25,000 Self Employed in Brighton and Hove hit by Conservative Tax Hike

The Liberal Democrats have criticised the Conservative government over its plans to raise taxes on the self-employed, as figures reveal that our city will be hard hit by the tax hike.

The Chancellor broke a Conservative manifesto pledge by proposing to increase National Insurance contributions for the self-employed, hitting them with an average cost of £240 a year.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics show there are over 25,000 self-employed workers in Brighton and Hove making up nearly 15% of the total workforce.

The government has also announced cuts to corporation tax are still set to go ahead at a cost to the country of over £2.5 billion a year.

This will come as a major shock to the thousands of self-employed people in our City already facing a Brexit squeeze to living standards. While this government gives tax cuts to wealthy corporations it imposes tax rises on hard-working entrepreneurs who are the seed bed of future employment in the city.

Meanwhile companies in the 'gig' economy like Deliveroo who insist their workers remain self-employed, will continue to save money by using workers without giving them the security and benefits of staff jobs.

LibDems in Parliament and in the country will be opposing these taxes. Tim Farron tweeted: 'Targeting the self-employed, hitting White Van Man with a tax hike betrays Theresa May's pledge to help the just about managing'.