Starmer’s Challenge: A Call to the Self‑Employed
With the Labour Party taking the reins, Keir Starmer faces a blazing mandate: he must step out of his comfort zone and champion the 4.2 million freelancers, contractors and self‑employed workers that are the backbone of Britain’s economy.
What the new government is being asked to do
- Fix the off‑payroll rules that have made firms overly cautious, pushing genuine contractors into a “zero‑rights” trap.
- Re‑evaluate IR35 so it stops becoming a weighty liability for legitimate small firms.
- Sweeten the tax landscape—a single 25 % Corp Tax rate is fine, but the steep climbs for small businesses under £50 k shouldn’t be a pill that keeps the little guys from growing.
- Address the Loan Charge fiasco by targeting the masterminds, not the unsuspecting victims.
- Introduce a Single Enforcement Body to keep employment rules straight and protect temporary workers, including the opening of umbrella sector regulation.
CEO Seb Maley’s Verdict
“After years of hit‑and‑miss tax hikes, freezes and aggressive reforms, the Prime Minister now has the chance to really squash the biggest hurdles the self‑employed face,” says Seb Maley, CEO of Qdos. He adds, “Let’s get there and keep Britain’s gig economy alive and thriving.”
Bottom Line
As the new administration takes the lane, it’s on them to make sure the voluntary workforce—those who hustle, learn and innovate—won’t get buried under bureaucratic hurdles and unfair taxes. The future of the UK’s flexible workers depends on action, not just words.
