Tel. +44 (0)20 7287 4414
Email. info@brugesgroup.com
Tel. +44 (0)20 7287 4414
Email. info@brugesgroup.com
The Bruges Group spearheaded the intellectual battle to win a vote to leave the European Union and, above all, against the emergence of a centralised EU state.
The Bruges Group spearheaded the intellectual battle to win a vote to leave the European Union and, above all, against the emergence of a centralised EU state.
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Bruges Group Blog

Spearheading the intellectual battle against the EU. And for new thinking in international affairs.

Subcategories from this category:

European Union
Sex education of teenagers

Sex education of teenagers

The thing that first drew me to being opposed to our membership of the EU in 1991 was the realisation my elected Government was not in control of our country, that authority had passed to an offshore, unelected and unaccountable body.  My awakening came through a letter written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer during the terrible recession o...

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Kate Hoey: "Scrap the Northern Irish Protocol!" 'In conversation with Baroness Hoey'

Kate Hoey: "Scrap the Northern Irish Protocol!" 'In conversation with Baroness Hoey'

Euro skepticism and Brexit is synonymous with right-wing politics. The reality is the Leave vote was ushered in by a broad coalition of both left-leaning and right-leaning voters, said Labour Party MP Kate Hoey, a proponent of Brexit. Speaking with Morten Dam of Peoples Movement Against the EU in Denmark, Hoey discussed the position of the Labour P...

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Carillion and Corporate Governance.

​Bruges Group director Robert Oulds assured the possibility of a Brexit trade agreement in an interview with Jeremy Naylor on IG.com.  It was one of the many issues discussed during last Friday's broadcast. Topics ranged from the cost of other trade agreements, need for deregulation, lower taxes, and passporting rights.  The term "hard Br...

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Heseltine: A Bridge Too Far

The crown of UK is its financial services sector: buying and selling across the EU and the world.  Now, fresh fears about the backbone industry of London are on the rise. EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier announced last Monday that firms based in Britain will lose their "passporting" rights post Brexit.  A "passport" allows fina...

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Send Morrissey to break the impasse

£40 billion isn't enough. The EU, facing a gaping hole in its finances after losing its British cash cow, is extorting to the max. But even the most generous offer from our pathetic political leaders, in return for a few cake crumbs, won't guarantee a mutually-rewarding trade deal. The whole protracted and humiliating process could be voted down by...

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Fighting for Brexit on two fronts

A gathering storm over London.Photograph: Garry Knight, Wikimedia Commons. While the UK's parliament debates the EU Withdrawal Bill, its government is pursuing a post-Brexit deal on the continent. On both fronts, the decision Britons took to leave the EU is under threat. Indeed, their government has precious little wiggle room to deliver, but it st...

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5 Reasons To Visit Bruges This Winter

5 Reasons To Visit Bruges This Winter

The historic city of Bruges has long attracted some of the world's leaders, including Margaret Thatcher who made her famous Bruges speech at the College of Europe, which is still considered a political centre today. Bruges has so much to offer visitors, so here's why you should renew your e111 card, pack your suitcase and head to the charming city ...

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British people will make their own trade deal

Cars have always been more than four-wheeled transport; they're status symbols. Owners of a Ford Focus, a 'Chelsea tractor' or a quirky Citroen display something of their character, and their wealth. In the past, cars were also expressions of patriotism. A proud ex-serviceman would insist on a staid black or beige Austin or Hillman, but by the 1970...

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EU definitions of ordinary words

​The Chancellor, the Right Honourable Philip Hammond MP, recently stated that he would not be providing funds to put in place contingency measures, to prepare for the outcome of the Brexit negotiations being "No Deal".He did not want to spend money that could otherwise be spent on hospitals, schools, defence etc on protection against a merely hypot...

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Busting the Food Price Myth in a No Deal Brexit

Busting the Food Price Myth in a No Deal Brexit

​Conservative Member of Parliament for Wokingham, Berkshire, John Redwood discussed UK's stance on Brexit negotiations as well as Britain's future relationship with the EU after Brexit. Redwood affirmed that the UK will only make an agreement after examining all the issues instead of settling specific issues as a prerequisite to move forward with a...

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Here Is Why The EU Might Fall Apart

​It's no secret that deals are an "art form" for U.S. President Donald Trump, who likes making deals, preferably big deals, and promises to cut a very big and exciting trade deal with the U.K. after Brexit. That window of opportunity is quickly closing in the face of slow-moving negotiations with EU and looming uncertainty behind Trump's reelection...

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How Brexit Affected Premier League Policies

​Britain's exit from the European Union, ushered by a majority of Leave votes, is an opportunity to build a better Britain. Not a better Britain, according to historian Bess Rhodes, but a kind and more caring Britain. Speaking at the Bruges Group's "Deal or No Deal" conference on Nov. 4, Rhodes admitted she voted to remain in the EU. After the resu...

