032]

@@SteveForteGMR They're absolutely necessary for our job. Specials, tracked, signed for's. We scan a barcode in post boxes that we collect from also. But yeah, they've also been used for the bad things unfortunately

[@SteveForteGMR]

@initmanjak00032 typical corporate bullshittery. Take a vital tool and use it as some way to measure work rates. No wonder they want to prioritise anything they can get you to scan. Hopefully that doesn't now include anything with the new barcoded stamps... oh... now I'm guess that's part of the reason they brought them in. Or I'm overthinking things.

[@Jak0032]

@@SteveForteGMR heard nothing about those stamps so far in that regard, might be to do with sorting/processing but I wouldn't know much about that bit to be honest

[@michaelmouse4024]

Note - 'not being aware of' isn't the same as saying there is none. I'm currently 'not aware' of the moons of Saturn but that doesn't mean there aren't any.

[@blagzster6255]

Neo Liberal economics in a nutshell. Maximum shareholders profits. Minimum everything else.

[@NapoleonSolo61]

Exactly, profit before people 👏

[@DougieL]

Exactly right and they set their OKR's / KPI's so that the execs make a bonus, even if the company goes south - crims

[@jujutrini8412]

Take taxpayers money for private business and give absolutely nothing back to the taxpayers!

[@DianeD862]

What a wonderful member of parliamentarian makes a change.I would vote for him it’s what we need.

[@purplemonkeydishwasher5269]

I don't think they're even looking after shareholders TBH. This is just jobs on the board for Tory mates. Fail from job to job and slowly grind UK industries to nothing once all the wealth has been extracted.

[@andrewgurney6019]

Darren Jones is an outstanding MP, we need far more like him.

[@donnyjay9046]

Sadly in short supply...

[@remilloyd6366]

My brother works in Manchester for Royal Mail, he's covered 6 offices and he's said it's an absolute disaster. Thousands of letters are undelivered daily( hospital appointments etc),and that's company policy , trust me. Over half of all letters are left in daily, and this is to maximize shareholder profits at the expense of customers. The staff are told to only deliver Tracked 24, Tracked 48 and special delivery and leave letters, or maybe take out a quarter of the walk and leave 3/4 of the letters in. And why? Because letters are untrackable, so there's no evidence that letters are being left in for a week, or sometimes longer. Postman are having weeks off in Manchester and coming back in to 35-40 trays of mail( they usually get about 5 a day), because their mail has not gone out for the whole week. That's fantastic for profits, because not only have they saved paying a weeks wage, the poor postman is then told to deliver a weeks worth of mail and book 1 hour overtime. This is Simon Thompson's policy because the managers at Manchester said so after a zoom call with him. Offices are 20 + staff down, so that's 20+ wages saved( great for share holders)but the mail doesn't get delivered. I've got pictures which I'll share, if people need to see. It's horrendous and makes you wonder why you even bother buying a stamp for this non service. Some of the pictures I've got, look like no mails gone at all. Then they'll take a postman off their duty and put them on a delivery that's not been delivered for 4 or 5 days. Postman have then got to carry 4 or sometimes 5 days of mail in one day, all while being monitored on their PDA. It's modern day slavery, and Simon Thompson needs to be exposed.

[@theghostoftom]

Stuff exposed, he needs to be stripped of all assets then serve a long term prison sentence.

[@felicitymcdougle4981]

Please don't post pictures anywhere on social media, your brother will get sacked. It's happening, one of my colleagues got sacked for this reason. Dont do it.

[@tomp8941]

He must have been too some awful offices ours and the ones I work in are cleared every day.

[@adamsmith4813]

I know a postie who was a Tory voter before. He believed that workers did the bare minimum and the bosses worked hard. Then they privatised royal mail and now he realises how disillusioned he was

[@molliedogmolliedog]

@@tomp8941 not for much longer.

[@euaningham8594]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more devious and evasive person in a long time

[@jeremylawrence5855]

If he’s the best CEO the Royal Mail could find, it’s no wonder the Royal Mail is going down the tubes!

[@sueyourself5413]

It should be a public service, was another thing that the tories managed to sell off for 1/3 value to their mates. No one goes to jail, no one even gets fined.

