British Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, seen in Manchester on October 3, 2017, will lead the party's pro-Brexit European Research Group | Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images Jacob Rees-Mogg to lead backbench Tory Brexiteers The Tory MP said he would be ‘helpful, vigorous and supportive towards government policy of making a success of Brexit.’

LONDON — Prominent Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg was on Tuesday elected unopposed to lead the influential pro-Brexit backbench organization the European Research Group.

The ERG, made up of Brexit-backing Tory MPs, effectively acts a pressure group lobbying the government to take a tougher stance in negotiations with Brussels. The appointment of Rees-Mogg, one of the most outspoken Euroskeptics and U.K. bookmakers’ current favorite to be the next Conservative party leader, represents a significant boost for the group’s profile and influence.

Previously chaired by Steve Baker and Suella Fernandes, both of whom have subsequently become ministers in the Department for Exiting the European Union, the ERG coordinates messaging on key Brexit issues among its MP members.

Rees-Mogg said he would use the role to “help the government implement the principles laid down by the prime minister…in her Lancaster House speech,” referring to Theresa May’s Brexit strategy as set out in January 2017.

"It is especially important to achieve control of our laws, control immigration and achieve new trade agreements with other countries. The ERG speaks individually, not with the collective view, but has considerable support across the parliamentary party. As chairman I intend to be helpful, vigorous and supportive towards government policy of making a success of Brexit,” he said.

The ERG’s priority will be influencing the government position on the post-Brexit transition period, which it hopes to agree with the EU by March. Earlier on Tuesday, in response to new draft EU directives on the transition, Rees-Mogg warned the government would be going against its own policy if it accepted the EU’s position.

He told POLITICO: “Accepting these guidelines would mean that the U.K. was remaining in the EU for a further two years which is not government policy. Free movement ought to end in March 2019 not two years later.”