Indie band Friendly Fires has criticised UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson after he walked out to one of its songs for his speech at the Conservative party conference.
Mr Johnson made his way to the stage while the track Blue Cassette was played in Manchester.
But the band members said they did not give their permission for him to use the song at the event and they were taking steps to make sure it did not happen again."
“We do not endorse the Conservative party’s use of our track Blue Cassette," the band said. “Our permission was not sought, and we have asked our management to make sure it isn’t used again.
Alongside a screenshot of a news report stating that Jacob Rees-Mogg had called food banks “rather uplifting”, the band said: “If Boris Johnson needed something uplifting to walk on to, perhaps he should have used the sound of a busy food bank.”
Mr Johnson used his conference speech to call for the unleashing of the country's “unique spirit” as he set out the “difficult” process of reshaping the British economy.
The Electric Light Orchestra song Mr Blue Sky was also played before his speech.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
