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David Henig Profile picture
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20 Dec, 4 tweets, 1 min read
HOW DARE OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE POLITICS THAT AFFECT THE UK?
Honestly after four and a half years it might be to our benefit to learn something about the way the EU negotiates with third countries.

(tough. though since those saying so are weirdly regarded as EU lovers that may explain some of the problem)
I wonder whether the UK government might consider actually putting some effort into having some allies in Europe? This Pacific stuff is all well and good but looks a bit useless when you face a real problem...
Maybe some learning about trade agreements as well - you can't finalise negotiations one day and implement the next. Even if the PM can manage to make a decision by then.

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More from @DavidHenigUK

David Henig Profile picture
22 Dec
You know the drill by now. This may be significant and a deal on the way.

Or this may not be significant and a deal not on the way.

Take your pick.
Also significant. Or not. A deal. Or a no-deal. Or he wants to wish us all a merry Christmas.
One thing though - be careful about leader level calls helping to unlock a situation. They could be for negotiators to demonstrate that their political instructions are to go no further, or to present politically a new proposal. It could be good news as well. We still wait.
Read 5 tweets
David Henig Profile picture
22 Dec
The classic small town / global trade story that few seem to understand and fewer (none?) have an answer for. What happens when a global multinational shuts the main manufacturing plant in a small town? ft.com/content/c85a6b…
Approximately 70-80% of trade is driven by global supply chains, with large companies in all sectors making key decisions with far reaching consequences. How governments influence such decisions is not entirely clear. But the impacts we see as outbursts of frustration and more. Image
The likelihood is we will see continued closures of manufacturing plants in the UK in years to come, as barriers to EU trade rise and we are too far from potential growth markets in Asia. Our role as specialist services supplier may sustain, but that's not rebalancing.
Read 7 tweets
David Henig Profile picture
22 Dec
Joined up thinking latest. A government determined to make a sovereignty point about fishing no matter the implications (and having refused to trade off fishing for market access elsewhere).
But fishing is what Brexit means innit? Actually every time someone pops up here to tell me what Brexit means it always seems to mean something different. Suppose that's the beauty of a notion of 'control', means lots of things to lots of different people.
Anyway that decision not to extend and to take talks to the wire really worked to take the pressure off the UK... 🤦‍♂️

Fashionable opinion is still that the PM folds. That he sees sense. Might happen. It just hasn't so far.
Read 8 tweets
David Henig Profile picture
21 Dec
Seems broadly sensible as far as I can tell. But can't believe something like this has not already been considered by both sides. Suspect therefore the issue is more that there has been little political pressure put on both sides to accept this kind of deal.
If we think of October 2019 the pressure was on the UK government to deal, to break the impasse of Parliament, have a new election and win a majority, and on the EU to find a N Ireland solution. This time a deal reduces future barriers but isn't considered essential by either.
If anything both sides are this time determined not to be the one that compromises their red lines. The EU because that is their trade deal modus operandi and also because of various domestic pressures, the UK because of 'sovereignty'.
Read 6 tweets
David Henig Profile picture
21 Dec
That permanent feeling in 2020 that the UK government is winging it. That instead of putting the time and effort into, for example, developing a good relationship at all levels with the French, we just hoped we wouldn't need it.
The almost constant inability to think a step ahead, or indeed to right or left. What would happen if you hadn't got a Brexit deal by, say, 21 December? What if the EU didn't just roll over in trade talks? It seems to be a complete shock.
And commenting on the under-performance of the current government is not in any way party political. In fact I hear it more from Conservatives than I do from Labour. Tested by events yes, for sure. But all governments are. This one seems to have lost to them.
Read 4 tweets
David Henig Profile picture
21 Dec
It occurs to me that I have read more trade agreements than any sane person should, but I still couldn't fully absorb and understand one in six working days.
*Incidentally I don't recommend reading trade agreements*
Breaking - 7th Brexit deadline likely to meet fate of previous 6.

And the possibility of 8 days including Christmas to read upto 2000 pages of trade agreement text. Right.
Read 7 tweets

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