The Times commentary on the JR

Many UKTECH readers have been sending emails into the Times to help support their "scrap red tape" campaign. (UKTECH call) Evidence today, that this is having an effect (at least on the Times)

The Times today covers the Judicial review result with a hard hitting commentary from Patience Wheatcroft, the City editor

Gordon Brown, contract killer

GORDON BROWN must be realising that tax changes are best made after consulting those who are going to be affected by them, even if the Inland Revenue prefers to ignore its clients.

Big business was stunned by his original proposals for hitting overseas dividends and some speedy back-tracking was required. Now his plans to clobber professional contractors face a full-scale legal challenge.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer probably had no inkling of the upsurge of fury that would greet IR35, the legislative move that would change the status of many workers from independent operators to employees. Now he knows that many thousands of people view the move as a threat to their livelihoods. They are aggrieved that their efforts to be entrepreneurial have been met with legislation that they believe will curtail their work. For, whatever the suspicions of the Inland Revenue, these contractors are not, on the whole, tax dodgers so much as people trying to make a living in a tough market.

One look at the e-mails that have bombarded this office from contractors determined to fight IR35 and Mr Brown would see the extent of the anger he has unleashed. We publish a typical example on page 31 today. Now they have won the first hurdle in their battle to have the legislation repealed. Mr Justice Gibbs was persuaded that IR35 might be contrary to EU regulations.

Whatever the outcome of the case, the contractors have demonstrated an admirable degree of organisation and effectiveness.

Link to the Article

Report of Judicial review

Letter from Contractor

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Andy White