View source for Organization:Bruges Group (United Kingdom)

{{short description|Think tank}}
{{out of date|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox university
| name = The Bruges Group
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| type = Political and economic think tank
| established = 1989
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| founder = Patrick Robertson
| affiliation = [[Finance:Independent business|Independent]]
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| chairman = Barry Legg
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| president = Norman Tebbit
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| director = Robert Oulds
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| address = 246 Linen Hall, 162–168 Regent Street
| city = London
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| country = United Kingdom
| postcode = W1B 5TB
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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 [[Social:European Union|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bruges Group |url=https://twitter.com/brugesgroup?lang=en |website=Twitter}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=November 2019}} The group is often associated with the [[Finance:Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], including MPs such as Iain Duncan Smith, Daniel Hannan, John Redwood, and Norman Lamont.<ref name="google201">{{cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Alistair |title=Britain and the European Union |date=2016 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |page=201 |isbn=9781474411790 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oZw7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA201}}</ref> However, it is formally an [[Social:Independent politician|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 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 [[Social:European Union|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'.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mission Statement |url=https://www.brugesgroup.com/about/mission-statement |website=The Bruges Group}}</ref>

== 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 [[Organization:College of Europe|College of Europe]] in September 1988, during which she remarked that:
{{Blockquote
|text=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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/107332|title=Speech to the College of Europe ("The Bruges Speech")|website=margaretthatcher.org}}</ref><ref name="google201"/>
}}

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.<ref name="kuper20190620">{{Cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/85fc694c-9222-11e9-b7ea-60e35ef678d2 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/85fc694c-9222-11e9-b7ea-60e35ef678d2 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-status=live |title=How Oxford university shaped Brexit – and Britain's next prime minister |last=Kuper |first=Simon |date=20 June 2019 |work=Financial Times |access-date=21 June 2019  | url-access=subscription}}</ref> 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.<ref>Bruges Group website http://www.brugesgroup.com</ref> 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 [[Finance:Maastricht Treaty|Maastricht Treaty]] in 1992.<ref name="conservativehome1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2013/01/what-is-the-brugesgroup-mbarrettch-profiles-the-long-running-tory-eurosceptic-group-that-helped-the.html|title=What is the Bruges Group? {{!}} Conservative Home|work=Conservative Home|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref>

Lord Ralph Harris, who had been general director of the [[Organization:Institute of Economic Affairs|Institute of Economic Affairs]] 1957 to 1988, was chairman from 1989 until 1991 when he was replaced by professor Kenneth Minogue.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1531862/Lord-Harris-of-High-Cross.html|title=Lord Harris of High Cross|date=19 October 2006|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref>

=== 1993–present ===
In 1993, Dr Martin Holmes ([[Organization:University of Oxford|University of Oxford]]) and Dr Brian Hindley ([[Organization:London School of Economics|London School of Economics]]) became co-chairmen of the Bruges Group.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1xeHDAAAQBAJ&q=martin+holmes+co+chairman+bruges+group+1993-2001&pg=PR13|title=The Eurosceptical Reader 2|last=Holmes|first=M.|date=27 November 2001|publisher=Springer|isbn=9780230510760|via=Google Books}}</ref> Jonathan Collett became campaign director in 1993 and held the role until 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brugesgroup.com/media-centre/interviews/40-interviews/564-interview-in-these-tides-magazine-the-boundaries-of-eu-sceptic-thought-pushed-forward|title=Interview in These Tides magazine – The boundaries of EU-Sceptic thought pushed forward|website=brugesgroup.com}}</ref> During that time, the Bruges Group became the most influential eurosceptic group, holding regular meetings and regularly publishing [[Working paper|working paper]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brugesgroup.com|title=Against EU integration and British involvement in the creation of a European Union super-state|website=brugesgroup.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybell.com/exclusive-interviews/anthony-wile-robert-oulds-on-the-bruges-group-british-global-alternatives-and-the-end-of-the-eu/|title=Robert Oulds on the Bruges Group, British Global Alternatives and the End of the EU|website=thedailybell.com|date=27 December 2009 }}</ref> 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.'<ref name="brugesgroup1">{{cite web |title=What people say about the group |url=https://www.brugesgroup.com/about/what-people-say |website=The Bruges Group}}</ref> 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.'<ref name="brugesgroup1"/>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brexitcentral.com/50-groups-behind-article-50-part-i/|title=50 groups behind Article 50 – Part I|date=18 March 2017|work=brexitcentral.com}}</ref> Martin Holmes' publication of ''The Conservative Party and Europe'' had a strong influence on William Hague.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brugesgroup.com/media-centre/papers/8-papers/807-the-conservative-party-and-europe|title=The Conservative Party and Europe|website=brugesgroup.com}}</ref> Since then, the annual conference has been held in London and has greatly impacted intellectual debates over Britain's membership in the [[Social:European Union|European Union]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stewart |first1=Ewan |title=Britain's Global Leadership: The positive future for a UK outside the EU |url=http://campaignforanindependentbritain.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/BritainsGlobalLeadership.pdf |website=Campaign for an Independent Britain}}</ref>

