Why?

[LondonManc]

Never been asked by a Permie what my rate is. My daily rate vs your daily rate is a contractor problem.

Nope, same here. Been asked what it's like contracting, etc. but never day rate outright. Told them ballpark what they'd get as a day rate (+/-40%) and that it's better to be made redundant if they've been somewhere at least five years than to just quit. A lot of them couldn't hack the travelling and living away so they have their comfort bubble.