The Bruges Group, wholeheartedly supports the first democratically elected leader of the Conservative Party, Iain Duncan Smith. He gained the overwhelming support of the Party because he, unlike his opponents, will not trim his principles for short-term personal career advancement.

The attacks on IDS’s leadership must be stopped. They will only succeed in undermining the Party’s credibility with the public.

Those who feel that the Party should have a replacement should consider that any alternative would water-down the Party’s sound policy on Europe – a policy that took years to establish.

The Bruges Group is delighted to see IDS coming out fighting and we give him our wholehearted support.

Iain Duncan Smith is a man of conviction and integrity, committed to defending this nation’s sovereign independence. The Bruges Group supports IDS and calls upon all like-minded Conservatives to do the same.