THE government was condemned today for an “unconscionable” back-to-work briefing,  with union leaders warning that it threatens people with redundancy unless they return to potentially unsafe workplaces.

In a round of interviews from his home, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps claimed that there is a “limit” to working from home.

Mr Shapps was reinforcing the government’s message in the run-up to a major media campaign next week, which will encourage employees to return to their workplaces amid fears that town and city centres are becoming ghost areas as commuters stay away.