“Out-of-touch” budget will hit the self-employed, says Carmichael

The Government’s “out-of-touch” budget could see the self-employed in Orkney paying more tax, according to Alistair Carmichael.

The Northern Isles MP said that changes in National Insurance could see 2,600 people in the Northern Isles – and 4.8 million people across the country – paying more tax.

The chancellor announced that the rise in NI contributions for the self-employed would help “support the public services in this Budget and to improve the fairness of the tax system.”

Commenting, Mr Carmichael said: “This is the wrong message to send while many of these self-employed people are facing huge uncertainty about their future.

“The chancellor delivered a series of platitudes about understanding business but on this measure, and his continued insistence on digitising tax, despite a one-year delay, he showed himself to be out of touch with reality.

“Every sector of the economy, from farming to financial services were watching the budget, hoping for some clarity as to what will happen next. They will have been sorely disappointed.”