With the UK General Election imminent, 97 per cent of freelancers and contractors do not believe the current government has their best interests at heart, Qdos Contractor research reveals.
Recent tax changes, including public sector IR35 reform, a cut to tax-free dividend allowance and an increase and subsequent reversal of national insurance contribution (NIC) has left UK freelancers and contractors concerned.
Research into 1356 UK freelancers and contractors by leading contractor tax adviser, Qdos Contractor, highlighted:
97 per cent of freelancers do not think the government has their best interests at heart
Three per cent believe they do
Interestingly, the majority of freelancers and contractors asked still plan to vote for The Conservatives in the General Election on 8th June, while 7 per cent more expect to vote Liberal Democrat than Labour.
42 per cent plan to vote Conservative
14 per cent expect to vote Labour
21 per cent will vote Liberal Democrat
3 per cent UKIP
3 per cent Green party
16 per cent will vote for one of the UK’s other main Parties (including The SNP and Plaid Cymru), or, not at all
Qdos Contractor CEO Seb Maley comments, ‘That a huge proportion of freelancers and contractors do not believe the current government has their best interests at heart is worrying news. Recent controversial changes to the taxation system has understandably left them feeling unfairly targeted and in many respects vulnerable.
‘But that nearly half of freelancers still plan to vote for The Conservative Party in the General Election, albeit feeling unsupported by them raises perhaps a bigger question; who really is the Party for UK’s independent workforce? Nobody seems to know.
‘With around 2 million freelancers and contractors in the UK, the independent workforce’s vote is growing in both size and importance. Whichever Party is victorious in the General Election has a huge opportunity to win back the support and confidence of our thriving flexible workforce, which is vital to UK business and the economy.’
Freelancer and contractor survey responses include:
‘Although the current government is not brilliant for contractors, other parties could be worse for small business.’
‘One that actively supports the self employed rather than destroying businesses built up over many years.’
‘Conservatives had my vote last time but various tax changes aimed at the self-employed might deter me from doing so again.’
Further reading on government
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