In the news

the proposed changes by the Conservative Party MP for Ipswich (url) to make a meaningfully named (NI) and institutionalised (NI1911) tax seemingly (to me at least) meaningless by re-naming it as an 'Earnings Tax' are a concern!

National Insurance (NI) in the United Kingdom is a system of contributions paid by workers and employers towards the cost of certain state benefits. It was initially a contributory system of insurance against illness and unemployment, and later also provided retirement pensions and other benefits.[1] It was first introduced by the National Insurance Act 1911, expanded by the Labour government in 1948 and has been subject to numerous amendments in subsequent years.

more info here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-insurance-fund-accounts