In the news

If that's true I would say that it's actually the opposite of meaningless. It seems significant and harmful. A name change to 'Earnings Tax' signifies an ideological change that gives tories more ammunition to attack disability, unemployment, maternity benefits etc.

Where in the link does it actually mention the proposed naming change?

here's the story,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/tax/10657014/Goodbye-National-Insurance.-Hello-Earnings-Tax.html

National Insurance, a 100-year old charge on employers and employees, will be renamed “earnings tax”, the Chancellor has signalled.

a 100+ year institution one might re-phrase,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Insurance