[@MrDannyDetail]

The Post Office is an entirely separate company that run the retail counters. Thompson is CEO of Royal Mail, which is the processing and delivery company

[@carthagodelenda9014]

His last job was CEO of Test and Trace under Dido Harding. I suspect he was unemployable after that, but he's been on the RM board since 2017. Seems he used that to leverage himself his new job.

[@julielevinge266]

It’s making huge profits as it always has, fact it was virtually given away to the private sector, to increase the wealth of a handful of share holders is an absolute scandal!!

[@ellyclark1299]

@@carthagodelenda9014 Why would someone who did such a catastrophic job of that be given another job?

[@edmurth]

“The brand, the business” anyone remember when it was a service?

[@yicterspricter]

Privatisation of public services has ruined this country. I fear the NHS will be next.

[@wilsoncj]

My thoughts exactly.

[@Toby-yf7ze]

Thank goodness it's not tax payers money funding a service that's no longer being used. As a business it's not profitable to send post, indicating as a service it would be a loss. It's hardly a human right to send letters at Christmas. The state services should be vital services, let the free market handle the rest

[@osric1730]

@@Toby-yf7ze There's no such thing as a free market since all markets are regulated. The term "Free Market" is a value judgement used to describe a set of trading rules in which you have successfully lobbied for advantage, and to obfuscate that fact by presenting it as an immutable state beyond human intervention. Or put more succinctly, self-serving bollocks.

[@winco68]

@@Toby-yf7ze How do you know it’s not being used? I beg to differ it is being used. I see huge volumes moving through the system each night. Maybe not letters with stamps on them from postboxes but letters all the same. Parcels too even during the strikes they still came.

[@laurencemoore8519]

So he wiped the floor with him and made it obvious what sort of odious man this is. But will there be any consequences?

[@toni6053]

Nope and even if he's sacked he will get a massive golden handshake. Thing is what can we actually do about it esp as Tory lite Starmer has said no renationalisation.

[@bigdawggaming6373]

Further to this, I work in a mail center on a CSS machine (put the letters in and it spits them out in delivery route order). There is a thing called “deferred mail” which means 2nd and 3rd class mail will be withheld from delivery until there is another letter going to the same address. This means the machine spits out hospital appointments, birthday cards, personal letters etc. which are then held in the mail center for up to a maximum of three days. So, it could be five days before a 2nd class birthday card or appointment letter actually even reaches the delivery office… and then it could be left in the delivery frame for even more days as the postie has to prioritise tracked items. It’s scandalous. I fish out the birthday cards and appointment letters when I see them (after they’ve been set aside by the machine) and send them to the delivery office anyway.

[@snoop35L]

You’re a hero ! Keep going mate ❤

[@peterherberth7658]

I am impressed Big Dawg! Well done! You are trying to look after the customer in opposition to the employer’s deliberate actions to NOT provide the service for which we all pay when we pay for stamps. I very much hope that Simon Thompson’s meeting with the committee will result in more honesty, transparency, and fairness to both Royal Mail staff and customers and less to shareholder value and Mr Thompson’s own obscenely high and undeserved salary of £544,000. Personally, I think that he should go to prison for being so evasive, bordering on lying. There will be another meeting with the committee on 22nd February. I can’t wait to see whether Thompson attends it with a shorter or a longer Pinnochio-nose.

[@MrDanTurcu]

What a disgrace of a royal mail CEO 🤮🤮🤮

[@stuarttaylor4269]

well done Darren.............. its a bit like pulling teeth ...this weasel really didn't want to talk to you did he...but you got there......I applaud you.

[@Tigermoto]

Bloody hell, a competent MP? What's going on? I want this guy to be my MP

[@VanceRefrigeration]

What you want, and what you’ll do are two completely different things. If you really want him to be your MP, then you would move to his constituency

[@SRS13Rastus]

