European Research Group

European Research Group
AbbreviationERG
FormationJuly 1993; 31 years ago (1993-07)
FounderMichael Spicer
Legal statusIPSA-funded pooled service
PurposeSupport research for Eurosceptic UK Conservative MPs who choose to subscribe
Chairman
Mark Francois
Deputy Chairman
David Jones
Deputy Chairwoman
Andrea Jenkyns
Parent organisation
Conservative Party

The European Research Group (ERG) is a research support group and caucus of Eurosceptic Conservative 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.

  1. ^ "Information relating to the European Research Group (ERG)".
  2. ^ Payne, Sebastian (December 2020). "Disaffected Tory MPs take comfort in research groups". Financial Times. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Assurance Review: Pooled services" (PDF). IPSA. Retrieved 6 February 2018.