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8th March, 2001 - Background to the Legal
Challenge
We are anticipating a certain level of interest
in next week's JR hearing.
This newsletter contains essential information regarding our
coverage of events.
The hearing starts next Tuesday morning, 13th March at the
High Court in London. The Court is expected to sit until Thursday
15th. We do not expect a decision on Thursday. Judgement is
likely to be deferred a few days, but unless the case has been
referred to Europe on a point of law, we expect an outcome before
the end of the month.
Chairman's message
PCG Chairman Gareth Williams writes:
There is no doubt we have a very good case. But equally the
judge will - quite rightly - demand a high standard of argument
before overturning legislation passed by Parliament. We would
not have got this far without a very good legal team, and the
efforts of members who have contributed to the legal fund, and
provided their own personal testimony in evidence.
The result of this effort is that we now have a fighting chance
of striking IR35 off the statute book. It is now up to the lawyers
and the judge.
Background to the legal challenge
A full background to the legal challenge, including history,
the appeals process and the PCG legal team is available.
Here
Support at the Proceedings
A number of PCG members have expressed an interest in attending
court over the three days. We are expecting press coverage outside
the Court on Tuesday 13th from 9.30am. The High Court is on
the Strand (near the Aldwych)
If you are planning to attend, Legal Director Neil Wilson
has advised that we should maintain our "professional business
image” in reality as well as on paper. Especially for those
who appear in the public gallery who *will* have an effect on
the Judge. (And don't forget your PCG badges.)
We do not know how many members will be attending, and space
in the public gallery will be very limited. Members will also
be welcome at the PCG Press Office, which for the duration of
the hearing will be located at:
The Cheshire Cheese Public House,
5 Little Essex Street, (opp - High Court)
(NB. Not the same as Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in Fleet St).
The office will be open upstairs from around 9.30am to 6.30
everyday and will act as an HQ for members and the Press. A
light breakfast will be available from the Cheshire Cheese from
10.30 on the first day (13th) and of course the bar downstairs
will be open as usual.
Susie Hughes and a team of volunteers will be running press
briefings, interviews, contractor meets, and providing live
feedback online to members.
If you do decide to attend, please note that there may be journalists
wanting to speak to PCG members. If you are asked, or would
like to speak to the Press, Susie Hughes will be available (at
the Cheshire Cheese) to offer some guidance on presenting your
case clearly.
Cheshire Cheese location: (see
map and arrow)
Updates from the Court - Web address
Clearly many members will not be able to attend in person. We
have set up a temporary ‘noticeboard’ site for the hearing.
We will publish regular updates on this PUBLIC site for Press
and Members.
This is a read only site - no discussion facility. As soon
as news breaks, it will be posted to this site. (Link available
from PCG Homepage)
http://www.ir35update.co.uk
All the latest news will be posted here first - so please use
this site as a first resort for information.
Press Briefing
The Operational briefing to the Press for the JR is available
from the website above:
http://www.ir35update.co.uk
and here
Susie Hughes
(Head of Executive Services)
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