Apply Certainty, Fairness and Clarity say Labour Small Business Forum

The Labour Small Business Forum, which is a network of Labour Party members who work for themselves, has written to the Chancellor ahead of the budget calling for basic tests of ‘certainty, fairness and clarity’ to be applied to any new rules.

This follows a consultation with network members over the IR591 proposals referred to in the pre-budget report in December.

Philip Ross, founder of the forum says “The feeling of the forum is that any new plans need to support and encourage small firms and that this includes freelancers and the self-employed. We recognise that at the same time we do need to ensure that small businesses and the individuals within them do pay the right amount of tax. We recognise too the need to ensure that there is a level playing field between small and large businesses. “

He added “Our hard working small businesses have asked the Chancellor to apply the basic tests of ‘certainty, fairness and clarity’ to any rules. Certainty over their status, fairness in the way the rules are applied to both large and small business, whether freelance or self-employed and finally clarity, that they easy to understand and apply without recourse to expensive tax accountants. “

The Labour Small Business Forum held a fringe meeting at last year's Labour Party conference that was sponsored by UKTECH. Speakers at the event included John Healey MP Economic Secretary to the Treasury and Nigel Griffiths MP, the small business minister.

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Philip Ross