AT THE time of writing, the government via the inept Theresa May was still attempting to renegotiate its deal with the EU. At the same time this dysfunctional government was failing in its objectives of delivering trade deals. Indeed a far-reaching deal with China has been put at risk by the infantile bellicose statements harking back to imperialist gunboat diplomacy emanating from the Ministry of Defence.

Most recently Defra discovered that the country hadn’t got enough of the right sort of pallets to export and move foodstuffs. And there is “failing Grayling” who has gifted Eurotunnel £33 million following the award of a shipping contract to a ferry company that had no ships.

As a former PCS negotiator I am only too aware that this government and those senior civil servants that support it are, by and large, inept. It is evident that government failed to listen to those trade unions that stated that austerity had to stop and be reversed if there were to be enough skilled staff to do the necessary negotiations with the EU and other nations.