Latest news with #AdamThompson
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Nigel Farage humiliated by ex-teacher's question about 'awful case'
Labour's Adam Thompson and Angela Rayner poked fun of Nigel Farage after the Reform leader claimed to have unearthed £7billion of savings when the real figure was 250 times lower Nigel Farage's dodgy maths has been brutally mocked at PMQs. Labour MP Adam Thompson, a former teacher, drew laughs across the Commons as he highlighted an "awful" case where a 61-year-old man got his sums horrifically wrong. He demanded to know what the Government was doing to help adults learn maths after leaving school. He then revealed he was talking about the Reform UK leader. Mr Farage came under fire after claiming to have unearthed £7billion of "wasteful" spending on diversity and equality programmes in Whitehall. But closer inspection showed the civil service actually spent £27million - 250 times less, the Commons heard. The Reform leader looked sheepish as both Mr Thompson and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner poked fun of him. Ms Rayner showed it proved that Reform's sums "don't add up". Backbencher Mr Thompson asked: "As a trained physics teacher and a former engineering lecturer, can I ask the Deputy Prime Minister what this government is doing to help people improve their math skills after they've left school? "I came across an awful case the other day, a 61-year-old man who believes he counted up £7billion in government spending, but it was really only £27 million. "What can we do to people like the leader of Reform UK, who evidently can't add up." Mr Farage, 61, watched on as the exchange unfolded. Ms Rayner, who was stepping in for Keir Starmer as he was returning from the G7 summit in Canada, responded: "Mr Speaker, my friend highlights an important fact - Reform's sums simply don't add up. "He'll be pleased to know that we're investing £136million for skills boot camps, and I will be sure to send the details to the honourable member for Clacton (Mr Farage)." At the end of last month, Reform said cutting DEI programmes would make the massive saving. A spokesman for the party told The Times that the figure came from a review of spending carried out by the Conservative Way Forward group. It also includes councils, school boards, universities and government grants to charities, the newspaper reported - and even that figure is under dispute.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospital employee with Tourette syndrome says he was fired for ‘making faces' at boss
A hospital employee with Tourette syndrome got fired after just a week on the job when the head of HR allegedly became offended that the man — whose persistent tics, such as squinting, grimacing, and eye-blinking are totally involuntary — was 'making faces' at him. In a federal civil rights lawsuit filed Friday and obtained first by The Independent, former project manager Adam Thompson accuses the White Plains Hospital Medical Center of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by terminating him over a physical condition he cannot control. The suit says Thompson disclosed his condition to hospital officials during the interview process and even provided a letter from his doctor that 'unequivocally' confirmed his fitness for duty. Still, it contends, the VP of human resources mistook Thompson's spontaneous facial movements as 'confrontational' and called for his immediate termination. In an email, White Plains Hospital's senior director of communications, Michael Gelormino, said, 'It is our policy not to comment on pending litigation.' Thompson began working at White Plains Hospital on October 28, 2024 as a senior 'MEP' project manager, responsible for overseeing all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems throughout the facility, according to the complaint filed with his lawsuit. His previous experience as an MEP manager, coordinator, and superintendent meant he'd easily be able to ensure all new construction met design specifications, safety codes, and deadlines, the complaint states. Before he took the job, Thompson informed his supervisor-to-be that he suffers from Tourette syndrome as well as ADHD, but takes medication to control both and neither interfere at all with his ability to work, the complaint continues, adding that Thompson's personal physician confirmed as much in writing. It says this 'proactive approach' met with 'positive feedback' from higher-ups, who recognized Thompson's 'competence and commitment.' 'However,' the complaint goes on, Thompson's 'situation took a troubling turn on November 4, 2024, during a mandatory New Hire Orientation.' While at the orientation, Thompson briefly texted with his wife about 'urgent' childcare arrangements, according to the complaint. 'He was then abruptly confronted by… the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources, demanding that [he] put his phone away because he was 'disrespecting' the speakers,' the complaint states. It says Thompson 'immediately complied,' offered an apology, and explained why he had been using the phone. But, the complaint alleges, the assistant VP of HR was unmoved, and instructed Thompson to leave the orientation. During his interaction with the assistant VP of HR, Thompson 'exhibited typical symptoms' of Tourette syndrome, which the complaint describes as 'eye blinking, squinting, facial grimacing, twitching, and mouth movements.' 'All of these were symptoms out of [Thompson's] control,' the complaint states. 'Immediately after the orientation ended, [Thompson] met with [the assistant VP of HR] to apologize again and reiterated the circumstances, seeking to resolve the misunderstanding amicably. [The assistant VP] assured [Thompson] that the matter was resolved.' Thompson then returned to the orientation, where, to his 'utter shock,' his supervisor told him that the assistant VP of HR was escalating the issue to his own bosses, according to the complaint. The next day, Thompson met with the director of HR, who said his assistant VP 'remained upset,' and that the hospital's senior leadership was now involved, the complaint says. The assistant VP had portrayed Thompson as 'confrontational,' and claimed he had been 'making faces' at him, the complaint states. But the faces were 'a direct result of' Thompson's Tourette syndrome, something he had 'openly disclosed' to the hospital, according to the complaint. 'On November 6, 2024, just two days after the incident… White Plains Hospital terminated [Thompson] from employment because he was allegedly 'confrontational' and 'making faces' at [the assistant VP of HR], with no further explanation provided,' the complaint says. In recent years, numerous famous names have revealed their own Tourette syndrome diagnoses, including singer Billie Eilish, boxing champion Tevin Farmer, and comedian Dan Aykroyd. Most Tourette symptoms manifest themselves as Thompson's; very few people with Tourette syndrome blurt out curse words and swear uncontrollably. Thompson is seeking damages to be determined by a jury, including compensation for mental anguish, emotional distress, humiliation, embarrassment, anxiety, and loss of self-esteem, self-confidence and personal dignity, plus reinstatement to his position at White Plains Hospital.
