John Healey pledges Budget boost for White Van Man – ‘they have had it tough’ | Politics | News
The Labour Party is drawing up plans to boost profits for the White Van Man and the UK’s self-employed sector. Chancellor John Healey has acknowledged that the sector has faced “tough” conditions and pledged to prioritise workers in his Autumn Budget on October 28.
Research shows that one in three of Britain’s four million self-employed workers is in a weak financial position. Mr Healey now plans to help small business owners increase their earnings, cut red tape and reduce high overhead costs. He has insisted that supporting the country’s grafters remains a defining mission of his Treasury.
As reported by The Sun, the Chancellor said: “The white van drives Britainโs economy. Four million strong, the countryโs self-employed workers add at least ยฃ366billion a year to the UK economy.
“But they have had it tough. Admin and high prices are weighing them down. I see it, and I hear it every day.
“I want Brits who are self-employed or running their own businesses to make more profit, invest more and spend less time on forms. So theyโre at the forefront of my mind.”
He added that new laws will “ensure they get paid for their hard work”. He also vowed to “cut red tape and slash admin burdens by at least a quarter”.
Organisations representing the self-employed are calling for the reversal of the National Insurance hike and an expansion of the Employment Allowance. The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE), the UK’s largest not-for-profit membership organisation for sole traders, is calling for a “clear path” on fuel duty rather than late extensions.
The group said next month’s Budget is the Government’s opportunity to “give the self-employed some certainty for once”. They added that self-employed workers currently feel like “they’re being left to fend for themselves”.
Mr Healey has committed to a 25% reduction in the burden of business regulations by the end of his Parliament. He recently promised to “draw a line” under escalating costs, such as bills, planning constraints and regulatory friction.