I worked for Royal Mail for 5 years, the Management are a joke at every level! Pushing parcels over letters, Hiring a Tesco store manager instead of promoting those within the company who KNEW how the office operates and the needs of the staff. This Tesco Store Manager had ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA how to run a PROCESS, making decisions such as changing the layout of the letter sort frames (which was at the time set up by a months long process run by staff and geared to reduce twisting, stretching and keep high traffic post codes in the centre of the frame increasing sorting speed in the process). This PILLOCK from Tesco's decided to change this layout less than 5 weeks before the Xmas rush, Why? To make it easier for the Temp Staff to learn the frame, also removed the sorting boards which listed every box and postcodes alphabectically, and utterly refused to acknowledge that the biggest training resource was the permanent staff and the board he chose to remove. We pointed ALL of this out and also the fact that by changing the frame at that time he removed the biggest training asset as WE wouldn't have enough time to become instinctive in our understanding of the frame and therefore COULDN'T help the temp staff learn the frame. Roll on the XMas rush and he ends up SCREAMING at US about sort rates PLUMMETING and "The main sort Depot was sorting 2-3 times faster than the Overspill Depot!" Our response "Yeah because some dipshit asshole changed the frame layout right before Xmas whilst the Main Depot is STILL using the frame layout WE set up over a year ago, so DON'T go screaming at us when it was YOU who insisted we knew bugger all about what we do and the best way to do it!" Same person would break Royal Mail rules regarding handling of mailbags like cutting cable ties and throwing them on the floor, creating piles of bags on the floor in the work area, both of which created massive trip and slip risks and blocked our access to poarcel and letter Yorks forcing us to throw parcels/letter bundles about rather than place them into the Yorks. Royal Mail DEMANDS an increase in throughput for ANY wage increase when the dedicated and hard working staff are ALREADY working at full tilt, their actions have forced MANY of the best staff to leave the company entirely, forced a policy of denial to ANY workplace injuries and attempts to cover them up by placing people suffering due to them "up for dismissal" when their pain and suffering causes them to be off work as a result of their piss poor attitude to work place injuries. THAT'S why Royal mail is in such a fucking mess! It should be Re-Nationalised and return it's focus to the CUSTOMERS and WORKERS instead of the shareholders and their damned didvidends!

[@Cordfosworth]

Spot on

[@susanwestern6434]

Exactly. The same thing with all the privatised industries such as water, gas and electricity.

[@W0lf_91]

Well said. Something needs to fundamentally change. This Neo-Liberal ideology needs to be ousted & workforces valued & respected.

[@winco68]

Bang on mate 100% true. It’s all gone Pete Tong since privatisation. Management have lost the bond they had with the staff. Everything is about profit and shareholders. Sod the workers sod the customers! 🤬

[@pumi63]

From what i hear incompetence , corruption and subject to favors for position rather than genuine ability but who knows it could be worse still

[@sharongillesp]

EXCELLENT for making these people ANSWER the questions they are asked, instead of always diverting the conversation so as to AVOID answering the questions asked!

[@tonycalow708]

This shows what a slimy barsteward that CEO is!! No wonder the Posties are striking with him in charge!!

[@louiseanderson1505]

I think the word you're looking for is bastard.

[@tariq_sharif]

I am not a CEO, but am breaking into a cold sweat remembering the grilling i used to receive trying to explain to the Directors (at monthly accountability meetings) why my projects were overspent and behind schedule. This MP is excellent.

[@Mirekklimas87]

Wish there were more MPs like him who are representing the people not looking to feather his own nest. Well done mate, you did a great job

[@Badger-w8u]

Absolutely Mirekklimas87

[@SinuousStudios]

He’s my MP here in Bristol I’ll keep voting for him for you 😊

[@tardistime6857]

It’s a rare thing these days in politics in any party

[@boota1979]

Simon Thompson was managing director of the NHS test and trace programme, I would say enough said!!!!!

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

Most english people survived? Then he did a perfect job.

[@boota1979]

@@wolfgangpreier9160 The test and trace system has swallowed up “unimaginable” amounts of taxpayers’ money with no evidence of any measurable difference on the progress of the coronavirus pandemic, a scathing report by a Westminster spending watchdog has found.

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

@@boota1979 And the people still live and can tell about that "not result". I say job well done dear "test and trace". You have achieved the goal of not loosing ALL people.

[@busterabcat]

It's no different from the recent news that the Tory MP who was sacked over having porn on his computer is now rumoured to be the new minister in charge of the new 'Online Safety Bill'. Whatever next? Having convicted p@edos to be appointed cabinet ministers for Children's Welfare and Nursery Education? If this utter despicable shower of amoral cret!ns is anything to go by, don't bet against it!

