‘BREXIT BRIEF’ – ISSUE 116, 24 April 2020

Sir Simon says

The latest round of “virtual” negotiations to try to agree a post-Brexit EU-UK trade deal have just broken up.  Early reports indicate that they ended in rancour, but I will round up the details and share them with you in a ‘Brexit Made Simple’ early next week.  The atmosphere would not have been helped by another chapter of denial playing out in the EU procurement saga.  

I have referred several times in the last month to the UK’s decision not to participate in a Brussels-led scheme to buy ventilators, masks, gowns, gloves and goggles which are vital in the war against Covid-19. A Downing Street spokesman initially told reporters that the UK had refused to take part because “we are not a member of the EU.” Days later, the story changed with Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove claiming that the UK had fallen victim to “communication confusion” or, as an unnamed Government official put it, “we didn’t get the email.”  But this week the tale altered again – twice within three hours. Giving evidence to a House of Commons Select Committee on Tuesday afternoon, the head Foreign Office civil servant told MPs that “it was a political decision” not to acquire the equipment with EU assistance. Sir Simon McDonald also made clear that the UK’s mission in Brussels had “briefed Ministers about what was available, what was on offer and the decision is known.” This made sense, given the UK sent representatives to four EU Health Security Committee meetings (on 31 January, 4 February, 2 March and 13 March) where PPE procurement was discussed. But then word got back to Dominic Raab - sometime UK Foreign Secretary, part-time Acting Prime Minister and full-time Brexiteer – and Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s de-facto Chief of Staff. By mid-evening, Sir Simon had issued a humiliating retraction.

In a letter to Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Tom Tugendhat, which was swiftly released to the media, he claimed that “unfortunately due to a misunderstanding, I inadvertently and wrongly” said the complete opposite of what he meant to say. Sir Simon wrote: “Ministers were not briefed by our mission in Brussels about the scheme and a political decision was not taken on whether or not to participate.” And, returning to the line trotted out by Michael Gove all of those weeks ago, he added: “Owing to an initial communication problem, the UK did not receive an invitation in time to join in four joint Covid EU procurement schemes.” But which of Sir Simon’s versions of events should be believed? Labour MP Chris Bryant, who questioned him during the Select Committee hearing, was clear in his mind. “It’s all nonsense - he’s been leant on,” he said. “The whole thing stinks of people trying to cover their tracks.”  I suspect that this modern day Whitehall farce is far from over.

Pause for effect   

The House Commons itself met in “virtual” form for the first time this week, and the hastily cobbled together arrangements worked well. However, whilst Ministers were able to answer questions – including Dominic Raab who was thoroughly outdone at Prime Minister’s Questions by new Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer – there is as yet no provision for legislation to be debated and voted on. The first casualty of this void, I am delighted to report, was the Immigration Bill which had been due to begin its passage through Parliament on Tuesday. Officially, the Government plans to bring it forward in the coming weeks to enact its scandalously short-sighted point-based immigration system into UK law. But there are hopes that this might yet change. Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine spoke for many when she said: “Conservative Ministers should use this delay to reconsider their destructive plans to end free movement. The coronavirus crisis has highlighted the enormous contributions that workers from all over the world make to our NHS, social care and other essential services.”  I wholeheartedly endorse the remarks of the previous speaker.

Meanwhile in America…

After initially placing responsibility for tackling his country’s spiralling coronavirus crisis in the hands of Vice President Mike Pence, Donald Trump chose to put himself back into centre stage. This was not the product of a sudden desire to lead from the front with so many American lives at risk. It was because, under social distancing restrictions, his favoured mass rallies in front of baying supporters were no longer a practical campaign tool as he bids for re-election in November. He then opted to transform the daily White House Coronavirus Task Force briefings – intended as a means of sharing essential information with the public – into “The Donald Trump Show – Live and Unhinged.”  These have since gone on for many weeks, often spanning two full hours, with the former reality TV star spending considerably more time boasting about his “ratings” than sympathising with those who have lost family and friends to Covid-19.          

As well as berating political opponents and the media, Trump has also used the platform to float his own ideas on how the disease might be beaten. Last night, the US President had two new theories. One was to “hit the body with a tremendous or just very powerful light." The practicalities of this approach were not explained. His other suggestion was for individuals displaying Covid-19 symptoms to inject themselves with disinfectant. This has prompted the manufacturers of Dettol to issue a statement advising its customers “that under no circumstance should our disinfectant be administered into the human body through injection, ingestion or any other route.” You have been warned.       

Have a safe and sunny weekend.

Jason

Dr Jason Aldiss BEM BVSc MRCVS

Managing Director, Eville & Jones

 You can follow me on Twitter @JasonAldiss