Indeed, PPL/IR had one of their members - Jim Thorpe - on the FCL008 committee (albeit representing a different body ?european air sport?) who made a vigorous and thoroughly poisonous attempt to torpedo the IMCR.
Largely based on this performance, I have found the prospect of joining PPL IR thoroughly resistible and joined AOPA instead.
If we ever manage to get easy access to the Channel Islands again, the AOPA card gives you a 5% discount on fuel which, in the case of my Saratoga, paid for itself in the first fueling.