IR35 is one tree in a bigger wood of state control, reader argues
I agree this government is about control, not freedom, but would just like to point out that all governments are like that. Admittedly this one is more extreme than the one we had from 1979 to 1997, but do not make the mistake of assuming the "other lot" will be any better. The only rights governments support are the rights to conform and be easily regulated. As the original article stated some see self employment as a threat to the easily regulated employment market, which I read as saying some see the self employed as a threat to their easy regulation of the employment market.
Remember the civil service have sat on these proposals for 20 years till they found a government sympathetic to their aim to destroy the self employed.
IR35 and the rest of the legislation in the article is just one part of the larger picture.
Add in the terrorism act: a crime that is deemed to be carried out for political, religious or ideological motives can be charged as a terrorist act. Had this been in force a while ago the Sikh protesters against the crash helmet rule would have been deemed terrorists. Now any environmental protest could and probably will be deemed terrorism: already the powers that be talk of environmental terrorism
Add in the RIP bill saying you can kiss goodbye to your privacy.
If anyone had told me I would look back on the Thatcher years as a (relative) golden age for civil liberties I would have laughed.
Bottom Line: IR35 is only part of a bigger struggle. Don't focus on one tree rather than the whole wood.
The case for using Independent Consultants TonyAskham 19/02 Title is slightly misleading TheGhost 19/02 More than just deep Fred 19/02 Contracts not with former empl... Ian Goddard 20/02 Former employer iang 24/02 friday-monday shaynes 24/02 66000 businesses hacked off 21/02 good PhilipRoss 23/02 agree iconet 25/02 Great Article disillusioned 26/02 Fundamental human right to be ... Gav 26/02 Fundamental Right castillo 26/02 Fundamental Right sandwitch 26/02 Fundamental Rights, disenfranc... castillo 2/03 Advice (Serious) Chris Curry 26/02 I second that Bed Hopper 26/02 Down in History Bed Hopper 26/02 Down in History Part 2 Bed Hopper 26/02