Bruges Speech

The Bruges Group is a think tank based in the United Kingdom.

Although the group is often associated with the Conservative Party, it is independent of it. Its honorary president was Margaret Thatcher with the president currently Lord Tebbit of Chingford, and its chairman is Barry Legg, who was chief executive of the Conservative Party and a former Member of Parliament, but many senior Labour politicians have addressed their meetings, including the Labour MPs Frank Field and Gisela Stuart and peers Lord Stoddart of Swindon and Baron Shore of Stepney.

Set up in February 1989, its original aim was to promote the idea of a less centralised European structure than that emerging in Brussels. Its inspiration was Margaret Thatcher's Bruges speech in September 1988, in which she remarked that, "We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them re-imposed at a European level". The Bruges Group's research now includes looking into alternative international relationships for the UK and a complete restructuring of Britain’s relationship with other European countries.

Its Director, Robert Oulds, is frequently 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.

The Bruges Group is also often asked by the media to comment on the particularly vexed issue of the European Union and the Conservative Party.

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 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.

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