Still less are civil servants paid to do so rather than getting on with the job – which taxpayers fund.
“The Labour manifesto said they wanted to strike trade deals, now they’ve gone back on that policy.”
Yes, our new trade department has expanded its Trade Policy Group fourfold. But it is seen to lack the experience that American negotiators possess in abundance.
Its members don’t immerse themselves in the deep subject knowledge required for policy development and giving ongoing advice to politicians.
The big lesson of Ivan Rogers’s resignation is that they must adapt to the cultural sea-change that last year’s referendum is bringing about.
If such cautions from a public servant are dismissed simply as coming from a Europhile, then we will all be the losers.
Plus: I tip him as Brexit Secretary, and just look what happens next.
Many of Brussels’ demands, including for continued oversight by the European Court, are quite simply preposterous.