BBC radio debate on IR35 leaves ordinary listeners none the wiser

I notice that the old £50,000 p.a. permie Vs contract bull was trotted out AGAIN. What part of the "...but that's not a fair comparison at all..." argument do they (NL/IR) NOT understand.

Lesley Riddoch was very fair in the amount of time she seems to have allowed each party (I can't say for sure - just going by the reading material). However, I don't think she fully understood the gravity of the situation we now find ourselves in, but - then again - that is not her job.

I don't really understand what that Peter Hunter bloke was whittering on about either. Jane was quite correct when she said that the new regulations would affect the low paid workers as well as the high. It seems as though Peter truly believes good old (or is that new) Labour's spin on all things tax, and that they are indeed the embodiment of a new Robin Hood type character.

It only took me a few minutes to read, so God knows for how long the debate actually lasted.

It's a pity we couldn't just wangle a larger slot on Radio 4 or on TV (Question Time would be nice), where Gareth, Andy, Susie or Jane could really have a go at Labour, and - at the same time - try and squeeze the blue representative into making a stand.

I think that the public listening to this Radio programme will still not have the slightest clue, or care, about IR35. If anything, because of the usual NL half-truths, I think that most ordinary folk would probably agree with Tony's foot soldiers, except probably for those in Aberdeen and the other big oil areas in Scotland - where the new legislation must be only too apparent.

BBC IR35 coverage Anonymous 8/02 dis-grunted Anonymous 13/02