European Research Group
| European Research Group link | |
|---|---|
| Formation | July 1993 |
| Founder | Michael Spicer |
| Leader | European Research Group/Chair |
| Focus is the single issue of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. | |
The European Research Group is a research support group for the United Kingdom's Members of Parliament who choose to join. It is an Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority-funded pooled service within the formal IPSA Scheme of MPs' Business Costs and Expenses. Serving an annual average of 21 MPs[1] including cabinet members, the group's focus is the single issue of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. In January 2018 Jacob Rees-Mogg was elected as the group's chairman, taking over from Suella Braverman.[2]
Chair
- Sir Michael Spicer (1994–2001)
- David Heathcoat-Amory (2001–2010)
- Chris Heaton-Harris (2010–2016)
- Steve Baker (2016–2017)
- Suella Braverman (2017–2018)
- Jacob Rees-Mogg (2018–present)
Funding
The ERG has drawn criticism for its lack of transparency regarding its use of public funds to carry out research. After a report by openDemocracy found that more than a quarter of a million pounds had been claimed through MPs' official expenses since 2010, a call was made by Labour Party MPs for an inquiry to be carried out by the IPSA into the group's practices.[3][4] OpenDemocracy's September 2017 report commenced:
Taxpayers’ money is being used to fund an influential group of hard-line pro-Brexit Conservative MPs who are increasingly operating as a “party-within-a-party”.
In response to the request, the IPSA found no breach of rules regarding expenses.[5] In addition to public funding for the service the group also receives donations. Robert Broadhurst, a Senior Researcher for the European Research Group records his employment with ERG, sponsored by David Nuttall MP, as having been 'funded by Members' subscriptions paid for from their parliamentary allowances; a donation from GR Software & Research Limited; and a donation from Norman Lamont'. GR Software & Research Limited has now been dissolved; its parent company, Pans (UK) Holdings Limited, is registered in the British Virgin Islands. Companies House lists Andrea Leadsom's husband, Benjamin Leadsom, as a former director of GR Software & Research Limited, along with her brother-in-law, Peter de Putron.
References
- ↑ http://www.theipsa.org.uk/media/184678/pooled-services-assurance-report_final.pdf
- ↑ "Move over Ukip, Jacob Rees-Mogg and the ERG are now the real Brexit watchdogs"
- ↑ http://www.open-britain.co.uk/labour_mps_write_to_ipsa_about_use_of_public_funds_by_european_research_group
- ↑ https://www.opendemocracy.net/uk/brexitinc/james-cusick/mps-demand-full-investigation-of-hard-brexit-backing-tory-party-within-par
- ↑ http://www.theipsa.org.uk/publications/freedom-of-information/2017-18/cas-92438/
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