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What Needs to be Taught

What Needs to be Taught

​"Deal or no Deal" event speech by Professor D.R. Myddelton. Background General de Gaulle was a difficult Frenchman!In 1963 he rejected Britain's application to join the Common Market – on the grounds that England was too different from the continental countries.I share that political judgement. So I voted in both Referendums – in 1975 and aga...

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How to Choose an Online Casino in the UK

​Two political parties who favour membership of the European Union remain in Iceland's parliament following the general elections that took place in the country on 28 October. Before the elections they were three but one of them, Bright Future, lost all its MPs. The two remaining pro-EU parties, the Social Democratic Alliance and the Restoration Pa...

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PATRIOTISM AND FREEDOM
 A libertarian defence of national sovereignty

PATRIOTISM AND FREEDOM
A libertarian defence of national sovereignty

​The Bruges Group hosted Veterans for Britain, a group of 14 Admirals and Generals led by Mag Gen Julian Thompson, who campaigned for Brexit. David Banks spoke on the EU's proposal for a Permanent Structured Cooperation. The agreement binds member states armed forced into a joint single output spearheaded by Brussels for defense. The lack of d...

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Wake up calls

Wake up calls

​With plans for an Airbnb-style scheme for National Health Service patients set to roll out as early as next month, the state of NHS hits a new low. 

The health service will compensate homeowners £50-a-day to host patients in their spare rooms. 

Overcrowded hospitals and long wait times are a culmination to decades of European Union's open-door migration, draining monetary resources. Brexit's promise of tighter immigration and an increase in availability of funds could prove to be a relief for the national healthcare sector. 

Last winter, the number of patients on hospital wards in England were at unsafe levels at nine out of 10 NHS trusts. A&E transferred, admitted, or discharged approximately 82% of patients- rather than the target 95%- within four hours. More than 60,000 people waited between four and 12 hours in A&E for a hospital bed after a decision to admit. 

Research supports that EU immigration contributes to financial pressure on the NHS. EU citizens' European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows access to state-sponsored healthcare during a temporary stay in another EEA country. At a cost to British taxpayers, EU migrants who live in the UK have access to healthcare on the same basis as nationals.

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Opening of borders, closing of minds

A clumsy request from a parliamentarian on what is taught about Brexit in universities has caused uproar. Chris Heaton-Harris, MP for Daventry and a junior Conservative whip, was suddenly likened to Senator Joseph McCarthy, who infamously led a campaign to root out 'reds under the bed' in American institutions back in the 1950s. But incredulous cla...

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Dr Bess Rhodes - what actually is Brexit?

Dr Bess Rhodes - what actually is Brexit?

Bruges Group ConferenceWill Britain make a Brexit deal with Brussels? What should the UK prioritise? Where should it draw the red lines? When is the cost of any deal too high? Will we get what we actually voted for? This conference will answer those important questions. Saturday, 4th November 2017 http://www.brugesgroup.com/events Conference traile...

  6990 Hits

Sugar Beets and the Pandemic of Modern Obesity

In my last blog post, I made my own personal views on transition clear and I also stated what the government had said that their views on transition were. To summarise, I personally believe that, if a free trade agreement (FTA) between the UK and the EU is agreed by midnight on 29th March 2019 and, if a subsequent transitional arrangement is deemed...

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Crypto Regulation in the EU vs the UK

Crypto Regulation in the EU vs the UK

​Project Fear scaremongered more about financial services than anything else during the EU referendum campaign and this scaremongering has unfortunately continued after the Brexit vote. Remoaners and soft Brexiteers (those who want us to remain members of the European single market after Brexit) now tell us that the reason why there was not an imme...

  7713 Hits
Das Ende?

Das Ende?

​It's a highly contested figure both during and in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum. The true cost to Britain being a part of the European Union is close to £661 million per week since 2010, a number hidden from the British taxpayers due to an intricate payments system and largely ignored by the mainstream media. Our estimated figure encompas...

  75269 Hits
David Banks' Take on World War II: The First Culture War

David Banks' Take on World War II: The First Culture War

In the latest round of Brexit negotiations, the European Union called on Britain to pay a hefty bill before commencing with trade talks.  Negotiators are asking the UK to commit paying 14 percent of the EU's budget until 2020, a pledge that could cost British taxpayers billions of pounds. Prominent reclaimer Gina Miller argued Britain sho...

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Sugar Beets and the Pandemic of Modern Obesity

This country's change from consuming sugar derived from sugar cane, which Britain historically purchased from its old colonial territories, to consuming sugar extracted from sugar beets from about 1973 onwards has slowly but surely greatly contributed to this country's obesity problem S Davies 2nd September 2017   I pose the question of w...