Dr Martin Holmes continued as co-chairman until 2001.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1xeHDAAAQBAJ&q=martin+holmes+bruges+group+1993-2001&pg=PR13|title=The Eurosceptical Reader 2|last=Holmes|first=M.|date=27 November 2001|publisher=Springer|isbn=9780230510760|via=Google Books}}</ref> Dr Brian Hindley carried on as co-chairman for a few more years and published a number of papers for the Bruges Group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brugesgroup.com/events/10-events/867-the-eu-moving-forward-but-holding-the-world-back|title=The EU moving forward, but holding the world back|website=brugesgroup.com}}</ref>

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 Sir Peter Tapsell MP, Father of the House of Commons; the Owen Paterson MP, Secretary of State for the Environment; the Theresa Villiers MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and the 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 [[Finance:Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Daddow |first1=Oliver |title=New Labour and the European Union: Blair and Brown's Logic of History |date=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=71 |isbn=9780719076404 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fl4vDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA71}}</ref>

In 2013, then-leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) [[Biography:Nigel Farage|Nigel Farage]] planned to address a Tory party conference in Manchester that was organized by the Bruges Group.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Helm |first1=Toby |title=Nigel Farage to address Bruges group at Tory conference |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/jul/27/nigel-farage-address-bruge-group |website=The Guardian|date=27 July 2013 }}</ref>

In 2021, the 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 Johnson government should renegotiate on the status of Northern Ireland.

===Supporters===
The Bruges Group works closely with politicians mainly in the [[Finance:Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], but has also attracted others from Labour and UK Independence parties.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bruges Group Conference |url=https://www.brugesgroup.com/events/10-events/1293-conference-for-a-real-brexit |website=The Bruges Group}}</ref> The group has also established an Academic Advisory Council which includes Professors Tim Congdon ([[Organization:University of Oxford|University of Oxford]]), Julius Gould ([[Organization:University of Nottingham|University of Nottingham]]), Kenneth Minogue ([[Organization:London School of Economics|London School of Economics]]), Christie Davies ([[Organization:University of Reading|University of Reading]]), Ben Roberts ([[Organization:London School of Economics|London School of Economics]]), Norman Stone (Bilkent University), and Patrick Minford (Cardiff Business School).<ref name="conservativehome1"/> Its sponsors, patrons, and supporters include:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barberis |first1=Peter |last2=McHugh |first2=John |last3=Tyldesley |first3=Mike |title=Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations: Parties, Groups and Movements of the 20th Century |date=2000 |publisher=A&C Black |page=130 |isbn=9780826458148 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qps14mSlghcC&pg=PA130}}</ref>
<gallery class="center">

