Nick Clegg has asked former Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore to be his Adviser on European business affairs. The unpaid role will see Michael working with businesses across the UK to understand the key trade, investment and regulatory issue affecting their dealings in the European Union.
He will carry out a review of the issues and report to Nick Clegg by the Summer.
Michael Moore said:
Britain’s engagement with the rest of Europe is fundamental to our future economic well-being. At this crucial moment in the development of the UK’s relationship with the EU, I am delighted to take on this challenging role to engage with business.
Nick Clegg said that Michael Moore’s experience made him the right MP for the job:
As someone with a background in European policy issues, a strong track record in engaging business when he served in the Cabinet and, importantly, a private sector career before entering politics, I have no doubt that Michael will be a valuable part of the Government’s efforts to create a stronger economy at the same time as we re-examine and underline the importance of the UK’s economic ties with the rest of Europe.
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One Comment
We are told here that —
“. Nick Clegg has asked former Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore to be his Adviser on European business affairs. The unpaid role will see Michael working with businesses across the UK to understand the key trade, investment and regulatory issue affecting their dealings in the European Union. ”
Am I the only person to be puzzled by this ? The Deputy Prime Minister needs advice on “European business affairs” so he does not ask one of his twenty or so highly paid special advisors in the Cabinet Office, he does not ask a civil servant, he does not ask a business person, he does not ask an MEP or any of the perfectly respectable people who advise our MEPS.
No —– when Nick Clegg wants advice on “European business affairs” he turns to the person he has just removed from the job of Secretary of State for Scotland. Is this some sort of consolation prize?
It is not as if there is anything going on in politics in Scotland at the moment. One can assume that there is nothing for a Liberal Democrat MP to be doing on the political front in that part of the UK in 2014.
And with a general election to the Westminster Parliament coming up in less than 18 months are we to assume that the very thing at the top of Nick Clegg’s list of priorities is to get some advice on “European business affairs”. After all the party has so many MPs and we are doing so well in the opinion polls that we do not have to worry about doing anything on that front, do we?