Something's happening:
1) In the last 10 days Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and Owen Paterson all visited the US to advocate a deregulatory US-UK free trade deal
1) In the last 10 days Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and Owen Paterson all visited the US to advocate a deregulatory US-UK free trade deal
2) At the same time a group of US & UK think tanks published a 'ideal' free trade agreement which could only really exist in a 'no-deal' scenario.
3) It advocated ending rules on animal protection and opening the NHS up to competition.
Speaking after Paterson said the US needs to negotiate with the UK now - to avoid the UK signing up to EU precautionary principle regulation.
Speaking after Paterson said the US needs to negotiate with the UK now - to avoid the UK signing up to EU precautionary principle regulation.
4) It may be a mirage but it looks like a real attempt to build up an alternative to chequers to push for when the talks get tough.
One built around a trade-deal with the US which could significantly weaken the UK's ability to regulate on the environment and public services
One built around a trade-deal with the US which could significantly weaken the UK's ability to regulate on the environment and public services
5) Which is the only way the story of Liam Fox's plan to re-write EU food rules to allow a US trade deal (totally against chequers) makes any sense at all read.bi/2pqiDAo
