Lorraine Kelly

[Dita73]

I saw on the BAFTA’s the other night that she got some special award and I was genuinely wondering does anyone like her? I’ve never known anyone who does so I wanted to ask on here.
Personally I have no idea how she’s kept a job on tv for so long and can only assume that she’s got a lot of dirt on people. In her acceptance speech she thank her Mum for her work ethic which I thought was quite funny as she only does 4 hours a week if she feels like it. Not to mention the whole tax avoidance thing. Just curious

You clearly know nothing about IR35 - length of engagement isn't a factor.

It wasn't a tax avoidance scheme, they were not employees.Surely it's up to ITV or whoever to employ them and pay them benefits or are they complicit in a scam? Wouldn't it be illegal to say you were an employee when you weren't?

It isn't a "scheme". It is a form of self-employment in which a person runs a business providing services. It's the exact same model used by millions of plumbers, builders, electricians, physiotherapists and taxi drivers to name just a few. It's legal but HMRC seems to have seen an opportunity to target TV stars as they would be able to falsely paint them as tax dodgers.

In complete fairness, while length of engagement isn't a "significant factor", it can sometimes be a consideration.

The HMRC Employment Status Manual says something like "where work is regularly offered and accepted over a period of time a continuous contract of employment may be created."

I believe HMRC also try to lean on the whole Mutuality of Obligations premise which defines whether each party has any kind of obligation to each other.

My understanding is that length of contract doesn't automatically create Mutuality of Obligations, but it makes it more likely that it could be considered to be the case.

I'm a freelancer myself and work within financial services, so this has regularly popped up.

She made herself look fucking stupid in that interview.

I caught a glimpse of the same sex wedding she officiated on her show, wearing a rainbow dress because She Loves the Gays. Nearly died of cringe.

I know she doesn't live in Glasgow anymore but no one I know sounds like her.

HMRC's view of MOO is notoriously at odds with the various case law though.

Yes, absolutely.

Was really just making the point that it can sometimes be used as an additional factor to try and prove MoO. Whether it would be accepted by the courts is another matter but it’s something that HMRC factor in when deciding if IR35 applies, albeit only as an additional rather than main element.

Anyone who’s ever crossed swords with HMRC unfortunately finds out how unreasonable they can be.

LK was a really tenacious news reporter. Have seen her Lockerbie doc, it was very moving. She's relatable, funny and a good role model. However, I want to put my foot through the TV when her morning show kicks in, can't bear the faux TWAW ally vibe. I don't think she is like that in life. It's a light hearted topical magazine show but I think if she stopped fake giggling constantly she could make more v good docs and I hope she does because she is v sharp, the rest is her front facing character.

Where do people stand on Kate Garraway

Yes and Physio’s and plumbers and builders etc have lots of clients. She’s had one. For 30-odd years! And at some point the convo with ITV would have been ‘hey Lorraine, let’s reword your contract to make out you’re a contractor. If we stick with xyz conditions we’ll get away with it and we’ll save thousands in tax, as will you. Are you up for it?’. Freelancers in the IT world really are in a precarious position. They don’t know where their next contract is coming from. Lorraine does. The IT freelancers are proper contractors. Lorraine is an employee.

This made me laugh. My DH hates her - always mocks her if on and says she just says ‘it’s gorgeous’ about absolutely everything.
I don’t mind her - at least she’s always cheerful and jolly (although that could be why lots of people dislike her).

"The judge noted that Kelly worked on a number of other projects at the same time as her presenting for ITV, including writing, design, and appearing in adverts, and that her contract with ITV specifically allowed her to take on work for other channels."

I know a plumber who gets most of his work from one landlord, he's worked for him for years - is he an employee?
I know a physio who works for 2 practises - she's worked for them both for many years - is she an employee?

I don’t care who you know. I know Lorraine Kelly took steps to avoid tax. It’s legal, but immoral.

No idea, but why would you even want to stand on the poor woman?
Hasn't she been through enough?
🙄

What a horrible thread OP. I think that people who start threads like this must be unhappy in their own lives.
I don't watch LK on TV as I'm usually at work when she's on but she comes across to me as a bubbly, warm kind person. Also I saw her once at Glasgow central train station and she absolutely glowed! She looked bloody amazing.

Is it immoral to claim back tax on medical expenses? Or to evaluate what would be the most beneficial tax situation on a marriage? To be honest, if you're not taking steps to legally avoid tax (not evade), you're an idiot. Most people can't afford to be moralistic when it comes to paying tax unnecessarily. Granted Lorraine isn't is that cohort, but come on.

So plumbers and physios tax arrangements are immoral too?
IR35 exists to prevent workers who should be classed as employees from using bogus self employment as a tax dodge. LK's arrangements were testing in court and found to be compliant with the law.

If you're freelance you don't get holiday pay. You don't get sick pay. There's no pension contributions. No P11D perks.

And they can bin you off whenever they want. If ITV suddenly decide they want to cancel the Lorraine show, she's got no protection. No rights. TV shows can and do get cancelled suddenly - Lorraine isn't immune to this happening.

So although there may be tax advantages, you miss out on a lot of other financial benefits and protection. Being freelance isn't some kind of financial Utopia that some people seem to be implying.

I like her. I think you see a more genuine Lorraine in the Lockerbie and Dunblane documentaries she did.

😂

Her company is worth millions, and she’s had a series of highly paid jobs on the same channel for over 30 years (with I think no gaps). Yes, she could be dropped at anytime, but clearly she is an asset to ITV, because of her inoffensive and carefully cultivated brand so I think it’s unlikely we’ll stop seeing her anytime soon on that channel. To imply she’s just another freelancer is disingenuous.

And yet the result of the court case was that she is indeed just another freelancer.

Is it just her level of remuneration that makes you think she should be subject to PAYE? Because it is clear that she has multiple contracts and no MOO.

Absolutely it’s unlikely but as we’ve seen before with other presenters, surprising decisions do get made.

And even if it’s unlikely, the point is that as a freelancer, you don’t have any protection. And as an older woman, she’s rapidly approaching the demographic that doesn’t rank highly with decision-makers. Who knows how much longer they’ll want her for?!

The point I was making is that freelancers miss out on the very long list of benefits that employees receive. And being in such a well-paid profession, you’d expect there to be very cushy perks for employees. But she isn’t one, hence can’t receive anything.

If Lorraine’s company is worth millions, it’s because she’s earned it through her work spanning three decades. And presumably smart investments. None of that is relevant to her status as a freelancer. She is allowed to be wealthy….