Chess on a global stage...
Penny Mordaunt, a middle ranking trade minister is touring the US, as it seems is the Chancellor. Apparently the UK government wants to win hearts and minds.
But having been cold shouldered by Washington Ms Mordaunt is touring the US talking to Mayors, charities, think tanks and the rest in an attempt to explain Brexit and the UK’s new position in the world.
This she is trying to do by likening Brexit to the War of Independence (yeah right) and by claiming that the UK is now “a player on the global chessboard”. That apparently means the US needs to “understand and recognise the UK’s new position.” Because “This is far more significant than just the size of its market – when America set itself free, it was a small economy.”
Unfortunately for Ms. Mordaunt, the government and the UK, the US really does understand and recognise the UK’s new position. It is nothing like the newly independent USA, this is not a conversation between equals, or even those with a common cause. Speeches like this aren’t going to change reality or even anyone’s mind.
It is a pathetic attempt to get America to love Brexit, support Brexit and unite with the UK -presumably against the EU. But in reality the whole moral and philosophical foundation of Brexit is laid out in all its shallowness and self delusion for all to see.
If you want to be know why the UK’s ministers have to try to win support across America and why they are not taken seriously in Washington, you could hardly do better than read this speech.
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-trade-revolution
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.