On business frustration in the noughties at increasing red tape - but also concern it was not just Brussels to blame
.@britishchambers had an impartial stance in the referendum - but that was broken when its Director-General came out for Leave - and catapulted Adam into the leadership
and a withering verdict on the quality of the campaign - from both sides
On the BCC's "practical and pragmatic" approach to lobbying govt on business needs
and at the start of the May government lots of conversations, but was it just one way? (comments at the time that govt was like a sponge - soaking up messages but not reacting)
and a concern that government was announcing policies before it had thought through the implications (will not come as a huge surprise to seasoned government watchers..)
More on that frustration at the one way engagement
That frustration was not confined to Westminster politicians but stretched to the other govts "playing politics"
frustration squared over the late start and inadequate approach to no deal prep
On Chequers vs the Johnson approach - the latter's clarity it wanted a distant deal meant it was more worth investing in no deal than it had been under May
the change of government led though to the junking of a lot of mechanisms for engagement with government... more frustration at unnecessary change
But @michaelgove taking control of preparations did make a difference
and the business view of the Johnson Northern Ireland protocol
and the reaction to the PM telling business it could just bin the forms
More frustration at the lack of business input into the TCA negotiation
and on the Frost assertion that non-tariff barriers were massively exaggerated
Business relief that the Xmas Eve deal was done - but then a mad scramble to get ready
and concerns at the limited mobility provisions in the TCA -- and the risks on data
and how the govt should address future opportunities ..(its not about tearing up the inherited Brussels rulebook)
the new Levelling Up taskforce under Andy Haldane is interesting for govt structure nerds (and an interesting contrast to govt structures for #netzero) @CommonsBEIS
Haldane is perm sec for 6 months (levelling up will take longer than that .. but first focus will be on working out what this means...) reporting jointly to Michael Gove and the PM.
The people working for him will be (I understand) a joint team from @cabinetofficeuk and the new DLUHC. not cleat how they relate to the delivery unit (but until we know what LU is...they can't do that much)
we start with the role the debate about Europe played in the 2014 independence referendum
Gethins was elected to Westminster in the SNP sweep in 2015 ... and spoke straight away on the EU referendum..but the govt did not engage at all with the SNP over the terms of that referendum - wonder if David Cameron regrets not taking those amendments?
Interesting to see the outrage at how the govt has gone about deciding the health and social care levy package which suggests people don't understand how tax policy gets made in the UK govt
In a way this was exceptional, because it looks as though this may have been a three way decision, involving the Health Secretary as well... normally any tax decision is a Chancellor-PM bilateral at best
Cabinet not consulted in advance? well at least this time they knew it was under discussion and could have made representations... for a normal Budget they are presented with the fait accompli on the morning when all the docs are printed
.@instituteforgov has published a paper by Lee Cain on reforming the govt communications service...it offers a fascinating insight into the Cummings/Cain approach to govt ..he makes the case for the plans they had for massive centralisation of govt comms
Today's vote on the aid cut cannot undo the damage a hastily implemented cut has wrought on the UK aid programme. Programmes abandoned midway through. Contracts broken. People laid off. Morale hit. Reputation damaged.
if the government really wants to move to a lower aid spend through this Parliament, as is now clear from its motion, it should have had the honesty to legislate in advance to amend the act setting out the 0.7% target
and then it should have implemented the cut in a sensible value for money way -- rather than slamming on the brakes, pretending this was a short-term move - but now admitting it isn't.
watching Policy Exchange event on Northern Ireland with Brandon Lewis and David Frost .. terrible broadcast quality - not sure hybrid events are the way forward.. anyway will tweet
Lewis starting by talking up what is going on in NI .. (without any mention of the protocol opportunities). Continuing to work on New Decade New Approach which brought Stormont back...
committed to legislate a package on legacy to help NI move forward.. determined to work across the board in NI on how to move forward..