British Influence Explained

British Influence, formally the Centre for British Influence Through Europe, was an independent, cross-party,^[1] pro-single market^[2] foreign-affairs think tank based in the United Kingdom, founded in 2012 to make the case for the European Union amid increasing calls for British withdrawal from the EU.^[3] It appointed Danny Alexander (Liberal Democrat), Kenneth Clarke (Conservative) and Peter Mandelson (Labour)^[4] as joint presidents ahead of a possible 2017 referendum.^[5] In 2016 it changed its name to The Influence Group and advised UK businesses on the single market.

Activities

British Influence evolved out of Nucleus, a "eurorealist" campaign group founded in 2010. Its aim was to put forward the case for Britain's continued membership of the European Union.^[6]

It ran the "Our Biggest Market" campaign ^[7] of small-business leaders who wanted Britain to remain the European Union. It published a daily email of news and views on Britain's relationship with the EU entitled "Europewatch". The group ran the "Future of Europe Forum" of MPs, Peers, businessmen and former diplomats to push the UK's EU reform agenda.

In 2013 the group published a manifesto, "Better Off in a Better Europe".^[8]

In 2016 the group changed its name to "The Influence Group" which advised UK businesses on the single market.^[9]

See also

• Britain Stronger in Europe

External links

• Britain and Europe: Brexit or Brinfluence? at The Economist
• The Influence Group Official Website

Notes and References

1. News: The EU referendum campaign groups: who's In and who's Out? . New Statesman . London . 14 October 2015 . Anoosh . Chakelian . 17 July 2018.
2. News: UK think-tank plans legal challenge over Europe single market access . https://web.archive.org/web/20180717183419/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-eea-challenge/uk-think-tank-plans-legal-challenge-over-europe-single-market-access-idUKKBN13N0JC . dead . 17 July 2018 . Reuters . 17 July 2018.
3. News: Why you haven't heard of the five most important (only) pro-European movements . 29 May 2013 . Jonn . Elledge . New Statesman . London . 17 July 2018.
4. News: Lord Mandelson and Ken Clarke unite to warn of risks to Britain in leaving EU . Watt . Holly . 21 December 2014 . 17 July 2018 . The Telegraph . London .
5. Web site: Pro-EU campaign drafts in Ken Clarke, Danny Alexander and Mandelson . Watt . Nicholas . 21 December 2014 . The Guardian . London . 17 July 2018.
6. Web site: British Influence |The 'Re-Think Tank' . The Influence Group . 20 June 2014 . 11 November 2016.
7. Web site: Our Biggest Market . Our Biggest Market . 11 November 2016.
8. Web site: Manifesto . 5 October 2013 . British Influence . https://web.archive.org/web/20131005033558/http://britishinfluence.org/manifesto/ . dead . 5 October 2013 . 29 October 2018.
9. Web site: The Influence Group Limited - Overview Company number 10217152 . 5 June 2018 . Companies House . 29 October 2018.