Planned National Insurance increase scrapped

Chancellor Philip Hammond has revealed his government will not proceed with planned increases to National Insurance contributions for the self-employed.

Commenting on the news, Amanda Frazer, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Highlands & Islands regional chairman said that self-employed people from Badenoch to Unst will be breathing a sigh of relief that the chancellor “has come to his senses”.

“He’s made the right choice,” she said, “obviously realising that it doesn’t make sense to squeeze the nation’s strivers while trying to deliver a business boom.

“FSB has led the charge on this issue and we agree with the chancellor that politicians need to better support people who work for themselves. But the way to do that isn’t by hiking their tax bills.”