PCG LEGAL FUND Deadline 20 Jan. URGENT. ACT NOW to support the LEGAL CHALLENGE
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The Professional Contractors Group has announced it will continue its fight against the unfairness of IR35 with every possible tool available to it - this includes the legal, political and negotiating process.

In December 2001, the Court of Appeal found against the PCG in its judicial review to try to show that IR35 was, itself, an illegal measure. On that day - and despite some unqualified comments by some observers that the fight was over - the PCG made it clear that it would be continuing.

In the PCG's last newsletter we outlined the options and likely costs of pursuing each option. We asked members to commit to raise £700,000 (£700,000 pledged of which £350,000 paid by 20 January) to continue a two-pronged legal campaign against IR35. The first £350,000 will be used to drive forward case law - to replace the uncertain and outdated tests which contractors currently have to meet to prove they are in business, with tests more relevant to the 21st century style of business in the knowledge-based economy. The second £350,000 will be used to appeal the judicial review decision - to the House of Lords and all the way to Europe if necessary to try to have IR35 removed from the Statute Books as an illegal measure.

In the first two days, PCG members pledged nearly £100,000. This newsletter is to remind those who haven't yet contributed but who are considering pledging and paying to do so as soon as possible. On January 21, 2002, we have to inform the courts if we plan to go ahead with the JR or close off that route. With £700,000 pledged, our answer is to proceed to the House of Lords and Europe - without that amount, the legal effort will be focused on the case law and we will abandon the judicial review.

Gareth Williams, PCG's Deputy Chairman, has produced a detailed briefing paper about the case law; the judicial review; the strategy and the future. It can be accesses on the website here and is being 'snail mailed' to every PCG member. https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/resources/case_law_briefing.pdf

However, time is running out to make sure your contribution counts in the decision-making process.

1. Don't hesitate – a quick and striking response is needed.

2. Further information about paying is available here: https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/legal/legalpledge.html

3. Pledge and pay online by credit card: https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/scripts/members/pledge/pledge.pl

4. Send a cheque made payable to 'PCG Ltd' with 'legal fund' and your PCG username written on the back to:
PCG Ltd (Legal Fund)
Building 2
Shamrock Quay
Southampton
SO14 5QL

5. You can also pay by bank transfer. *Note* you MUST give your username as a reference for us to supply a receipt. PCG legal fund account details:
Sort code; 20-79-29
Account no; 30312150
Account name: PCG Ltd
Full details of transfer at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/legal/legalpledge.html

This will be a final decision for PCG - case law or case law and judicial review. Members can follow the progress of the fund and keep up with current information and news on the member's section of the site and within the discussion forums.

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PCG newsletter 03/02
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This newsletter is published by the Professional Contractors Group. Please feel free to circulate the newsletter to other independent contractors who you know, and who may be interested in joining the PCG. Some links in the newsletter will take you into the password-protected members' area of the PCG website. If you have forgotten your password, contact https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/scripts/public/access/form.pl

To view the Forum links in this newsletter, you must be first logged into the Forum. Further details available at https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/discussion_forum.html