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The Will to Act

In the referendum on 23 June 2016 the majority of British people voted Leave. In doing so, they placed the cornerstone of a new future for the U.K. beyond the E.U. Some politicians, mainstream media and many pollsters failed to remember how the will to act had built the British Empire, Commonwealth and NATO. The will to act against questionable ves...

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Genoa and Grenfell disasters: a common thread of guilt

More Norwegians want to see a bilateral comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU replacing Norway's membership of the European Economic Area (EEA) than those who want to hold onto the country's EEA membership according to a new opinion poll. The poll was produced last week by the polling company Sentio for the Norwegian organisation Nei til E...

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The Brexit Party: worrying the Westminster sheep? Interview with party leader Catherine Blaiklock

Reportedly the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, says Britain leaving the European Union cannot be a success. Well, that is quite understandable from the EU's point of view. After all Brussels' idea of a success is not entirely the same as what most Britons have in mind. The most successful outcome of the Brexit talks ahead...

  7381 Hits

Why Brexit Should Be Accompanied by Irexit (Ireland exit)

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]Ireland’s political Establishment is only now realising that Brexit really does mean Brexit and that the case for an accompanying Irexit is overwhelming. Irish opinion is likely to move in this direction over the coming two years and UK policy-makers should encourage that.[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Article Title 3" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]Dr Anthony Coughlan[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Article Title 3" tag="h5" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]22nd February 2017[/pb_heading][pb_divider el_title="Divider 1" div_margin_bottom="30" div_border_width="2" div_border_style="solid" div_border_color="#0151a1" appearing_animation="0" ][/pb_divider][/pb_column][/pb_row][pb_row ][pb_column span="span3"][pb_button el_title="PDF Link : Delete this component if it is not required 2" button_text="Read the full research online" link_type="url" button_type_url="/images/papers/brexit-irexit.pdf" open_in="new_browser" button_alignment="inherit" button_size="btn-sm" button_color="btn-primary" appearing_animation="0" ][/pb_button][/pb_column][pb_column span="span9"][pb_text el_title="Article Text" width_unit="%" enable_dropcap="no" appearing_animation="0" ]

For forty years from 1973 the Republic was a major recipient of EU money through the Common Agricultural Policy. Since 2014 the Republic has become a net contributor to the EU Budget. In future money from Brussels will be Irish taxpayers’ money recycled. This removes the principal basis of Irish europhilia, official and unofficial.

If Dublin seeks to remain in the EU when the UK leaves it will have to pay more to the EU budget to help compensate for the loss of Britain’s net contribution. A bonus of leaving along with the UK on the other hand is that it would enable the Republic to get its sea-fisheries back - the value of annual fish-catches by foreign boats in Irish waters being a several-times multiple of whatever money Ireland got from the EU over the years.

As regards trade and investment, the Republic sends 61% by value of its goods exports and 66% of its services exports to countries that are outside the continental EU26, mostly English-speaking. The USA is the most important market for its foreign-owned firms and the UK for its indigenous ones. Economically and psychologically it is closer to Boston than Berlin and to Britain than Germany.

[/pb_text][pb_button el_title="PDF Link : Delete this component if it is not required" button_text="Read the full research online" link_type="url" button_type_url="/images/papers/brexit-irexit.pdf" open_in="new_browser" button_alignment="inherit" button_size="btn-sm" button_color="btn-primary" appearing_animation="0" ][/pb_button][/pb_column][/pb_row]

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The Workers of England Union: defending NHS staff against mandatory vaccination

The Workers of England Union: defending NHS staff against mandatory vaccination

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Sub Title" tag="h3" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]Estonian Foreign Secretary (2002 - 05) talks to the Bruges Group[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Author" tag="h5" div_margin_bottom="15" text_ali...

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Obituary: Betty Simmerson

Martin Page Remembers Betty Simmerson Lovers of freedom everywhere and supporters of the struggle to restore Britain`s national independence and sovereignty will be saddened to learn of Betty Simmerson`s death ( on 21st October at the age of 89 ), and yet inspired to learn, or learn more, about her life. Coming from a modest background in Britain, ...

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Perfect timing by the European Union

When it comes to using the prerogative for "less Europe", there are implied limitations which do not seem to exist for "more Europe". On 3rd November 2016 the Divisional Court handed down its judgment in R (Miller) -V- Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union [2016] EWHC 2768 (Admin). The court has, to the surprise of most informed observe...

  5869 Hits
In War, Truth is the First Casualty

In War, Truth is the First Casualty

Richard Tice, Chairman of the Leave Means campaign, will be speaking at the Bruges Group conference on Saturday 5th November. Here Richard gives a summary of what he will be telling us. Please see below details about our forthcoming conference: What Brexit Means! Bruges Group http://www.brugesgroup.com/events/10-events/1201-what-brexit-means

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The Forth Brexit Crusade

The Forth Brexit Crusade

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span6"][pb_heading el_title="Article Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]What you need to know to navigate your way throught the referendum debate.[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Article Title 3" tag="h5" text_align="inher...

