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September 26, 2014
Miliband pledges 'equal rights' for self-employed
Ed Miliband has promised that a future Labour government will give self-employed people the same rights as employees.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Manchester this week, Miliband said: “To the growing army of our self-employed – five million working people – so often the most entrepreneurial, go-getting people in our country, they don't want special treatment, but they do deserve a fair shot.
“Two thirds have no pension. Because of the jobs they do, one in five is stopped from getting a mortgage. It is time to end this modern, 21st century discrimination. The next Labour government will ensure there are equal rights for the self-employed.”
The number of self-employed people in the UK has reached a new high this year. According to figures from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), the number of self-employed workers rose by 8%, faster than any other Western European economy. However, commentators are divided on whether the rise in self-employment is being caused more by entrepreneurial zeal or poor job prospects.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released in August showed that self-employed people typically earn less than half as much as the average employee takes home.
Simon McVicker, director of policy and external affairs at the Association of Independent Professionals and Self-Employed (IPSE), said: “It is encouraging that the Labour leader has recognised the importance of the self-employed and has made this growing sector a key part of his speech.
“With almost five million self-employed workers in the UK it is important that the main political parties in the UK sit up and take notice of independent professionals. Today we believe Ed Miliband did.”
Earlier this month, IPSE launched a manifesto that aims to turn the UK into a “micro-business utopia”. It is calling on the government to appoint a minister for self-employment and offer a better deal for self-employed people.
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