How do we think EU negotiations will go? (Vol 13)
Discussion
psi310398 said:
Brooking10 said:
Erm yes Crankie.
That's why ex cabinet ministers are usually in such demand.
I wouldn't be so sure this time round. That's why ex cabinet ministers are usually in such demand.
The way Whitehall and Westminster work is that cards are informally marked: serious boards will want to see whether the government of the day views them as untouchable before giving them seats on a board. The feeling in the City and in the big infrastructure companies will be that as BJ needs to splash money around, that money should come their way and will fear that might not be directed to companies housing prominent Remainers/dissidents.
I think Hammond in particular has gone out of his way to be obnoxious to BJ and his colleagues and as he has no great constituency in the Tory party to leap to his defence, he might well be made an example of. No honours, no City sinecures, just the Siberia of non-exec positions of slightly obscure (and largely foreign) companies.
psi310398 said:
Brooking10 said:
Erm yes Crankie.
That's why ex cabinet ministers are usually in such demand.
I wouldn't be so sure this time round. That's why ex cabinet ministers are usually in such demand.
The way Whitehall and Westminster work is that cards are informally marked: serious boards will want to see whether the government of the day views them as untouchable before giving them seats on a board. The feeling in the City and in the big infrastructure companies will be that as BJ needs to splash money around, that money should come their way and will fear that it might not be directed to companies housing prominent Remainers/dissidents.
I think Hammond in particular has gone out of his way to be obnoxious to BJ and his colleagues and as he has no great constituency in the Tory party to leap to his defence, he might well be made an example of. No honours, no City sinecures, just the Siberia of non-exec positions of slightly obscure (and largely foreign) companies.
tting themselves and a number are on the brink of genuinely existential problems. For some Boris is their last hope of a quick fumble before the lights go on and everybody can see just how ugly they have become.US, Chinese, Gulf, and Russian companies are still queuing up to offer board appointments to ex govt figures. PR, consulting, natural resources and media companies will remain on constant look out.
Brooking10 said:
You and I both know that the big infrastructure companies are stting themselves and a number are on the brink of genuinely existential problems. For some Boris is their last hope of a quick fumble before the lights go on and everybody can see just how ugly they have become.
US, Chinese, Gulf, and Russian companies are still queuing up to offer board appointments to ex govt figures. PR, consulting, natural resources and media companies will remain on constant look out.
Maybe, but someone is going to have do the construction. And some of the ugly sisters have been defying the laws of gravity for a long time - look at Serco, see who runs it and you see why.tting themselves and a number are on the brink of genuinely existential problems. For some Boris is their last hope of a quick fumble before the lights go on and everybody can see just how ugly they have become.US, Chinese, Gulf, and Russian companies are still queuing up to offer board appointments to ex govt figures. PR, consulting, natural resources and media companies will remain on constant look out.
I can think of some foreign firms that have done well in the UK public sector and others that, despite their reputations, have barely made a mark. A lot depends on their connections.
I can also recall that when I was a civil servant I worked on beauty parades for advisory work/lead banking mandates for various big infra deals where certain concerns seemed to do very well, despite others seeing to be at least as well qualified/cost effective in the tender process. They were the ones who seemed best hooked up.
As far as consultancy is concerned, a few years ago I was involved in the courting of a figure from Cameron's time for one of the Big Four accounting firms and can clearly recall the amount of sounding taken across Whitehall and Westminster to ensure that said individual really was more of a help than a hindrance to the firm's efforts.
No firm that relies on HMG's goodwill will appoint a pariah. And, if BJ is booted out, it will be a long time before Hammond's wing of the party has a sniff of government, so why waste time and resources on him?
psi310398 said:
Brooking10 said:
You and I both know that the big infrastructure companies are stting themselves and a number are on the brink of genuinely existential problems. For some Boris is their last hope of a quick fumble before the lights go on and everybody can see just how ugly they have become.
US, Chinese, Gulf, and Russian companies are still queuing up to offer board appointments to ex govt figures. PR, consulting, natural resources and media companies will remain on constant look out.
Maybe, but someone is going to have do the construction. And some of the ugly sisters have been defying the laws of gravity for a long time - look at Serco, see who runs it and you see why.tting themselves and a number are on the brink of genuinely existential problems. For some Boris is their last hope of a quick fumble before the lights go on and everybody can see just how ugly they have become.US, Chinese, Gulf, and Russian companies are still queuing up to offer board appointments to ex govt figures. PR, consulting, natural resources and media companies will remain on constant look out.
