CAMPAIGNERS and politicians have dismissed the Government’s Taylor review into the working practices of the so-called gig economy.

Downing Street had detailed parts of the report over the last few days, using it as a means to “relaunch” Theresa May’s vision for the country.

But much of what was proposed fell flat, with Scottish workers saying it would effectively do nothing to help them.

In what was her first major speech since she lost her party’s majority in the General Election, May said her government’s response to the Taylor Report would be guided by the aim of ensuring that “the interests of employees on traditional contracts, the self-employed and those people working in the ‘gig’ economy are all properly protected”.

But she insisted that Britain must avoid “overbearing regulation”, retain flexibility in the labour market and remain “a home to innovation, new ideas and new business models”.

May said it was important to ensure that zero-hours contracts do not allow employers to “exploit” workers, but rejected Labour’s call for them to be banned, warning that this would “harm more people than it would help”.

The Taylor Report recommended the creation of a new category of worker in employment law called a “dependent contractor” to cover those who are not full-time employees but do not enjoy the autonomy traditionally seen as part of self- employment.

Last week a group of zero-hour contract workers hired to work the bars and steward at a Green Day concert in Glasgow were sent home from work and warned they wouldn’t be paid after the event was cancelled.

The Better Than Zero campaign, who have been helping those who lost out through no fault of their own, said the Taylor recommendation did nothing to protect workers.

A spokeswoman for the campaign told The National: “Introducing a new status is only going to expand the idea that you can somehow contract out of basic employment terms and conditions.

“This is back to basics: you’re either employed as an employee or worker or you’re genuinely self-employed.

“And if you’re employed as a worker you should get all the rights, terms and conditions that come with that.

“Calling this a new status a nonsense. It’s not new at all. Employers have been trying to get out of giving their employees their rights for 100 years.”

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “I worry that many gig economy employers will be breathing a sigh of relief this morning. From what we’ve seen, this review is not the game-changer needed to end insecurity and exploitation at work.”

The CBI’s Neil Carberry said: “The Taylor Review rightly recognises that labour market flexibility is a key strength of the UK economy, driving better outcomes for everyone.

“Businesses agree that flexibility must be matched with fairness, but building on our current approach, as the report concludes, is the right way forward. The CBI is ready to work in partnership with the Government to address the challenges the report raises.”

Responding to the Taylor Report, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “It doesn’t go far enough, that’s the real problem with it.”