Thread by @pmdfoster

It's out!!! My weekly #Brexit Briefing for @FT

This week: 1) why industry wants @trussliz to listen to them more so we actually cut *better* deals as we move out of rollover fever... @William_Bain @chrisouthworth @AlexanderHorne1 & @Brigid_Fowler /1

ft.com/content/aebac5…

@FT @trussliz @William_Bain @chrisouthworth @AlexanderHorne1 @Brigid_Fowler In short, industry has had a pretty adversarial relationship no trade -- given that the govt railroaded through a horribly minimalist TCA deal with our biggest trade partner...but now we're moving into next phase (eg new deal with Aus) really wants better co-ordination /2

@FT @trussliz @William_Bain @chrisouthworth @AlexanderHorne1 @Brigid_Fowler But the Govt seems stuck in the quantity over quality approach which risks setting bad precedents for future deals with bigger countries.

As @Minette_Batters told Radio 4. “At the moment it just seems to be about writing the press release and developing the policy later.” /3

@FT @trussliz @William_Bain @chrisouthworth @AlexanderHorne1 @Brigid_Fowler @Minette_Batters That might be a tad unfair -- the govt does seem to have a 'plan' based around future CPTPP membership -- but even so, it needs joined thinking to make this work. That means better domestic policy, better trade promotion and flintier negotiating based on Oz giveaways /4

@FT @trussliz @William_Bain @chrisouthworth @AlexanderHorne1 @Brigid_Fowler @Minette_Batters That means better export promotion (Australia has 22 agricultural counselors, the UK 2) because breaking into international markets takes persistence and graft -- and truthfully the UK hasn't been that good at it these past decades. And EU membership wasn't the reason why /5

@FT @trussliz @William_Bain @chrisouthworth @AlexanderHorne1 @Brigid_Fowler @Minette_Batters The APPG for trade and export promotion (130 different groups) is a good place to start... as Lord Waverley says, that is also the way that the Brexit divisions get healed./6

@FT @trussliz @William_Bain @chrisouthworth @AlexanderHorne1 @Brigid_Fowler @Minette_Batters It should worry @trussliz that her first big deal has been met with so much carping and concern... it makes the govt's Brassy boosterism ring very hollow..../7

@FT @trussliz @William_Bain @chrisouthworth @AlexanderHorne1 @Brigid_Fowler @Minette_Batters It should also worry her that trade groups find themselves going to their international confreres to find out what's going on....because they are 'just outside the door' in a way that UK stakeholders seem not to be. /8

@FT @trussliz @William_Bain @chrisouthworth @AlexanderHorne1 @Brigid_Fowler @Minette_Batters Doing trade deals by diktat might work -- particularly when the UK system allows govt to ram them through parliament -- but if 'Global Britain' is going to prosper, if everyone is going to get behind this idea, then those involved need to be brought along /9

@FT @trussliz @William_Bain @chrisouthworth @AlexanderHorne1 @Brigid_Fowler @Minette_Batters Because as @William_Bain says, it's the traders who do the trading...not the government.

The government can help - stuff like financing, streamlining processes etc - but over time it needs the broad consent of MPs, traders, pressure groups etc /10

@FT @trussliz @William_Bain @chrisouthworth @AlexanderHorne1 @Brigid_Fowler @Minette_Batters Otherwise, as was seen for example with the EU efforts to negotiate a transatlantic deal, it can get very rocky, very quickly...this journey is just beginning so better sort this stuff out sooner rather than later. ENDS