I can think of some foreign firms that have done well in the UK public sector and others that, despite their reputations, have barely made a mark. A lot depends on their connections.
I can also recall that when I was a civil servant I worked on beauty parades for advisory work/lead banking mandates for various big infra deals where certain concerns seemed to do very well, despite others seeing to be at least as well qualified/cost effective in the tender process. They were the ones who seemed best hooked up.
As far as consultancy is concerned, a few years ago I was involved in the courting of a figure from Cameron's time for one of the Big Four accounting firms and can clearly recall the amount of sounding taken across Whitehall and Westminster to ensure that said individual really was more of a help than a hindrance to the firm's efforts.
No firm that relies on HMG's goodwill will appoint a pariah. And, if BJ is booted out, it will be a long time before Hammond's wing of the party has a sniff of government, so why waste time and resources on him?
My point is that outside UK PLC there is an vast amount of corporate entities more than happy to have a former UK govt minister on the payroll. PH’s appointment is a very clear reflection of that.
psi310398 said:
Brooking10 said:
Erm yes Crankie.
That's why ex cabinet ministers are usually in such demand.
I wouldn't be so sure this time round. That's why ex cabinet ministers are usually in such demand.
The way Whitehall and Westminster work is that cards are informally marked: serious boards will want to see whether the government of the day views them as untouchable before giving them seats on a board. The feeling in the City and in the big infrastructure companies will be that as BJ needs to splash money around, that money should come their way and will fear that it might not be directed to companies housing prominent Remainers/dissidents.
I think Hammond in particular has gone out of his way to be obnoxious to BJ and his colleagues and as he has no great constituency in the Tory party to leap to his defence, he might well be made an example of. No honours, no City sinecures, just the Siberia of non-exec positions of slightly obscure (and largely foreign) companies.
turbobloke said:
Breaking news - the EU is taking legal action over the UK not sending Farage appointing a Commissioner, saying EU law trumps UK. Nothing new in the trumping but being reminded will do nicely for Leave supporters.
Who needs His Nigelness with recruiting sergeants like that. Dozy dollops.turbobloke said:
Breaking news - the EU is taking legal action over the UK not sending Farage appointing a Commissioner, saying EU law trumps UK. Nothing new in the trumping but being reminded will do nicely for Leave supporters.
And a nice reminder about the inability to work with others and lack of understanding of leavers that got us in this fking mess. It’s not like this is an unexpected situation that could have been avoided with ease.A Winner Is You said:
turbobloke said:
Breaking news - the EU is taking legal action over the UK not sending Farage appointing a Commissioner, saying EU law trumps UK. Nothing new in the trumping but being reminded will do nicely for Leave supporters.
What are they going to do, kick us out?39bn
sunbeam alpine said:
All the UK had to do was appoint someone, even if it is a temporary measure.
Highlights what the EU should expect from the UK post Brexit. Donald Tusk was correct.
Quite.Highlights what the EU should expect from the UK post Brexit. Donald Tusk was correct.
It's a club with rules and right now we're still members.
I don't understand how anyone can think it looks good for the UK when we don't respect our obligations.
bhstewie said:
hstewie said:sunbeam alpine said:
All the UK had to do was appoint someone, even if it is a temporary measure.
Highlights what the EU should expect from the UK post Brexit. Donald Tusk was correct.
Quite.Highlights what the EU should expect from the UK post Brexit. Donald Tusk was correct.
It's a club with rules and right now we're still members.
I don't understand how anyone can think it looks good for the UK when we don't respect our obligations.
I'm totally fine with "rules are rules", but that's not the EU. Rules are only rules when it suits, and when it doesn't they can simply be ignored. Like Selmayr, like France/Germany flouting budget rules but not Italy, like Greece accession, etc, etc
If Boris flouted the rules the way the EU do, I think your head might explode
bhstewie said:
hstewie said:sunbeam alpine said:
All the UK had to do was appoint someone, even if it is a temporary measure.
Highlights what the EU should expect from the UK post Brexit. Donald Tusk was correct.
Quite.Highlights what the EU should expect from the UK post Brexit. Donald Tusk was correct.
It's a club with rules and right now we're still members.
I don't understand how anyone can think it looks good for the UK when we don't respect our obligations.
Edited by Crackie on Friday 15th November 10:07
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