First Point Group, Bowers Partnership, VIQU IT and Robert Walters tell ContractorUK why the PM’s dislike of video interviews doesn't map onto professional tech contracting, where virtual is already the default — and, one recruiter argues, an IR35-neutral ‘leveller,’ rather than a mere ‘convenience.’

Urged to intervene against ‘HMRC cruelty’ in MSC cases, and U-turn employer NICs changes, chancellor John Healey is being called by SG, Re Legal and Caroola to fix the default of 'Inside IR35' when he delivers Budget 2026 on October 28th, even as FCSA says no OPW changes are coming.

After June's heatwave-linked dip, IT contractor demand is back in growth — its best month in nearly three years. First Point Group, SThree and Morgan McKinley reveal what's driving it, but it’s clearly not being felt by everyone.

Digital ID dropped, Palantir in the cold, a UK-AI focus and a VPN clampdown — plus the tax reversal that could revive contractor hiring under PM Andy Burnham.

A record heatwave, a Red Extreme Heat Warning and even the World Cup combined in June 2026 to end IT contractor demand's brief return to growth, with VIQU IT and Reed exclusively telling ContractorUK that the summer slowdown has arrived weeks early

The new Makerfield MP is tipped by the cautiously optimistic-sounding contractor sector to be the next PM —  and even if his IR35 and Loan Charge policies are pending, he’s an interventionist with a dislike of injustice.

Fewer updates from HMRC about arrangements to avoid generate more questions about its resources, alongside doubts that every wheeze deserves a black mark, and hints that not all schemes face repercussions.

Not since August 2023 has IT contractor demand been this buoyant, thanks to Automation, AI, Cloud and Cyber Security uplifts, coinciding with nervy employers ‘sitting on their hands.’ Just don’t call it a ‘boom.’

Even the sympathetic-sounding, ultimately powerless taxman knows that for contractors on the receiving end of West 28th Street’s demands, it all hinges on enforceability.

A ‘ruse’ that the JSL-enforcing taxman won’t accept as ‘money in the bank’ because it has ‘no legal basis’ is making the sales rounds, despite posing a ‘serious commercial risk’ to contractors’ partners.

A ‘meaningful difference,’ or merely ‘peanuts?’ Either way, some contractors are already heading towards an extra £500 a year tax-free.

The biggest monthly spur in temporary techies’ prospects since early 2025 is credited to war and cycles ending, with buoyancy for IT contractors around Infrastructure, Transformation, and Security.

Swap rates, rather than the frozen base rate, are what UK mortgage lenders are pricing their deals on, catching out contractors who don’t expect 5% — unless their borrower profile is pristine.

Contractors in IR35 enquiry deadlock claiming not to be part of the squad, but actually the one with the whistle, might get an assist from the FTT showing the Revenue a ‘red card.’

The Revenue resumes its exclusive sit-down with ContractorUK, and warns contractors of ‘large, unexpected tax bills if they get caught up with rogue umbrella companies.’

A still very much in-the-red reading for IT contractors isn’t being recognised by technology jobs agencies not on the high street.

The taxman takes on 11 questions on the now-in-force rules, warning of ‘no light-touch to enforcement activity’ because ‘for too long, unscrupulous umbrellas have put contractors at risk.’

The pre-launch of HMRC’s new ‘recovery mechanism’ for non-compliant contractor umbrella companies saw a six-fold fall in ‘early warning system’ avoidance alerts.

An expenses episode for a government minister filmed doing pull-ups has parallels for HMRC-wary Personal Service Company directors, as neither can promote themselves within their respective rules.

A government decision not to apply its own set-off rules opens a claims window for ex-Horizon IT contractors. But due to statutory time limits, most are unlikely to be able to lodge for anything before April 6th 2022.