Bruges Group (United Kingdom)

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 British involvement in a single European state.[1] The group is often associated with the Conservative Party, including MPs such as Iain Duncan Smith, Daniel Hannan, John Redwood, and Norman Lamont.[2] However, it is formally an independent all-party think tank, and some Labour MPs and peers have cited the publications or attended the meetings of the Bruges Group through the years, such as Frank Field, Gisela Stuart, Lord Stoddart of Swindon and Baron Shore of Stepney.

This article is about the British think tank. For the agricultural policy think tank, see Groupe de Bruges.

The Bruges Group
TypePolitical and economic think tank
Established1989
FounderPatrick Robertson
AffiliationIndependent
ChairmanBarry Legg
PresidentNorman Tebbit
DirectorRobert Oulds FRSA
Address
246 Linen Hall, 162–168 Regent Street
,
London
,
W1B 5TB
,
United Kingdom
Websitebrugesgroup.com

The Bruges Group's honorary president was former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, LG, OM, FRS. The current president is Lord Tebbit of Chingford 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 European affairs. The Bruges Group's research also explores alternative international relationships and policies'.[3]

Background
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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:

I want to see us work more closely on the things we can do better together than alone. Europe is stronger when we do so, whether it be in trade, in defence or in our relations with the rest of the world. But working more closely together does not require power to be centralised in Brussels or decisions to be taken by an appointed bureaucracy. … We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them re-imposed at a European level with a European super-state exercising a new dominance from Brussels.[4][2]

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.[5] 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.[6] Since its founding, it has been at the forefront of policy debates, supported by members of the British and of the European Parliaments.

The group was a rallying point for rebellious backbench Conservative MPs during House of Commons debates over the Maastricht Treaty in 1992.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9] Jonathan Collett became campaign director in 1993 and held the role until 2001.[10] During that time, the Bruges Group became the most influential eurosceptic group, holding regular meetings and regularly publishing working papers.[11][12] The 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.'[13] The 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.'[13]

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.[14] Martin Holmes' publication of The Conservative Party and Europe had a strong influence on William Hague.[15] Since then, the annual conference has been held in London and has greatly impacted intellectual debates over Britain's membership in the European Union.[16]

Dr Martin Holmes continued as co-chairman until 2001.[17] Dr Brian Hindley carried on as co-chairman for a few more years and published a number of papers for the Bruges Group.[18]

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 Rt Hon. Sir Peter Tapsell MP, Father of the House of Commons; the Rt Hon. Owen Paterson MP, Secretary of State for the Environment; the Rt Hon. Theresa Villiers MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and the 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.[19]

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.[20]

Supporters

The Bruges Group works closely with politicians mainly in the Conservative Party, but has also attracted others from Labour and UK Independence parties.[21] 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 (London School of Economics), Norman Stone (Bilkent University), and Patrick Minford (Cardiff Business School).[7] Its sponsors, patrons, and supporters include:[22]

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.[23]

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
Brexit supporter holds a 'Vote Leave' sign ahead of the 2016 referendum

Through events, meetings, and papers, the Bruges Group played a key part in the 2016 Brexit Referendum in which 52 percent of the UK voted to leave the European Union.[24] Following the Leave campaign's win in the referendum, historian Andrew Roberts credited in part director Robert Oulds and the Bruges Group with keeping the popular insurgency alive over more than four decades.[25] In 2019, Jacob Rees-Mogg, 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'.[26]

Outreach

The Bruges Group regularly holds public events that advocate for looser ties with Brussels and an independent Britain.[27] 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 TV News, ITN; Sky News; The Daily Politics; BBC World Service; BBC R5 Live and international media outlets.[28] The organization regularly publishes working papers, leaflets, press releases, and interviews with politicians.

Denis MacShane, a Labour politician, remarked that the Bruges Group 'carries a great deal of anti-EU material but set within the bounds of reasonable discourse'.[29] The Bruges Group is also sometimes asked by the media to comment on the positions and policies of the Conservative Party.[30]

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.

See also

References
  1. "The Bruges Group". Twitter.
  2. Jones, Alistair (2016). Britain and the European Union. Edinburgh University Press. p. 201. ISBN 9781474411790.
  3. "Mission Statement". The Bruges Group.
  4. "Speech to the College of Europe ("The Bruges Speech")". margaretthatcher.org.
  5. Kuper, Simon (20 June 2019). "How Oxford university shaped Brexit – and Britain's next prime minister". Financial Times. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  6. Bruges Group website http://www.brugesgroup.com
  7. "What is the Bruges Group? | Conservative Home". Conservative Home. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  8. "Lord Harris of High Cross". The Daily Telegraph. 19 October 2006.
  9. Holmes, M. (27 November 2001). The Eurosceptical Reader 2. Springer. ISBN 9780230510760 – via Google Books.
  10. "Interview in These Tides magazine – The boundaries of EU-Sceptic thought pushed forward". brugesgroup.com.
  11. "Against EU integration and British involvement in the creation of a European Union super-state". brugesgroup.com.
  12. "Robert Oulds on the Bruges Group, British Global Alternatives and the End of the EU". thedailybell.com.
  13. "What people say about the group". The Bruges Group.
  14. "50 groups behind Article 50 – Part I". brexitcentral.com. 18 March 2017.
  15. "The Conservative Party and Europe". brugesgroup.com.
  16. Stewart, Ewan. "Britain's Global Leadership: The positive future for a UK outside the EU" (PDF). Campaign for an Independent Britain.
  17. Holmes, M. (27 November 2001). The Eurosceptical Reader 2. Springer. ISBN 9780230510760 – via Google Books.
  18. "The EU moving forward, but holding the world back". brugesgroup.com.
  19. Daddow, Oliver (2011). New Labour and the European Union: Blair and Brown's Logic of History. Oxford University Press. p. 71. ISBN 9780719076404.
  20. Helm, Toby. "Nigel Farage to address Bruges group at Tory conference". The Guardian.
  21. "Bruges Group Conference". The Bruges Group.
  22. Barberis, Peter; McHugh, John; Tyldesley, Mike (2000). Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations: Parties, Groups and Movements of the 20th Century. A&C Black. p. 130. ISBN 9780826458148.
  23. Bruges Group MP League Table http://www.brugesgroup.co.uk/mp/mplist.php#top
  24. "EU Referendum Results". BBC News. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  25. Roberts, Andrew (24 June 2016). "Brexit is a more impressive achievement than the French Revolution". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  26. "Brexit: Almost 20 government ministers 'meeting in secret' to discuss plans to avoid no deal, reports say". The Independent.
  27. "What is the Bruges Group?". The Conservative Party.
  28. BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/business_edition/8701045.stm
  29. MacShane, Denis (2016). Brexit: How Britain Left Europe. I.B.Tauris. p. 227. ISBN 9780857739063.
  30. Daily Politics with Andrew Neil http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8340299.stm
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