Labour West Midlands mayor candidate challenges Tory rival over self-employed tax rise
Labour's candidate for West Midlands Mayor has called on his Tory rival to set out his position on a tax hike for the self-employed.
Siôn Simon has criticised the move by Chancellor Philip Hammond to increase National Insurance Contributions for the self employed to 11 per cent over the next two years set out in yesterday's budget.
He has also asked for the Chancellor or Conservative West Midlands Mayor candidate Andy Street to declare how many of the 146,000 self-employed people in the West Midlands will be affected by the rise.
Mr Street was meeting the Chancellor today.
In an open letter he said: "You will have seen the backlash against the government's decision to increase National Insurance Contributions (NICs) for the self-employed announced in yesterday's Budget. Indeed, you are one of the few people who will have had direct access to the Chancellor.
"Can I assume that you haven't asked the Chancellor how many people in the West Midlands will be impacted by the rise, imposed by this Tory London government, of two percentage points to 11 per cent of NICs for self-employed people earning between £8,060 and £43,000?
"People will want to know, though, whether you will be joining me in opposing the government's planned hike of National Insurance Contributions?
"Because of your planned presence with the Chancellor, you have given the strong impression that you support the Chancellor's new tax on the self-employed.
"Are you able to set the record straight?"
Mr Street's spokesman said he would not be commenting.
The government says the rise is 'fair' as workers in conventional employment pay 12 per cent NIC contributions and that the change reflected the fact more people are now self-employed.
