Labour voters….

I have also noticed that we usually agree!

I don’t think I’ve ever disagreed with you @MrsBennetsPoorNerves and you’ve articulated perfectly how I feel. The only difference is I’m a lifelong Labour voter and I gave my vote willingly last year. I too expected better.

I think the words are important. A Prime Minister using language like that normalises the negative and hostile way in which people speak about immigrants, and some people then feel that it is permissible to direct that kind of hostility towards others in their communities.

I have felt politically homeless for a long time, but lent my vote to Labour at the general election as it was the best option to get rid of our dreadful Tory incumbent. I don't honestly know what I will do next time. I can forgive mistakes and political ineptness, but I'm not sure I can forgive the lack of integrity that Starmer has shown by adopting this rhetoric. I expected better.

As a pp has said, it's too early to say how I'll vote at the next election. I like our local Labour MP, and I've written to him about Starmer's speech so I'll see what he comes back with. Realistically, the next election might simply be a question of voting for whoever is best placed to stop Reform. But with the Labour Party starting to sound like Reform, they're not exactly winning me over!

Actions speak far louder than words.

Outcomes are more important than “words”/discourse.

So Starmer gave a certain “infamous” speech but a week later he enters into a deal with the EU?
Perhaps consider the actions rather than getting offended by the words which may have been a distraction.

Labours stance on Gaza is not playing well with Muslims and unapologetically back tracking on trans rights alongside PIP cuts has probably lost them a lot of the Guardian-type metropolitan voters.

Rightly or wrongly, a vote for Labour would send a social signal that you’re an anti-immigration Terf who wants granny to freeze while those with disabilities and mental health issues are put in poverty or harassed by Liz Kendalls’s “job coaches,” and SEND kids are priced out of their fee-paying schools and home educators/academies are subjected to educational authoritarianism.

They are lucky that a lot of London Labour voters typically vote because they like their MP.

If the Greens and/or Lib Dem’s convince those MPs to change party, Labour is cooked.

I agree. Comparing a freelancer/contractor with an employee isn't really like for like for many reasons, as you've highlighted. Re travel and accommodation, lots of umbrella companies (if you don't want the cost of your own ltd) won't allow expense claims anymore. Employees may be able to reclaim travel and subsistence from their employer, but an IR35 or umbrella freelancer has no one to reclaim from, other than themselves, so even if they get tax relief, they're still suffering a bigger net cost than an employee. A limited company contractor also has to pay their own insurance, accountancy fees, equipment, etc., that are usually either not necessary or covered by an employer for employees. IR35 goes too far the opposite way and penalises workers - normal employees don't have to pay employers NIC, but freelancers/contractors caught by IR35 have to pay EE AND ER NIC, which due to Rachel's hikes even even more costly and a "tax increase on workers" despite Rachel promising not to increase taxes on workers.

@AndImBrit

If someone had been a PAYE employee for the same company for several years, but then sat in the same chair doing the same job via a limited company, then yes it would likely be considered to inside IR35. The individual would then be subject to PAYE regardless of the limited company.

In the 9 years I have operated through a limited company, I have represented 6 different companies in 9 different countries.

@blossomtoes

Good points.

Also, I would add that just because an invoice states payment to be made within 30 days doesn’t mean that you will always be paid on time. Some clients, particularly the larger companies, have a 90 days payment period.

That isn’t quite right. A contractor has no job security or employment rights, no paid holiday or sick pay and under IR35 has to pay the employers’ NI contribution as well as the employee’s. There really should be some reflection of that in their treatment for tax.

Hmmm. They can claim for travel to a non usual workplace just as an employee could … What you’re proposing is largely out and out tax avoidance. Do you think all employees should be able to be paid via a company to reduce tax? Because IR35 only applies if you are really an employee pretending to be freelance via a company structure.

@AndImBrit

How would scrapping IR35 make it easier for contractors to work away from home?

Costs of:

Travel
Accommodation

Can be claimed as expenses when outside of IR35. If this was not possible, it would not be viable to work away as contractors would incur two lots of accommodation. Their permanent residence and the temporary accommodation whilst away.

How would scrapping IR35 make it easier for contractors to work away from home?

I do hope you’re right @Maddy70

I think he’s getting the shit stuff out the way early.

I’m disgusted at the Reform-like rhetoric though - for SHAME Kier!!!

So, Albania has told Starmer they will not take any immigrants from the UK. Maybe he will ask Rwanda next?

It really is 😂😂

Obviously, I meant the passengers.

Agree

@HappiestSleeping

The vast majority of small boat arrivals are from Iraq and Iran requesting asylum.

That’s a mega journey. Down the Persian Gulf, along the coastline of Oman and Yemen, up the Red Sea and through the Suez Canal, through the Mediterranean and then across the English Channel.

You presume wrong!

I think wait for Wales and see and not sure on polling for red wall which most politicians seem to go after.

As I said, probably more than one might think, even despite the protest vote scenario.

Home Office figures, 24000 returned up to March 25. Returned to country of origin or last country prior to entering the UK.

Actually, your information is incorrect. The vast majority of small boat arrivals are from Iraq and Iran requesting asylum. Economic migrants do not need to risk small boat crossings. Also, just to add that small boat crossings represent a very small proportion of immigration.

I didn't say there needed to be an off shore processing centre. What I said was that there needs to be an ability for a person to request asylum without needing to be on UK soil. The processing can still take place here, but application can be made from anywhere.