[@dundeeguy]

@@wolfgangpreier9160 well thats the response of an idiot. The track n trace app had no effect on the pandemic and lost 38billion. So please stfu

[@adellethompson9615]

I absolutely LOVE this guy he doesn't allow them to not answering the questions. Well Done Darren Jones Well Done 👏

[@holdmusic_]

CEO's like this are just husks of human beings. Empty shells that only feel full when they're grifting. Darren Jones did really well. We need more MP's like him - informed, intelligent and cognisant of the issues

[@mattpalmer5819]

Love this MP if all politicians conducted themselves like him think how amazing things would actually be

[@patrickyorke3028]

Great lines of questioning. A few more like him please.

[@parametr]

This CEO was "managing director of the NHS test and trace programme". With the Tories: do a horrible job, get promoted, do a horrible job in another role, etc

[@BigHenFor]

OMG. That says it all. How much did he donate to the Tories?

[@monged4life442]

@@BigHenFor Given the billions of money sent to that programme that clearly didn't get spent on an actual system, I'd say a fair bit!

[@W0lf_91]

£37 billion spewed up the wall by this man? His reward for such incompetence? £800K bonus per annum on top of a base- 140K salary for running one of the UK’s best-loved businesses into the ground. Only in Tory Britain. Individuals like Thompson only ever fail upwards; it’s sickening to be honest.

[@williamgannaway8183]

Indeed, great business acumen...

[@pumi63]

Even if he losses , he wins another hefty package and straight into another unsuspecting company like the worm that he seems to be

[@proffessorclueless]

The CEO sounded exactly like a Tory minister. Unable to take responsibility for anything, lie and blame other people or circumstances, avoid answering straight forward questions by spewing out meaningless sound bites, and looking as smug as possible while doing it. Great job by Darren Jones.

[@Rotwold]

A lot of externalities like we, us, customers and team when replying to questions regarding his performance and responsibilities.

[@johnjephcote7636]

He briefly mentioned that RM was investing in electric vans. They are hugely expensive compared with i/c vehicles and have still, a very limited range and need frequent recharging. Electric sounds green and good but at the moment, if it is a terrible waste of cash, then what is the point?

[@podpicker15]

Spot on there, been trained and working for them would be my guess .

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

He is a political puppet. Not like as. Is.

[@busterabcat]

And much like a quintessential Tory minister, he is spouting b/s simply because his lips move. Of course.

[@bunchable1]

I’m a postie - and I can confirm that it’s totally true about prioritising parcels - mail is failed everyday!

[@Gigaflare8822]

Darren does a great job of balancing politeness with toughness. When I watch him, sometimes I feel like I'm the one getting a bollocking and I haven't even done anything wrong.

[@blunderbusssi9587]

Hahaha! So true mate! 🤣

[@jamiebyrne25]

😂😂😂😂

[@SpencerF6]

Spot on!!

[@jamesdouglaswhittaker4612]

I’m not at all sure that everyone who does appear before him HAS done everything/everything wrong . My impression is that he is set on making his mark as a right young hopeful with an eye on his advancement . His summation was less than fair and indeed his own performance raises some doubts on the validity of parts of his questionings. Some cheap points made but then they have brought him into the public eye so serve their purpose . My opinion and, before comment, I am not a high supporter of the Royal Mail - just think , in commercial/business terms , they are rather better that he supposes No doubt the threat of call/back will give him time to dream up some other ‘questions’

[@robertbarry977]

Oh I bet you have. 🤨

[@deanrichards1219]

Simon Thompson is in Daniel Kretinsky's pocket 😂Doing everything he can to avoid questions, even straight up lying through his teeth about company procedure's.. Them poster's telling you what to prioritise are in every office in the UK... He's basically trying to self sabotage Royal Mail for the benefit of the single largest shareholder of the company (Daniel Kretinsky) planning to buy out Royal Mail cheap and strip it of all it's assets for profit, and he is running out of time to do it!

[@lazybones69]

Kretinsky wants GLS split off from RM so he can buy it, he really has no interest in RM itself.

[@leytonwarrior]

You've got it exactly .

[@davidtube79]

@@seamus7054 Ifthat was the case then royal mail would have lied to the london stock exchange.

[@philexley1853]

I worked for Royal Mail. This guy is a flat out liar. Letters are going for days on end without being delvered. They are NOT delivering on USO. Haven't been for years.

[@CheezecakesMinis]

So this is the prick I need to be blaming when I end up missing important appointments for my heart problem and other health issues I have which could very easily kill me even though I'm only 36.

