Fox in No 10 row after he claims businesses ‘don’t want to export’

DOWNING Street slapped down Liam Fox yesterday after he accused British business of not being interested enough in exporting their goods abroad.

The International Trade Secretary, who last year branded UK firms ‘fat and lazy’, said the refusal of businesses to export more was undermining his bid to boost the economy.

He said the economy was still far behind where it should be and pinned the blame on British businesses not selling to global markets. But No 10 pointed out that British exports were in a healthy position. Speaking to the House magazine, Dr Fox said: ‘I can agree as many trade agreements as I like, but if British business doesn’t want to export, then that doesn’t do us any good.’

He added: ‘We need to do an awful lot better with the markets that we already have access to globally, our trading performance still needs to improve … We’re still way behind where our economy needs to be.’

But a Downing Street spokesman said: ‘The UK has a good record on foreign exports. We are focused on ensuring we are doing more to help British businesses export.’