File:Official portrait of Andrew Bridgen crop 2.jpg|Andrew Bridgen MP
File:Campbell Bannerman, David-1700.jpg|David Campbell Bannerman
File:Nigel_Farage_MEP_1,_Strasbourg_-_Diliff.jpg|[[Biography:Nigel Farage|Nigel Farage]]
File:Official portrait of Frank Field.jpg|Frank Field, Baron Field of Birkenhead 
File:Official portrait of Mr Mark Francois crop 2.jpg|Mark Francois MP

File:Kate Hoey, May 2009 1.jpg|Baroness Hoey
File:Official portrait of Lord Lamont of Lerwick crop 2.jpg|Lord Lamont of Lerwick
File:Official portrait of Mr Owen Paterson crop 2.jpg|Owen Paterson MP
File:Official portrait of John Redwood crop 2.jpg|Sir John Redwood MP
File:AndrewRosindell-Wiki.JPG|Andrew Rosindell MP
File:Official portrait of Mr Iain Duncan Smith crop 2.jpg|Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP
File:GiselaStuartOct2008.jpg|Baroness Stuart

File:Official_portrait_of_Lord_Tebbit_crop_2.jpg|Lord Tebbit
File:Official portrait of Theresa Villiers crop 2.jpg|Theresa Villiers MP
File:Lord young of Graffham.jpg|Lord Young of Graffham 
</gallery>

== 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.<ref>Bruges Group MP League Table http://www.brugesgroup.co.uk/mp/mplist.php#top</ref>

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 [[Social:Euroscepticism|Euroscepticism]] in Estonia and discussing issues relating to [[Place:Turkey|Turkey]] and the EU.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

=== 2016 Brexit referendum ===
[[File:Vote leave.jpg|thumb|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 51.9 percent of validated votes (37.4 per cent of the electorate) were in favour of leaving the European Union.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/elections-and-referendums/past-elections-and-referendums/eu-referendum/results-and-turnout-eu-referendum | title=Results and turnout at the EU referendum }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/24/brexit-is-a-more-impressive-achievement-than-the-french-revoluti/|title=Brexit is a more impressive achievement than the French Revolution|last=Roberts|first=Andrew|date=24 June 2016|work=The Telegraph|access-date=15 March 2018|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> 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'.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brexit: Almost 20 government ministers 'meeting in secret' to discuss plans to avoid no deal, reports say |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-no-deal-cabinet-ministers-secret-meeting-hairshirt-amber-rudd-philip-hammond-a8743611.html |website=The Independent}}</ref>

=== Outreach ===
The Bruges Group regularly holds public events that advocate for looser ties with Brussels and an independent Britain.<ref>{{cite web |title=What is the Bruges Group? |url=https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2013/01/what-is-the-brugesgroup-mbarrettch-profiles-the-long-running-tory-eurosceptic-group-that-helped-the.html |website=The Conservative Party|date=24 January 2013 }}</ref> 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 Radio 5 Live and international media outlets.<ref>BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/business_edition/8701045.stm</ref> The organization regularly publishes working papers, [[Biology:Pamphlet|leaflets]], press releases, and interviews with politicians.

Denis MacShane, a former 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'.<ref>{{cite book |last1=MacShane |first1=Denis |title=Brexit: How Britain Left Europe |date=2016 |publisher=I.B.Tauris |page=227 |isbn=9780857739063 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ckmVBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA227}}</ref> The Bruges Group is also sometimes asked by the media to comment on the positions and policies of the Conservative Party.<ref>Daily Politics with Andrew Neil http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8340299.stm</ref>

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 ==
*Brexit
*2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum
*List of think tanks in the United Kingdom
*Leave.EU

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{official|http://brugesgroup.com}}
*[https://www.facebook.com/BrugesGroup/ The Bruges Group on Facebook]
*[https://twitter.com/brugesgroup?lang=en The Bruges Group on Twitter]


[[Category:Economic research institutes]]

{{Sourceattribution|Bruges Group (United Kingdom)}}