[@dr.benjaminbird7631]

If it’s that important, I’d probably take some ownership of it and ring your GP.

[@iliketowatchvideos47]

Yes sir ,as a postie I apologise ,we want to deliver your letters but are told otherwise mate

[@LeornianCyng]

I’m guessing he’s never watched Postman Pat. If he did, he would know how the Post Office / Royal Mail is supposed to work. Yet again the over complication of such a simple system run by people who’ve never delivered post. The sooner it gets re-nationalised, the better.

[@boota1979]

That will be after it has been asset stripped no doubt.

[@CliffUK49]

I doubt it will be renationalised while Starmer is in charge 😔😔😔.

[@sanjeanb8075]

Please keep holding these CEO's to account.

[@stephenbooth7177]

a great MP we need more like him

[@DianeD862]

That’s what I just said and I was a Booth before I got married.

[@lindaorvis5453]

Typical boss in this day and age, hopeless and find.

[@robertmiller1299]

The man seems incapable of answering a straight question

[@Kle_b1]

This guy has such a knack of acting like he doesn't already know the answer to the question he's asking, whilst simultaneously making it abundantly clear that he adsolutely does already know the answer to the question he's asking

[@patrickmonkman8151]

He’s a trained lawyer, as the saying goes “if a lawyer asks you a question they already know the answer” ;) Starmer used to do it Johnson and it used to make him incandescent

[@tactcom7]

A bit like Columbo.

[@aliasofanalias7448]

The difference between questioning and accusing

[@Anduril1974]

Darren Jones, as always, was utterly brilliant!! That incompetent, dangerously underqualified CEO was a disgrace. There needs to be more consequences for people like that.

[@ripcord9881]

Well this MP is well and truly on his case and bringing them to book. Challenging, direct, forceful and not someone who let's them get away with things. It's about time organisations were put to the sword over shareholder value and shareholder returns. This MP is first class. Keep up the good work.

[@purler3221]

Let's hope he keeps it up and does not fall into the cesspool of corruption that is enveloping our Parliament and politics generally.

[@Inferno-hx7hk]

I worked for Royal Mail as a postman during the first covid lockdown and it's absolutely true we were told to prioritise parcel. I remember a manager tearing apart a new starter because they had prioritised letters instead (given that vaccination letters had just started rolling out) and they were left in tears

[@silondon9010]

This guy needs bodyguards when visiting Royal Mail premises because he is hated by the staff

[@winco68]

I think a lot of managers too… at least those old school ones that still have principles.

[@mrdeathgaming1457]

The 'Bonus' I was paid last year was based on the amount off bullshit I could sow and get away with?..maybe?

[@andyrees4076]

"I congratulate you on that but, if you don't have any workers I'm not sure it's going to go terribly well for you." 😂

[@misstaylortrash]

Funny how parcels are a priority for them. Had a special delivery marked ‘undeliverable’ and two attempts made to deliver it - I’ve been at home both days and today as I sat at home I had a notification to say delivery was attempted again… yet, no knock or ring on the door. Had to chase the postman down the road to get it… and then was told I had 5 minutes to go back to my house to get my ID. What’s that about? The service has been diabolical since privatisation and I’m not shocked.

[@emdiar6588]

WOW!! This explains why my 81 yr old father's appointment for vital surgery arrived 3 days after the operation was scheduled to take place. The irony is, he was a postman his whole life, and never took a day off sick.

[@jeaninea5029]

I live in the US but I wish we had someone like this MP in our Congress

[@frothe42]

I totally agree!

[@tonyrodda4158]

I hope Katie Porter becomes senator.

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

USPS would be enough. The Congress does everything the UAW and USPS tells them to do.

[@sjbechet1111]

Katie Porter - Show some support and pay more attention.

[@ytucharliesierra]

Everyone gangsta until Katie Porter draws her whiteboard. If she became president with a robust majority in both houses the world would be a better place.

[@troybrunsdon6994]

After listening to this, i went into work this morning the happiest iv'e been for a long time. Been a postie for 24 years....

[@martinb101]

Good on you, i'm rooting for you

[@ostraadt]

We're rooting for you, good luck.

[@david-bs2xo]

❤❤❤

[@purler3221]

Thank you for being a postie!

