An under-reported element of Brexit / future UK trade policy – quite how unhappy numbers of business / other stakeholders are with Government ‘consultation’ – thread 1/
As a reminder, in trade you consult to reduce fears, improve policy, and stop potential supporters joining with opponents 2/
(from ecipe.org/publications/a…)
(from ecipe.org/publications/a…)
Many I've recently talked with say Government does not know why it’s consulting on EU exit or trade, there are many general meetings, too few with a purpose 3/
Also often different departments are consulting the same people on the same general questions ‘what do you think of rules of origin?’ 4/
But there is a lack of specific consultation, on what stakeholders want to see in agreements, with which countries, and so no real dialogue 5/
As far as I can tell the attitude of not engaging meaningfully* with stakeholders comes straight from the top of Government – there is fear that meaningful consultation will derail negotiations 6/
(Doubtless a spokesperson will say at this point of course we engage....)
(Doubtless a spokesperson will say at this point of course we engage....)
This failure to consult can be seen to lead directly to the failure to build any sort of consensus behind the UK’s negotiating position on Brexit – potential supporters have joined with opponents as we’d predict 7/
One way this happens - stakeholders complain to MPs and Lords. And answers given to Parliamentary Questions are a disgrace. You’ll struggle to find a single one properly answered 8/
Take this PQ to the Department for International Trade, not too difficult to answer, since all developed countries could answer yes, details vary. But the Government does not answer 9/ 
Liam Fox wants to distinguish between anti-capitalists and those with genuine concerns on trade*. But you have to engage, not just issue lofty speeches. If you don't the distinction fades 10/
(preview of a speech later today, h/t @mattholehouse )
(preview of a speech later today, h/t @mattholehouse )
Further, UK gov want an FTA with the USA. That would be difficult politically at the best of time. These aren’t the best of times. Failure to engage on this will seriously harm any trust in the Government’s trade agenda 11/
Worth remembering that on TTIP we could always point to precedent on the EU side for why the deal would not do as opponents claimed. There is no precedent UK can cite in trade deals 12/
The lack of consultation is also silly as civil servants often consult on hypotheticals – ‘what if this’ – rather than fixed proposals - and even that appears to be discouraged 13/
Consultation failures threaten the whole of the Government’s international negotiating agenda – including Brexit – and MPs on all sides should be concerned 14/ ends
