This proposed amendment to the Trade Bill to give Parliament a say on new agreements is widely supported by UK business, civil society, and MPs from across parties, and would help put UK trade policy on a more sustainable cross-party footing. I hope it passes but fear it won't 
In the UK Trade Policy Readiness Assessment I suggest lack of broad consensus as currently the biggest issue in taking forward our trade policy and accompanying agreements. Government could start putting that right by allowing Parliament a proper say -
Parliament will ultimately have to be given a say in UK trade policy, trade agreements are too controversial and wide-ranging in content to be left to prerogative powers. Would be best for government to recognise this rather than continue to argue for the indefensible.
This might be why Sam is unlikely to be selected to be an MP...
This is also worth reading on Parliamentary scrutiny of trade agreements.
And this - fair to say overwhelming sentiment in trade twitter is a parliamentary vote on trade deals is an obvious step
Imagine applying this to other areas of policy? If we have parliamentary oversight we'll have worse budgets or primary legislation. Reminder - in terms of legislation only a budget covers more areas of policy than a modern trade deal.
MPs decide they don't need a say on the contents of trade deals. Suspect that will change in the future when they realise how much domestic legislation is affected (and another party is signing the deals).
Just a reminder that having signed a UK-EU treaty with very little scrutiny and time, we are negotiating to sign a much bigger treaty covering 50% of our trade with even less scrutiny. Just as some MPs are discovering the original agreement wasn't quite as they thought...
Post-Brexit trade deals strangely marking the return of a 'Whitehall knows best' attitude of the 1950s, against the advice of consumers, business and civil society *in whose interests government should be negotiating*. Disappointing if unsurprising.
This could well happen, not I think for the first time...
