The Bruges Group is a think tank based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1989, it advocates for a restructuring of Britain's relationship with the European Union and other European countries. Its members and staff campaign against the notion of an "ever-closer union" in Europe and, above all, against Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom, British involvement in a single European state. The group is often associated with the Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party, including Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MPs such as Iain Duncan Smith, Daniel Hannan, John Redwood, and Norman Lamont. However, it is formally an Independent politician, independent all-party think tank, and some Labour Party (UK), Labour MPs and Peerage of the United Kingdom, peers have cited the publications or attended the meetings of the Bruges Group through the years, such as Frank Field (British politician), Frank Field, Gisela Stuart, Lord Stoddart of Swindon and Peter Shore, Lord Shore of Stepney. The Bruges Group's honorary president was former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The current president is Lord Tebbit and the current chairman is Barry Legg who was chief executive of the Conservative Party and a former Member of Parliament. The stated mission of the Bruges Group is: 'to promote discussion on the European Union and to advance the education of the public on Foreign relations of the European Union, European affairs. The Bruges Group's research also explores alternative international relationships and policies'.

Background

Founding

Founded in February 1989, the Bruges Group's original aim was to promote the idea of a less centralised European structure than what they felt was emerging in Brussels. It was established by Lord Harris of High Cross and Oxford University student Patrick Robertson in response to Margaret Thatcher's Bruges speech to the College of Europe in September 1988, during which she remarked that: Thatcher had cooperated with European Commission president Jacques Delors and supported the Single European Act, but in 1988 became Eurosceptic after realizing that a single market would cause political integration. Research institutes such as the Bruges Group quickly began to focus on Eurosceptic opinions in Britain and opposition to Delors. The Group is considered to be the common ancestor of the many British eurosceptic parties and groups that emerged in the 1990s. Since then, the Group has expanded its research agenda to include alternative international relationships for the United Kingdom and a complete restructuring of Britain's relationship with other European countries. Since its founding, it has been at the forefront of policy debates, supported by members of the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), British and of the Member of European Parliament, European Parliaments. The group was a rallying point for rebellious backbench Conservative MPs during House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons debates over the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. Ralph Harris, Baron Harris of High Cross, Lord Ralph Harris, who had been general director of the Institute of Economic Affairs 1957 to 1988, was chairman from 1989 until 1991 when he was replaced by professor Kenneth Minogue.

1993–present

In 1993, Dr Martin Holmes (University of Oxford) and Dr Brian Hindley (London School of Economics) became co-chairmen of the Bruges Group. Jonathan Collett became campaign director in 1993 and held the role until 2001. During that time, the Bruges Group became the most influential eurosceptic group, holding regular meetings and regularly publishing working papers. The Lord Lamont of Lerwick, Rt. Hon. Lord Lamont of Lerwick, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1990–1993, remarked that the Bruges Group maintains 'a vital influence on the European debate and I hope others will support it enthusiastically.' The John Redwood, Rt. Hon. John Redwood MP also remarked that the Bruges Group 'has set out many important points in the debate about the way Europe is careering towards a superstate and the way in which Britain needs a different and better relationship with our European partners.' Its first annual conference was held in 1994 at King's College and has been held there ever since. The Bruges Group played a leading role in stopping the United Kingdom from entering the Eurozone. Martin Holmes' publication of ''The Conservative Party and Europe'' had a strong influence on William Hague. Since then, the annual conference has been held in London and has greatly impacted intellectual debates over Britain's membership in the European Union. Dr Martin Holmes continued as co-chairman until 2001. Dr Brian Hindley carried on as co-chairman for a few more years and published a number of papers for the Bruges Group. Another pivotal moment for the Bruges Group came in 2008 at the twentieth anniversary dinner in London. There, Margaret Thatcher and other notable MPs, such as the Peter Tapsell (British politician), Rt Hon. Sir Peter Tapsell MP, Father of the House of Commons; the Owen Paterson, Rt Hon. Owen Paterson MP, Secretary of State for the Environment; the Theresa Villiers, Rt Hon. Theresa Villiers MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and the John Redwood, Rt Hon. John Redwood MP, held talks over Britain's relationship with the EU. From that point onwards, the Bruges Group heavily influenced the policies of the Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party. In 2013, then-leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage planned to address a Tory party conference in Manchester that was organized by the Bruges Group. In 2021, the Democratic Unionist Party, DUP's former Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds, Sir Bernard Jenkin MP, and James Webber of Shearman & Sterling, addressed the Bruges Group in a Waterloo Day webinar on 'The Future of the Union', on the issues of the Northern Ireland Protocol and how the Second Johnson ministry, Johnson government should renegotiate on the status of Northern Ireland.

