European research group members
European research group members
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European Research Group
Eurosceptic faction within UK Conservative Party
The European Research Group (ERG) is a research support group and caucus of EuroscepticConservative Members of Parliament of the United Kingdom.[1] In a Financial Times article in 2020, the journalist Sebastian Payne described the ERG as "the most influential [research group] in recent political history".[2]
Serving an annual average of 21 MPs[3][needs update] including cabinet members, the group's focus is the single issue of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.
History
Origins and Pre-EU referendum, 1993–2016
In July 1993 Sir Michael Spicer, the then MP for West Worcestershire, created the European Research Group in response to growing concerns about Britain's continued integration into the European Community through the Maastricht Treaty.[4][5] The Eurosceptic group, which was chaired by Spicer, aimed to promote coordina