Standards of tradesmen comment sparks row

A row has broken out over an entrepreneur's controversial comments over the standard of builders which has highlighted the issue of home construction standards.

Online building trade magazine Showhouse.co.uk opened yesterday with a blog by media mogul and developer Eddie Shah in which he called builders "lazy" and said their work standards were "shoddy" compared with those of construction workers from other countries.

Mr Shah added he "would employ Poles tomorrow and pay a higher rate because I know they would do a better job."

The comments sparked an angry response from unions, with the general secretary of Ucatt, Alan Ritchie, claiming that Mr Shah "spouts such rubbish".

Responding to the printing of Mr Shah's views, Rupert Bates, editorial director of Showhouse, said it did highlight how important it was for building standards to be of "the highest order".

Those with doubts about the quality of workmanship available from professionals may seek to take care of their own property via the self build method.


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