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Apologia Pro Raab

Apologia Pro Raab

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Sub Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]EU membership is the biggest risk to the public finances. In these two films young people explain what our politicians have failed to grasp.[/pb_he...

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Michael Gove on the Northern Irish Protocol - House of Commons

Michael Gove on the Northern Irish Protocol - House of Commons

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]The UK’s potential exposure to the EU is over £80 billion.[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Article Title" tag="h5" text_align="inherit" f...

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A tale of three seas

A tale of three seas

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Sub Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]We are better off out![/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Article Sub Title 4" tag="h5" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="sol...

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Analysts Agree: The UK’s Gambling Review Should be Free of Industry Influences and Political Interests

Analysts Agree: The UK’s Gambling Review Should be Free of Industry Influences and Political Interests

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]How EU law has supremacy over national law and why attempts at reform will never succeed.[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Date" tag="h6" text_align="...

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Are Brexiteer MPs Happy?

Are Brexiteer MPs Happy?

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]Would a post-Brexit UK be better able to sign free trade agreements with the rest of the world?[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Author" tag="h5" div_...

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NO DELAY, NO CAPITULATION, NO DEAL. Bruges Group 09.04.2019 MARK FRANCOIS

NO DELAY, NO CAPITULATION, NO DEAL. Bruges Group 09.04.2019 MARK FRANCOIS

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Sub Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]Let us look at this prayer line by line[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Author" tag="h5" div_margin_bottom="15" text_align="inherit" font="inheri...

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Barney Reynolds: Treasury Select Committee on the UK's Economic and Trading Relationship with the EU

Barney Reynolds: Treasury Select Committee on the UK's Economic and Trading Relationship with the EU

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]A look at what can be once we are free[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Author" tag="h5" div_margin_bottom="15" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" bo...

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Unelected Brussels Will Never Stop Making Law - Because Its What They Are Paid Handsomely to Do

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Sub Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]Britain is Better Off Out[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Author" tag="h5" div_margin_bottom="15" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bott...

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All at Sea

All at Sea

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Sub Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]Basic critical facts on the EU/Eurozone[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Author" tag="h5" div_margin_bottom="15" text_align="inherit" font="inheri...

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Tags:
A Longer Brexit Transition is Pointless, Dangerous, and Plays Straight into Mr Barnier’s Hands

A Longer Brexit Transition is Pointless, Dangerous, and Plays Straight into Mr Barnier’s Hands

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Sub Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]Defending Europe's pluralism and diversity[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Author" tag="h5" div_margin_bottom="15" text_align="inherit" font="inh...

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A strong statement of intent

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Sub Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]The Sun and Climate Change [/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Author" tag="h5" div_margin_bottom="15" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bo...

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Prof. Tim Congdon: 2020 Could See the Highest Peacetime US Money Growth

Prof. Tim Congdon: 2020 Could See the Highest Peacetime US Money Growth

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Sub Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]The emergence of a political and cultural crisis[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Author" tag="h5" div_margin_bottom="15" text_align="inherit" fon...

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Time for the Kissing to Stop

Time for the Kissing to Stop

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Sub Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]British identity and tradition[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Author" tag="h5" div_margin_bottom="15" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border...

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Brexit Done - Bar the Shouting?

Brexit Done - Bar the Shouting?

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]David Cameron to adopt EU plan for second-class membership[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Author" tag="h5" div_margin_bottom="15" text_align="inheri...

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Sturgeon's Desperate Bid to Beg von der Leyen for EU Membership

Sturgeon's Desperate Bid to Beg von der Leyen for EU Membership

[pb_row ][pb_column span="span12"][pb_heading el_title="Article Title" tag="h4" text_align="inherit" font="inherit" border_bottom_style="solid" border_bottom_color="#000000" appearing_animation="0" ]The positive future for a UK outside the EU[/pb_heading][pb_heading el_title="Author" tag="h5" div_margin_bottom="15" text_align="inherit" font="inheri...

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Contact us

Director : Robert Oulds
Tel: 020 7287 4414
Chairman: Barry Legg
 
The Bruges Group
246 Linen Hall, 162-168 Regent Street
London W1B 5TB
United Kingdom
KEY PERSONNEL
 
Founder President :
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven LG, OM, FRS 
Vice-President : The Rt Hon. the Lord Lamont of Lerwick,
Chairman: Barry Legg
Director : Robert Oulds MA, FRSA
Washington D.C. Representative : John O'Sullivan CBE
Founder Chairman : Lord Harris of High Cross
Head of Media: Jack Soames