The Independent
11-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Hospital employee with Tourette syndrome says he was fired for ‘making faces' at boss
A hospital employee with Tourette syndrome got fired after just a week on the job when the head of HR allegedly became offended that the man — whose persistent tics, such as squinting, grimacing, and eye-blinking are totally involuntary — was 'making faces' at him. In a federal civil rights lawsuit filed Friday and obtained first by The Independent, former project manager Adam Thompson accuses the White Plains Hospital Medical Center of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by terminating him over a physical condition he cannot control. The suit says Thompson disclosed his condition to hospital officials during the interview process and even provided a letter from his doctor that 'unequivocally' confirmed his fitness for duty. Still, it contends, the VP of human resources mistook Thompson's spontaneous facial movements as 'confrontational' and called for his immediate termination. In an email, White Plains Hospital's senior director of communications, Michael Gelormino, said, 'It is our policy not to comment on pending litigation.' Thompson began working at White Plains Hospital on October 28, 2024 as a senior 'MEP' project manager, responsible for overseeing all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems throughout the facility, according to the complaint filed with his lawsuit. His previous experience as an MEP manager, coordinator, and superintendent meant he'd easily be able to ensure all new construction met design specifications, safety codes, and deadlines, the complaint states. Before he took the job, Thompson informed his supervisor-to-be that he suffers from Tourette syndrome as well as ADHD, but takes medication to control both and neither interfere at all with his ability to work, the complaint continues, adding that Thompson's personal physician confirmed as much in writing. It says this 'proactive approach' met with 'positive feedback' from higher-ups, who recognized Thompson's 'competence and commitment.' 'However,' the complaint goes on, Thompson's 'situation took a troubling turn on November 4, 2024, during a mandatory New Hire Orientation.' While at the orientation, Thompson briefly texted with his wife about 'urgent' childcare arrangements, according to the complaint. 'He was then abruptly confronted by… the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources, demanding that [he] put his phone away because he was 'disrespecting' the speakers,' the complaint states. It says Thompson 'immediately complied,' offered an apology, and explained why he had been using the phone. But, the complaint alleges, the assistant VP of HR was unmoved, and instructed Thompson to leave the orientation. During his interaction with the assistant VP of HR, Thompson 'exhibited typical symptoms' of Tourette syndrome, which the complaint describes as 'eye blinking, squinting, facial grimacing, twitching, and mouth movements.' 'All of these were symptoms out of [Thompson's] control,' the complaint states. 'Immediately after the orientation ended, [Thompson] met with [the assistant VP of HR] to apologize again and reiterated the circumstances, seeking to resolve the misunderstanding amicably. [The assistant VP] assured [Thompson] that the matter was resolved.' Thompson then returned to the orientation, where, to his 'utter shock,' his supervisor told him that the assistant VP of HR was escalating the issue to his own bosses, according to the complaint. The next day, Thompson met with the director of HR, who said his assistant VP 'remained upset,' and that the hospital's senior leadership was now involved, the complaint says. The assistant VP had portrayed Thompson as 'confrontational,' and claimed he had been 'making faces' at him, the complaint states. But the faces were 'a direct result of' Thompson's Tourette syndrome, something he had 'openly disclosed' to the hospital, according to the complaint. 'On November 6, 2024, just two days after the incident… White Plains Hospital terminated [Thompson] from employment because he was allegedly 'confrontational' and 'making faces' at [the assistant VP of HR], with no further explanation provided,' the complaint says. In recent years, numerous famous names have revealed their own Tourette syndrome diagnoses, including singer Billie Eilish, boxing champion Tevin Farmer, and comedian Dan Aykroyd. Most Tourette symptoms manifest themselves as Thompson's; very few people with Tourette syndrome blurt out curse words and swear uncontrollably. Thompson is seeking damages to be determined by a jury, including compensation for mental anguish, emotional distress, humiliation, embarrassment, anxiety, and loss of self-esteem, self-confidence and personal dignity, plus reinstatement to his position at White Plains Hospital.