[@aaronjohnson6916]

Why’s Darren not on the front bench? I’d love to see him as Angie’s deputy.

[@BigStib]

That was EXACTLY the priority list I was told both as a postie by managers, and later required to tell posties as a manager in several offices at various times in recent years. It was standard protocol whenever pressure hit, such as when Covid meant vans could not be shared or staff were off sick.

[@craig3420]

My postie tells me of the daily threats they get...from this man...clueless

[@ennbee2051]

As a postman, can I just say? This is music to my ears.

[@siwal69]

😂

[@april-tui3524]

Can you also say, what needs to happen at Royal Mail? Obviously something has to change because it’s no longer profitable as it is. There’s so much competition that gives better service, so what do we do with Royal Mail?

[@andishawjfac]

@@april-tui3524 Target the parcels market without making life worse for your workers.

[@april-tui3524]

@@andishawjfac that would be my plan too… I guess our plan is too logical?

[@andishawjfac]

@@april-tui3524 Expecting Tories to have any logic is probably too much

[@dermothill8504]

The perfect example of a CEO not fit for purpose

[@DougieL]

Amazingly there are so, so many of them...

[@martinabcbeers]

He's just another tory ,shareholders baby ,

[@philipjohnkaye8890]

He's brilliant at giving answers to questions he wasn't asked.

[@DougieL]

@@philipjohnkaye8890 yep, the sign of a proper shyster

[@johnchristmas7522]

Its NOT about being fit for purpose, its about how much of the profit goes to TORY COFFERS

[@dismalfist]

My goodness. We need to protect this man at all costs. He does stellar work making these nasty crooks squirm. Think Grant Shapps still can't sit down from the spanking he took in the last one.

[@21Diddley]

As a member of a different political party Darren Jones blows my mind. If I were in his constituency I'd vote for him - he's got a forensic mind, he's fully briefed, he's polite and he always gets the point across. I can't understand why he isn't on Labour's front bench.

[@ataxpayer723]

PO seems to be focussing on warm fluffy topics like decreasing CO2 emissions, rather than "are we delivering a good service" It's clear that the PO wishes to become a parcel delivery company, rather than a letter delivery company.

[@isotropisch82]

Darren Jones is great, reminds me of Katie Porter in the US. I hope he goes far. Edit: Jones's closing statement was a total mic drop to that smarmy liar

[@brokebodycleansoul]

Bristol boy

[@pipthedog11]

Sell off the Royal Mail is just another of dodgy Dave’s great policies

[@boota1979]

Sell off more like given away, more transfer of wealth, it is disgusting.

[@kylefooty8502]

Royal mail has already been sold off

[@jurysout2419]

Darren Jones is a breath of fresh air. Do not even try BS him,

[@magnuswalker7957]

As a 77 year old I boubt if I have ever known of a level of possible corruption in the public and private sectors as is coming evident today.

[@markbastin9195]

The Gentleman chairing this Parliamentary Select Committee was excellent in his line of questioning, he was concise, firm and fair. Simon Thompson talks about customers and shareholders, however worryingly he has to be prompted about employees, frankly reading between the lines he treats his workforce with utter contempt. Furthermore, he implements new technology but fails to understand the “PDA” acronym, another example of incompetence! PDA = Postal Digital Assistant. Let’s be clear, this guy sees workers and fair working conditions as an inconvenience to his objective, which is to employ as many people as possible on self employed contractor contracts. No sick pay, no holidays, no overtime rates, no responsibility and maximum profits. He is incentivised to do so, in fact he admitted that he gets paid £140k bonus for delivering share holder value. He should be incentivised for treating his workforce fairly, with dignity and respect. The Postal workers worked all through the pandemic, CEO doesn’t praise or talk about his workforce with any respect. In fact, he has previously stated that direct labour is too expensive in the U.K. He also says that the Royal Mail division is going bust and at the same time informs investors that Royal Mails underlying balance sheet is very healthy, which on is it Simon? This CEO is clearly out of his depth, he is driven by greed at whatever the cost to people. People make good businesses and good customer relations . The way this CEO operates is an absolute disgrace, shame on him. The worst part of human behaviour is ‘greed’ , this guy is simply excessively greedy. The Industrial Action is clearly a choice on the CEOs part. Customers and Employees are the ones that suffer, Not Simon Thompson or his board of directors, they do very well thank you by exploitation of employees. Finally, An independent body needs to set Directors remuneration criteria not the board he financially Benefits from their own board room set criteria. The chair of the select committee worked out quite quickly the MO of this incompetent, bullying, inexperienced and incompetent CEO. The select committee will deduce that the problem is the CEO and not the workforce.

