Miriam González Durántez was interviewed by Nick Robinson on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning. As an international lawyer who has worked as a trade negotiator she was asked about Brexit.
She warned that we would need hundreds of trade lawyers/negotiators. She mentioned that hundreds of specialists in the EU “breathe” the regulations – indeed wrote the regulations. They will therefore make formidable negotiators.
Miriam also warned that the differences between the Norway, Switzerland, Canada or Cayman Islands models are “huge”.
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10 Comments
I would not disagree with her at all. I am just not sure if the British people are ready for experts again yet. I read that we have a nice bit of inflation coming our way and a reduction in growth too. What is beyond an omnishambles.
Still… Weak pound helps our exporters right!
On another front I am glad to see Miriam and Nick getting involved. I know you guys won’t be 8 MPs and one MEP after the next election. Keep fighting guys!
Fine about Miriam being involved, as long as she continues to use her maiden name and she continues to be referred to in her own right.
@Alex – An interesting point. I suspect a lot will be dependent upon the media’s view on what she and Nick Clegg are saying and whether they feel the need to remind people of their connection and so attempt to diminish either or both individuals.
“She mentioned that hundreds of specialists in the EU “breathe” the regulations – indeed wrote the regulations.”
It’s not exactly ‘free trade’ is it!
Gordon: “Regulations” is just a fancy term for rules and laws. Any market needs them.
I think you’ll find that Spanish women don’t change their name on marriage so Miriam González Durántez is not using her ‘ maiden’ name, simply her real name.
Alex MacFie – Yes, I know that but forgot to include a sarcasm tag to make it plain.
Unfortunately, there are some who comment at LDV who do NOT know that and believe in unicorns, tooth fairies and, umm, ‘free trade’.
This exactly fits in with what I felt as the referendum approached. Brexit has an enormous cost in soaking up skilled people in re-inventing the wheel. In fact, if you wanted to find something that paralysed Westminster/Whitehall to stop it doing any productive work for thr British people, Brexit is precisely what is called for.
Gordon’s characterisation of “free marketeers” may limit the need for hundreds of negotiators. The people running the negotiations seem likely to welcome the rigour and dynamism that a tough trade agreement would “give” to the British economy. Another illustration of the disconnect between the leaders of Brexit and a lot of the people who voted for it.
On top of all that, there is reorganisation of Government departments. Never underestimate the disruption. Just look at Health over the last forty years. Talent and mainstream services lost every time it was changed.