The news that face to face Brexit negotiations have been suspended because one member of the Brussels teams has covid, is neither here nor there. Of course I wish the team member a full recovery, but a deal is not dependent on one member of either team. However it has made me think about the team the UK is playing with.
Ever since I was at university the Foreign Office has been boasting it was so good, that it enabled the UK to “box above its weight” in international relations. I have always had several problems with this idea. First, it reeks of British exceptionalism and over confidence. Secondly, boxers who fight above their weight eventually take a massive beating from a bigger opponent and third, I am not sure it is true.
As with the Civil Service as a whole, which attracted the brightest and best for generations, are we still sure that the FO is recruiting the creme de la creme? Fifty years ago foreign postings, good pay, expense accounts and an eventual knighthood; followed by a second career on the board of Ruritanian Enterprises was a good deal. But for decades now bright young things have been going into the City and becoming multi-millionaires before they are 30. After that the world is their oyster, some could go into politics and become foreign secretary long before a career civil servant becomes ambassador of even a small country. Now the talk is of another pay freeze for civil servants to help pay off Government borrowing. I’ll come back to that idea another time but remember; you get what you pay for.
https://jonty.substack.com/