So there's a few interesting points to pick up from this article about how the UK Government should restructure after Brexit 1/
Hello Brexit, goodbye Brexit department politico.eu/article/dexeu-…
Hello Brexit, goodbye Brexit department politico.eu/article/dexeu-…
First, this along with a speech by @TomTugendhat suggests strengthening the FCO - nothing wrong with that, we'll need to strengthen our diplomatic presence particularly in EU Member States. But... 2/
Why would it make any kind of sense to continue separating our EU trade negotiations from our negotiations with all other countries? It doesn't make much sense now - we have overlap, duplication, distrust - and a shortage of skilled resource 3/
So one department to handle negotiations would make the most sense. So is that Foreign Office, Department for Trade, or Department for Business? 4/
Apparently not Business. We assume this is the PM's historic animus to a Department which constantly tried to battle her Home Office over people issues, whether university students, movement of people in trade agreements, or skilled labour 5/ 
Personally I don't think trade negotiation functions sit well in a Foreign Office, the latter should retain a diplomatic focus, and assist with trade talks on this basis 6/
Logically we're then left with an enhanced Department for International Trade, carrying out all negotiations, informed by and informing trade promotion. As yet rather untested, except for the former UKTI which attracted mixed (at best) reviews 7/
The Business department as negotiator would probably be better. And it can't fill anyone with confidence about post-Brexit that planning will decisions will probably be made more on grudge and politics than logic. 8/ ends
