New private pension figures published by HMRC have revealed that the number of self-employed people contributing to a personal pension climbed to 340,000 in 2021-22, up from 330,000 the previous year.

The Personal Finance Society has welcomed the Chancellor’s support package for the self-employed but warned that some self-employed people will miss out, a view echoed by leading accountants Blick Rothenberg.

Chancellor Sajid Javid has announced a cut to National Insurance from April which should benefit 31m taxpayers.

Financial Planning firm Quilter has hit out at the Labour Party following the launch of its manifesto, claiming the party’s tax plans would hit self-employed workers.