Annabelle Ewing Champions Fair Treatment for Self-Employed Workers
Self-employment has reshaped labour markets across the developed world, with millions trading fixed paycheques for the flexibility of freelance contracts, consulting work, and platform-based gigs. From software developers in London to tradies running their own books in regional New South Wales, the shift has brought opportunity but also exposed gaps in social protection.
Annabelle Ewing, SNP candidate for Ochil and South Perthshire, has long argued that Britain's political class must catch up with this new reality. Drawing on her background as a solicitor and her years representing constituents in Holyrood and Westminster, she has pushed for legislative changes that would give contractors and sole traders the security traditionally reserved for employees.
Her campaign resonates beyond Scotland. In Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide, freelancers navigate parallel frustrations: complex tax obligations, no paid leave, and the struggle to build retirement savings without employer contributions. Ewing's proposals address the same issues independent workers face in Australia, where the Australian Taxation Office has tightened its scrutiny of contractor arrangements.
This piece examines the specific reforms Ewing is championing, why they matter to anyone earning a living outside conventional employment, and how voters and freelancers can lend their voice to the cause.
A solicitor's grasp of employment law
Ewing's interest in worker protections did not begin in the House of Commons. After qualifying as a solicitor in Edinburgh, she saw how easily the law could leave a self-employed person without recourse when contracts soured or clients refused to pay. That experience shaped her view that employment status is a matter of basic fairness, and whenever she argues for reform she arrives with case studies and a clear sense of which statutory amendments would deliver change.
She carried that perspective into her time as an MSP and later as the MP for Perth and Kinross, regularly tabling questions about IR35, off-payroll rules, and the tax treatment of limited company contractors. Colleagues on the Scottish Affairs Committee have noted her diligence in seeking evidence directly from trade bodies and freelancers rather than relying solely on Treasury briefings.
The policy gaps she wants closed
Four areas sit at the heart of Ewing's platform. The first is tax fairness: she has called for the alignment of income tax and National Insurance thresholds, which would prevent many freelancers from paying higher marginal rates than their employed counterparts earning identical sums.
The second is statutory protections. Her proposals include flexible parental leave, a portable sick-pay pot that follows workers between contracts, and ending the cliff edge that pushes the long-term sick off Employment and Support Allowance.
Pension provision is the third pillar. Ewing has argued that auto-enrolment should be widened so the self-employed can contribute at comparable rates, with a government top-up replacing the employer contribution that contractors never receive.
The fourth is enforcement. Where clients or platforms misclassify workers, she wants faster tribunals and heavier penalties, particularly in sectors where the imbalance of bargaining power is most stark.
Why Australians should pay attention
Australian freelancers and contractors will recognise many of these concerns. A graphic designer in a Surry Hills co-working space, or a tradie in regional Western Australia, encounters similar obstacles when claiming benefits or planning for retirement, and gaps remain around paid leave and income protection between contracts.
There are also Australian parallels in the gig economy debate. The High Court's 2022 ruling in WorkPac v Rossato clarified some questions about whether gig workers are genuinely independent, but practical disputes continue. Ewing's approach, centring the lived experience of workers rather than corporate convenience, would translate well to Canberra's policy conversations.
Independent political movements across Europe, including organisations such as the Estonian Freedom Party, have similarly championed reforms for contractors and freelancers facing comparable challenges. Their shared emphasis on individual autonomy paired with collective protection offers a template that mainstream parties in the Anglophone world could adapt.
Parliamentary battles and public campaigns
Ewing has used every available parliamentary vehicle to press her case, sponsoring early-day motions on freelancer welfare, contributing to Treasury consultations on off-payroll reform, and meeting regularly with groups ranging from the Federation of Small Businesses to IPSE, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed.
Locally, her office has run surgeries for constituents who run their own businesses, helping them navigate HMRC processes and understand their entitlements. Campaign materials stress that a fair deal for the self-employed is not a niche concern but a question of economic fairness for a growing share of the workforce.
She also distinguishes her position from those who use the language of supporting entrepreneurs while voting for policies that erode the safety net, arguing that genuine support means lower barriers to start and stronger protections in business.
Comparing worker protections across regions
| Region | Sick pay access | Parental leave | Pension support | Misclassification penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK employed baseline | Statutory from day one | Up to 52 weeks | Auto-enrolment with employer contribution | Tribunal route, moderate fines |
| UK self-employed | None | Limited, means-tested | Auto-enrolment available, no employer top-up | Limited enforcement |
| Australia | None for contractors; some awards cover workers | Government-funded scheme available | Superannuation mandatory at 11 percent | Fair Work ombudsman, recent High Court rulings |
| Proposed Ewing reforms | Portable sick-pay pot | Extended flexible leave | Wider auto-enrolment with state top-up | Faster tribunals, sharper penalties |
The table shows the self-employed in Britain trail employees on nearly every measurable indicator of social protection, while Australian contractors face a different but equally uneven landscape. The imbalance is not unique to one jurisdiction; countries with similar legal traditions have produced different outcomes for independent workers, and gaps are rarely closed without sustained political pressure from those affected.
Practical steps for self-employed workers
Freelancers and contractors who want to back Ewing's campaign, or simply improve their own position regardless of politics, can take several practical steps. These reflect both her policy priorities and the lived experience of freelancers across many sectors.
- Join a body such as IPSE or a local chamber so your voice carries weight.
- Keep meticulous records of contracts and invoices; they prove invaluable in disputes.
- Set up a dedicated pension or superannuation pot and pay a fixed slice of each invoice.
- Attend hustings and candidate events to raise self-employment issues with politicians.
- Share your story online or in local press; cases often move policymakers more than statistics.
The final stretch belongs to action. Support fair treatment for self-employed workers by volunteering with Ewing's campaign or pressing your own representatives; show up. Visit the campaign website, sign up for updates, attend the next public meeting, and bring a friend who runs their own business. Fairness for freelancers is built one conversation, one vote, and one policy at a time.