[@markgarrod4436]

He joined Royal Mail because he had finished with being at Track and Trace but the share holders are happy and that’s what counts…

[@telr55]

Not the public then ?

[@johnroberts2905]

The main shareholder is from the Czech republic. HE shouldn't have any say over the Universal Delivery Obligation in UK law. Should never have been privatised, same as the railways.

[@johnchristmas7522]

SHAREHOLDERS BEING THE TORY PARTY

[@lincolnlad6075]

What a great clip. I've sent it to my daughter - who aspires to be an MP - as a role model to set her sights on.

[@anton_14a11]

Us posties need this exposure, the public has almost no idea what goes on in a delivery office! its a shambles

[@johnjephcote7636]

I only worked in a delivery office back in Post Office days but I certainly know what goes on in a mail centre!

[@philmoffett366]

Looks at the face of this slippery individual when he's repeatedly asked "who are you external advisers" and he knows he can't be all aggressive and obnoxious with Darren Jones like he is with his workforce!.......it must be killing him that he's got to act like a normal human being!

[@tonyfallon2102]

Just right in front of our faces. It's blatant. I don't know what we do about it, but it's sickening.

[@bobz1736]

What a slippery snake !!!

[@Jono1982]

watching this CEO squirm is fucking awesome

[@christopherjones2884]

Totally agree with you on that one

[@markbarter9717]

Agree, I am a postie and yes we are told by our manager to make sure we deliver tracked parcels, recorded and special delivery items, as a priority.

[@MatthewLenton]

If Royal Mail are still here in ten years time, I'll be surprised

[@monged4life442]

Keeping the company afloat clearly isn't a priority, just squeezing it for as much as this snake can make out of it first.

[@orac1waterskiing]

Nice to see the CEO has his two Rottwilier's on leash.

[@ChrisUKFF]

Watching Darren Jones hold these squirmy shysters to account is a breath of fresh air.

[@barriereid9244]

When Royal Mail was sold off eight years ago, it was sold off for £1bn less than its worth.

[@stepheng8779]

Blame the people who let it happen & bought the shares, the great apathetic public.

[@justyouraverageshaun89]

Same old Tories, mates rates, jobs for the boys etc

[@richardbrown1189]

A masterclass in obfuscation. Whenever he was put into a corner with a straightforward yes or no question like the one about how his bonus is calculated, he just goes off at a complete tangent with a list of all the wonderful things that are happening and never gets anywhere near actually answering the question. I sometimes wonder how the MPs on these committees manage to hold their tempers when dealing with such mealy-mouthed, utterly self serving individuals.

[@saltytree729]

Mate mps and prime ministers do it all the time what you on about 😂

[@K8Stuff]

@@saltytree729it’s called Media Training.

[@richardbrown1189]

@@saltytree729 Oh, so that's fine then. That's the hoariest excuse in the book...

[@saltytree729]

@@richardbrown1189 what I’m saying is clearly unbeknownst to yourself, spinning is the most used tactic in the book. You have an mp there representing a fucking woeful party dishing out on somebody who is in a woeful business and the peasants like ourselves are in make believe land.

[@Steaks652]

Nailed it Richard. A despicable character who revels in bullying, lying and killing a bloody great business, whilst lining his pockets.

[@sanjeanb8075]

Love Darren Jones. Obviously does his research and due diligence before committees

[@pumi63]

Quite possibly the worst CEO in Royal Mail history and has literally bought a 507 year old company to its knees . It's almost as if he's hell bent on destroying an institution ripe for a cheaper takeover . The reported cyber attack has further crippled a company racking up losses close to an eye watering £ 1 billion ! whilst Simon was ducking and evading all questions by the committee . Great dissection job by Darren Jones

[@garriejackson9551]

Hes brilliant at holding these scumbags to account he takes no prisoners

[@42Barley]

Proritising Parcels in Australia over letters is here. Our letter are now being delivered Monday, Wednesday, Friday one week and Tuesday and Thursday the next. The 😢cost of postage for letters is increasing accordingly!

