Crank1000,
You totally misundertood.
In the UK, you can fly G reg aircraft in IMC with a JAA PPL or CPL and IR. You may also fly N reg aircraft in UK airspace with an FAA PPL or CPL and IR.
It takes longer, costs more and is more difficult to earn a JAA IR if you only hold a JAA PPL, so a suggestion was made to get around this by doing FAA ratings instead.