WATERMELONS Women’s legends Jane Moore and Janet Street Porter are embroiled in a contract dispute.
The pair are reportedly in a bitter row after being ordered to sign contracts that will change their employment status from freelance to employee.
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Jane Moore is at loggerheads with ITV
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Janet Street-Porter is reportedly in a heated dispute over her contract
Columnist Suna Jane and newspaper veteran Janet consider themselves freelance journalists and quit after being labeled “permanent ITV staff” in contracts changing their tax codes with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The standstill also involves contractual issues such as absence of annual leave, sick leave, pensions and restrictions on certain work opportunities.
A source told MailOnline: “Jane and Janet are furious.
“They’ve done a lot for that show and they love it – but … they do different jobs at different companies and, as journalists, they value their independent status.
“Things have become quite tense. If this continues, there could be major changes in the lineup.”
The Sun has contacted their representatives and Loose Women for comment.
The dispute centers around ITV’s new PAYE-only contract policy, in response to HMRC’s off-the-job rules which aim to eliminate the use of a ‘corporation veil’ for high-earning TV presenters.
This policy has already led to the departure of Carol McGiffin last year, who in her article in Best magazine called it unreasonable.
She spoke of the “stress” of striking a deal with ITV last year.
She said: “I haven’t been on the show for two months now because I had to withdraw from it.
“It caused me too much stress, which was mainly due to the difficult contract I’ve been fighting with since January.
“The problem was that ITV insisted, for the first time since I returned in 2018, that if I wanted to continue with the show I would have to sign a contract that was completely unfair and unworkable for me, so I had to say no thank you.
“And I know it looks like I’ve thrown my toys out of the pram, but the whole saga has taken a toll on my health.”
HMRC officials have previously claimed that Kaye Adams, another Loose Women star, owes thousands in unpaid tax.
The Sun last week told how TV presenter Kaye, 61, had finally won her 10-year tax dispute after HMRC conceded defeat in her case.
Kaye was successful after the court ruled that she was self-employed.
She pleaded with the tax authorities not to appeal and said the stress of the case was “almost unbearable”.
After considering the decision, HMRC said it would not appeal the ruling.
HMRC officials claimed she was an employee and owed thousands in unpaid tax.
They said she should pay more than £124,000 in tax and National Insurance for her work presenting the Kaya Adams program on BBC Radio Scotland between 2013 and 2017.
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Carol McGiffin suffered similar pressure on Loose Women last year and left the show Credit: Rex
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Kaye Adams won her battle with HMRC after a court ruled she was self-employed
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