Thread by @JenniferMerode

The British government has decided to stop attending most EU meetings from 1 September. It’s hard to see how this is anything more than a stunt - a few thoughts.

Random example. The UK fisheries councillor - s/he will not be involved in Ag/Fish council in Sept or Oct. Is that person going to be getting rid of WTO backlog instead? Or working on an UK-Japan trade deal? Or alternative arrangements to backstop?

All sorts of practical reasons (logistics, absence of clarity on UK-EU trade, backstop stalemate) that make make meaning personnel changes tricky no matter how good the officials are.

Another random example: no UK minister at October environment policy when EU cd agree policy stances affecting British environment after Brexit? Are envi officials really going to be redeployed on trade deals with non-EU countries? When not even possible to negotiate them.

But policy does underline the government’s do or die, '31 October at all costs' message.
It is a sharp break with Theresa May. Under May government, FCO officials in Brussels (Ukrep, Nato and Belgian embassy) increased to 150, compared to 100 pre referendum.

May government also expected *a small increase* in officials to reflect both "our desire for a future close relationship with the EU and our increased focus on the bilateral relationship with Belgium". So Johnson gov decision underscores desire for greater distance.

But geography.

It’s hard to see future British governments maintaining this lofty position for the long-term, given narrowness of the English channel.

Gov is unhappy that officials spend “an incredible amount of time and effort” preparing EU meetings. An odd-sounding complaint from gov that wants to plunge into years of eye-watering technical, deeply political negotiations with the EU and dozens of other countries.

Will have to see how policy works in practice. UK has said it will continue to attend meetings where there is a “significant national interest” at stake. Remember how closely UK worked with EU after Salisbury nerve agent attacks.

Empty chair policy appears driven by view that being in the EU is a big waste of time. A lot of re-writing history going on.

The UK has been one of the most influential member states for decades. And the vast majority of the time the UK agreed with and wanted EU laws.

And whatever side of the Brexit debate you fall on: leave, remain or baffled and indifferent, can we all agreed that ‘unshackle’ should never exist as a verb.

Ends.