Silicon.com Leader: Who are the biggest election losers so far?

[Owen Blacker]

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> HEADLINE: Q. Who are the biggest election losers so far?
>           A. Foxes and security workers
> PUBLISHED: 6:20pm on Wednesday 9th May 2001
> CHANNEL: Power brokers
> AUTHOR: editorial@silicon.com
> ARTICLE: http://www.silicon.com/a44302
> 
> TEXT OF STORY FOLLOWS:
> 
> When Tony Blair visited the Queen on Tuesday morning, that 
> was Parliament's cue to clear its decks. 
> 
> Result one: legislation to outlaw hunting with hounds was 
> quickly shelved. Bad news for the foxes. Result two: laws to 
> force security specialists of all kinds to carry a licence, 
> was just as speedily rushed through the House of Commons. Bad 
> news for some IT contractors. 
> 
> But while some of our countryside inhabitants won't see the 
> other side of the summer, MP approval of the Private Security 
> Industry Bill is not necessarily the end of the road for the 
> security industry. 
> 
> Indeed Home Office Minister Charles Clarke admitted as much 
> when he told the House: "It is our fundamental principle to 
> ensure the Bill is targeted at those... who we want to 
> regulate, and that we do not inadvertently catch groups that 
> are not relevant to our policy aims."
> 
> The CBI and CSSA clearly believe IT workers fall into the 
> second category and will have another chance to argue their 
> case when the DTI holds its promised consultation. And argue 
> their case, they should. 
> 
> The Professional Contractors Group (PCG) emerged as one of 
> the most potent lobbying groups of the last Parliament when 
> it took on the government over IR35. While it did not always 
> win its battles its plan of attack offers significant hope 
> for those willing to fight this newer cause; namely, the 
> arguments will continue -- and can be won -- long after ideas 
> become law. 
> 
> And if the PCG -- which has been strangely quiet on this 
> particular issue -- decides to join forces with the CBI and 
> the CSSA, you can bet there will be few people in the DTI 
> looking forward to those consultation meetings.
> 
> It may even be worth losing an election to avoid.
> 
> For related news, see:
> http://www.silicon.com/a44296
> 
> 
> STORY ENDS
> 
> For more information on silicon.com go to http://www.silicon.com.
> 
> silicon.com - the who, what, when, where and why of ebusiness

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