PCG votes to become representative body

The Professional Contractors Group has voted - through the Internet - to be a representative body for contractors.

Several days before the so-called Super Tuesday presidential elections in the US were billed around the world as the first-ever on-line democratic vote, the Professional Contractors Group (PCG) held its own web-based elections with slightly less fan-fare.

PCG was formed initially in May 1999 as a vehicle to represent contractors' interests against IR35. After nearly a year of intensive campaigning, during which PCG was acknowledged as the leading pressure group, its members voted to continue the organisation as a representative body. Now that contractors had formed an organisation which provided them with a voice, they were reluctant to let other parties represent their interests.

A consultative council of 30 members, under the chairmanship of Gareth Williams, has been elected via an Internet vote to carry out the remit of the group. In the coming months they will be focusing on establishing the portal site, examining the possibility of a legal challenge to IR35, developing a business and marketing plan, exploring insurance possibilities and carrying out other priority actions.