Mr Charlie Mullins, chief honcho of Pimlico Plumbers Ltd, is a tad put out with one of his plumbers, Mr Gary Smith. I say “his” plumbers because Mullins’ firm presented its 125 plumbers to customers as very much their own. Smart uniforms, smart vans, strict time-keeping, and – if anyone asked – the teams of fitters were all held out to be an integral part of Pimlico’s workforce. The first judge in the dispute between plumber Smith and boss Mullins said that “contrary to appearances, its operatives were in business on their own account. Pimlico Plumbers arranged a carefully choreographed set of procedures and contractual documents designed to negate the appearance given to the public at large and its customers to not present its operatives as self-employed, in business, on their own account.” Mullins thus resembled the Roman god Janus – god of gates and doorways, with two faces looking in opposite directions …