Supporters

The Bruges Group works closely with politicians mainly in the Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party, but has also attracted others from Labour Party (UK), Labour and UK Independence Party, UK Independence parties. The group has also established an Academic Advisory Council which includes Professors Tim Congdon (University of Oxford), Julius Gould (University of Nottingham), Kenneth Minogue (London School of Economics), Christie Davies (University of Reading), Ben Roberts (academic), Ben Roberts (London School of Economics), Norman Stone (Bilkent University), and Patrick Minford (Cardiff Business School). Its sponsors, patrons, and supporters include: File:Official portrait of Andrew Bridgen crop 2.jpg, Andrew Bridgen Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MP File:Campbell Bannerman, David-1700.jpg, David Campbell Bannerman File:Nigel_Farage_MEP_1,_Strasbourg_-_Diliff.jpg, Nigel Farage File:Official portrait of Frank Field.jpg, Frank Field, Baron Field of Birkenhead, The Right Honourable Lord Field of Birkenhead Deputy lieutenant, DL File:Official portrait of Mr Mark Francois crop 2.jpg, Mark Francois, The Right Honourable Mark Francois MP File:Kate Hoey, May 2009 1.jpg, Kate Hoey, The Right Honourable Baroness Hoey File:Official portrait of Lord Lamont of Lerwick crop 2.jpg, Norman Lamont, The Right Honourable Lord Lamont of Lerwick File:Official portrait of Mr Owen Paterson crop 2.jpg, Owen Paterson, The Right Honourable Owen Paterson MP File:Official portrait of John Redwood crop 2.jpg, Sir John Redwood, The Right Honourable Sir John Redwood MP File:AndrewRosindell-Wiki.JPG, Andrew Rosindell MP File:Official portrait of Mr Iain Duncan Smith crop 2.jpg, Iain Duncan Smith, The Right Honourable Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP File:GiselaStuartOct2008.jpg, Gisela Stuart, The Right Honourable Baroness Stuart File:Official_portrait_of_Lord_Tebbit_crop_2.jpg, Norman Tebbit, The Right Honourable Lord Tebbit Order of the Companions of Honour, CH File:Official portrait of Theresa Villiers crop 2.jpg, Theresa Villiers, The Right Honourable Theresa Villiers MP File:Lord young of Graffham.jpg, David Young, Baron Young of Graffham, The Right Honourable Lord Young of Graffham Order of the Companions of Honour, CH Deputy lieutenant, DL

Activities

The Bruges Group seeks to keep debate on European issues centre stage by commissioning and publishing independent research and by holding meetings and conferences to discuss relevant issues. These events have covered topics like the European Union, immigration, trade, and the euro, and they seek to inform decision-makers and opinion-formers, especially those in Parliament and the media. The Bruges Group also monitors and assesses the voting of members of parliament. The Bruges Group contends that the EU seeks to extend its influence over individual states’ right to manage their own affairs. As a result, the Group has extended its remit to monitor the EU's policies and regulations relating to the increasing costs of membership, defence, international relations, climate change, national identity, immigration and healthcare. Internationally the Bruges Group has been particularly active in supporting Euroscepticism in Estonia and discussing issues relating to Turkey and the EU.

2016 Brexit referendum

Through events, meetings, and papers, the Bruges Group played a key part in the 2016 Brexit United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, 2016, Referendum in which 48.1 percent of validated votes (34.7 per cent of the electorate) were in favour of leaving the European Union. Following the Leave campaign's win in the referendum, historian Andrew Roberts (historian), Andrew Roberts credited in part director Robert Oulds and the Bruges Group with keeping the popular insurgency alive over more than four decades. In 2019, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Member of parliament, MP for North East Somerset and the chairman of the European Research Group, delivered a speech to the Group stating that a 'no deal' Brexit should not be 'taken off the table'.

Outreach

The Bruges Group regularly holds public events that advocate for looser ties with Brussels and an independent Britain. The group's director, Robert Oulds, is sometimes quoted in the press and makes regular appearances on TV and radio discussing European issues. Spokesmen for the Bruges Group have also appeared on BBC News, BBC TV News, ITN; Sky News; The Daily Politics; BBC World Service; BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC R5 Live and international media outlets. The organization regularly publishes working papers, Pamphlet, leaflets, press releases, and interviews with politicians. Denis MacShane, a former Labour Party (UK), Labour politician and convicted fraudster, remarked that the Bruges Group 'carries a great deal of anti-EU material but set within the bounds of reasonable discourse'. The Bruges Group is also sometimes asked by the media to comment on the positions and policies of the Conservative Party.Daily Politics with Andrew Neil http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8340299.stm The Bruges Group is also active on various social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. The group regularly posts updates and information about events, articles, and recently published blog posts, as well as relevant Brexit and EU related news.

References

External links

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The Bruges Group on FacebookThe Bruges Group on Twitter
{{authority control 1989 establishments in the United Kingdom Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom Political and economic think tanks based in the United Kingdom Economic research institutes Non-profit organisations based in London Think tanks established in 1989 Margaret Thatcher Organisations associated with the Conservative Party (UK)