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A small Brexit thought encouraged by a review of Matthew Syed's new book Rebel Ideas - could one of the relative strengths of the EU in negotiations v the UK be that they have consulted widely, while our strategy has been left to only a small number, largely unchallenged?
I've seen in different Brussels meetings at different times both depressing groupthink (often pushed by a lead who doesn't seem to want to listen) and surprising diversity of views. In Brexit we have seen broad engagement from Barnier down - partly to stop UK divide tactics
In the UK those leading negotiations, whether Davis, Raab, Barclay, Robbins, Frost, Cummings (and that we don't know who it is tells a story) seem to have mostly kept their strategies to themselves for fear of leaks - but is also keeps them free of challenge
Balancing the need for secrecy in some areas with proper consultation and challenge is difficult particularly in the social media age. I think the UK Government's secrecy probably does prevent effective negotiation and domestic consensus building, but this needs further study
(is anyone actually asking questions about UK negotiating approach and performance in Brexit, to learn and improve? Or is it better to say that it is the EU / Brexteers / Remainers / US delete as appropriate who are to blame and ignore that negotiations are tough but manageable?)
