In what is surely a Hansard first, independent (ex-Labour) MP Neil Duncan-Jordan has asked the Treasury if it’s considered taxing businesses for “each AI agent” they use as a substitute for National Insurance. ‘Have you considered taxing the robots?’
In a written question eventually answered by Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson this morning (the Chancellor was too busy shredding Labour’s manifesto), Duncan-Jordan asked:
“To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered the potential merits of requiring businesses to pay a tax equivalent to employer National Insurance contributions for each AI agent that performs tasks previously done by people.”
Tomlinson, tasked with pointing out the blindingly obvious to a fellow legislator, replied:
“Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) are charged based on employee earnings. As AI agents do not receive earnings, it is not clear on what basis employer NICs would be levied.”
These people make our laws…
Starmer loyalist and Housing Secretary Steve Reed told Sky News that Starmer should not be replaced:
“We saw what the Tories did. They were in power for 14 years, and after 2016, I think we had nine education secretaries, seven chancellors, and five Prime Ministers. Doomscrolling through Prime Ministers doesn’t resolve the problem.”