This, plus, politicians tend to come from a background where, say, paying £500 to sign up for a service that will take care of the VAT stuff is no biggie. Side/microbusinesses consisting of one person, with no hired accountant, who may consider themselves lucky if they make that much money, are just not on their radar.

Reminds me of the debate about university tuition here in Germany, and someone from the labour party declaring "five hundred euros a semester isn't going to stop anyone from studying", which made me wonder where he keeps his head, exactly.

I kinda doubt it can be stopped, at this point. :(