[@davidhall7744]

“How much are you paid?” “Im sorry, i dont understand the question” “How much are you paid?” “Oh, im sorry, I thought you said ‘how much am I spade’ 😂 With all that obfuscation he could be a Tory Frontbencher 😂😂

[@busterabcat]

He SHOULD be 'spayed'. His almonds need to be sliced off.

[@sukotu23]

He didn't actually say that did he?

[@judithmatthews8460]

I hope Darren Jones follows up on this because Royal Mail employees seem to feel the CEO is dysfunctional and tells lies. The guy at the back with glasses seems to be thinking the same

[@Mightypi]

You'd think he would, even at the least it makes him look very competent and just.

[@martinbootneck]

Yes I noticed that too. He was shaking and nodding his head in complete disagreement with what Thompson was saying.

[@williamgannaway8183]

That guy at the back is the head of Communications at the CWU.

[@spaxgsy]

This MP is an absolute legend, ripping the CEO of Royal Mail apart at every opportunity. He needs to be snapped up and placed amongst the CWU executive committee, he'd have them running for the hills!

[@peterburke4368]

Lies lies & more lies from the CEO of Royal Mail =Mr S Thompson

[@robertfrew3890]

There speaks a truly untrustworthy individual.

[@HomeGrownVeg]

The expressions on the lad's faces is priceless. Listening to the questions and answers they say nothing but say so much.

[@Don.Challenger]

Except the white bearded one on our right not much body language or emotion shown - a real poker face. I think black beard at back and to the left may be a plant he nods his head the wrong way to be on the witness's team (how is seating there arranged?).

[@HomeGrownVeg]

@@Don.Challenger I think they are part of the 'Royal Mail' team. They seam to understand the questions, know the answers and can tell when the boss is squirming. They looked to be having a great time.

[@blue47er]

Is it just me, or am I mistaken in regarding the P.O. CEO as an unpleasant, slippery, and evasive question dodger .

[@MrDannyDetail]

The man in the video is the Royal Mail CEO. The Post Office is a separate company with a separate CEO.

[@gregadair1546]

An great example of an MP who clearly does his research and takes no bullshit. Give this guy a leading roll in the shadow cabinet.

[@PaulHolder]

Most of the news we see about politicians make it seem that all they do is bicker amongst themselves, seeing Darren doing his job and being so good at it is refreshing. This sort of thing should get a lot more prominence and this skill set should be more valued than just image and making alliances.

[@matthewappleby1651]

Every major business in this country: energy, retail. postal, buses, rail, mail, banking; all in a complete and utter mess. Consequences of privatisation with no competition.

[@ericpoeperic]

One of the only socialized services in the USA that is in our written constitution is the United States postal service. And I thank God it's public every day. We always hold letters to equal importance. We pride ourselves in delivering election mail and medications also. Solidaritiy to the posties of the UK ✊

[@anton_14a11]

we dont even have a constitution, soon we wont have a postal service

[@edwardgough7051]

Back at ya brother

[@martinphilip2619]

Q…..How do you know when Simon Thompson is telling lies? A……His lips move🤣🤣

[@Proiteus]

Can’t say I feel confident in the post office knowing this guy is in charge. Right now I’m waiting for them to recover from the cyber attack from last week. International sales are important to my business and being unable to ship abroad while both RM and the media stay silence on the matter is infuriating!

[@MrDannyDetail]

He isn't in charge of the Post Office (which run the counters), he's in charge of Royal Mail, who do the processing and deliveries.

[@monged4life442]

Same for mine, I missed the initial story about it and carried on sending international parcels in there until I saw the story today saying it still wasn't resolved! Annoying that I can't even get them sent back to me if people demand refunds because of this.

[@badgerUE]

"Cyber attack" or is it another non profitable service Simon Thompson doesn't want to provide?

[@brett18uk]

Post Office is now a completely separate entity and is still state owned. It’s nothing to do with Royal Mail (other than it sells Royal Mail services to customers). Royal Mail is completely privatised (remember when they tried calling it Consignia?)

[@maryfenton958]

Who is the ghoul in the jacket? Not a good look for attending a Parliament committee!

[@simonbrook3076]

No CEO should ever be paid for delivering share holder value - that should be made illegal.

[@sanjeanb8075]

Still waiting on delivery of a letter from Ireland which was posted mid November.