In the news

I'm not sure I see the problem?

The name is irrelevant, surely the fact that it's collected is important.

While the article mentions a future merger, it doesn't suggest anything is changing now beyond the name.

So who cares?

names contain meaning, so by renaming something it can loose its association with its meaning, which makes it easier for people with an agenda to get their own way,

e.g. the Tax Payers Alliance, 'Earnings Tax is the first step to abolishing National Insurance'

given that annual collections of National Insurance funds the £80bn of State Pension payments, the question could be:

Do you want to be entitled to a State Pension upon reaching the ripe old retirement age?