E-envoy resigns and leaves the UK.

The e-envoy has resigned. He today, has told readers of his web site "I shall be leaving my job as e-envoy in the UK in early October". He is moving to Perth, Western Australia, with his wife.

The e-envoy site remains to be updated however.

In a Government noted for grey "yes" men and women, his website devoted to Grateful Dead lyrics and including pictures of him windsurfing to work (Down the River Thames!), was a breath of fresh air.

I recall PCG members emailing him whilst he was still in Australia and he very quickly got to the heart of the issue: The definition of the borderline between employment and self-employment.

There were reports that he had put pressure on the Chancellor to modify IR35 and had been rebuffed.

Whether accurate or not, I sense he had more common sense than many within New Labour and his departure will be a blow.

Andy White