Where did ‘heckler’ come from?

What the heckler

No party conference would be complete without a heckler or two, but where did the term come from? A heckle was originally a tool for combing flax or hemp, and a heckler someone who worked with such a device. The term was first applied to politics in the 1820s when the notoriously militant hecklers of Dundee would disrupt political meetings. Their efforts did not, however, ultimately save their jobs when the process of heckling was mechanised.

Home truths

How many people work from home (WFH)?

– Last year, 16% of the workforce reported WFH exclusively, while 28% said they were on hybrid working.

– In spite of WFH’s association with Gen Z, 16- to 24-year-olds were least likely to be working from home. Only 6% were doing so exclusively, while a further 15% were on hybrid working.

– The group most likely to work from home were the over-65s (24%), followed by 45- to 54-year-olds (18%).

– Among 16- to 24-year-olds 65% said they didn’t have the choice to WFH, while 14% said they travelled to work even though they had the choice to work from home.

– The group keenest to take advantage of the ability to work from home were 25- to 34-year-olds. Only 8% said they travelled to work in spite of having the choice to work from home.

Source: ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey

Borrowed time

The value of the UK’s national debt as a share of GDP hit 100 per cent for the first time since the 1960s. Which other countries are a member of the club?

Debt as percentage of GDP

Sudan 280

Japan 255

Singapore 163