UK trade secrets... spotted on the 7.22
BREXIT AIDE SNAPPED ON TRAIN EXPOSING CONFIDENTIAL PLAN TO CUT FUNDING FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE
THERESA MAY faced embarrassment last night after secret plans for Britain’s post-Brexit trade policy were revealed after being photographed on public transport.
The Mail on Sunday has obtained pictures of private Government briefing documents for diplomats telling them to stop working on environmental issues, such as combating ivory poaching, to concentrate on striking new commercial deals.
The documents also reveal the Foreign Office’s fears about the ‘economic and political’ risks of Brexit – and its determination to keep a tight rein on Liam Fox’s International Trade department.
The sensitive documents were photographed as one of Dr Fox’s officials prepared to give a private briefing session to British diplomats last month. They show that during the session, our envoys were told that ‘trade and growth are now priorities for all [diplomatic] posts – you’ll need to prioritise developing capability in this
‘Shabby backroom deals being pimped around’
area’. As part of this, ‘ economic security-related work like climate change and illegal wildlife trade will be scaled down’, with only ‘ s o me’ di pl o matic post s still expected to carry out such work.
The diplomats were also told the Government was ‘developing detailed plans to mitigate the potential risks to economic and political interests that may arise. This may mean re-tasking posts and securing more resources, particularly in the EU, where we are already deploying additional officers’.
Last night, anti-Brexit politicians and animal welfare campaigners reacted angrily to the leak, saying that issues such as ivory poaching should not be sacrificed.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: ‘The rhino and the rainforest will pay the price for Theresa May’s hard Brexit.
‘This springs entirely from her free choice to leave the world’s most lucrative market, which independent experts predict over the next 15 years will cost Britain up to £200 billion. ‘Because she is desperate to fill this black hole of her own making, she is prepared to cut deals – and principles – with any far-flung leader around the world, however dodgy. ‘Our wildlife and areas of wilderness will pay the price for the Conservative Brexit Government’s economically illiterate decision to leave the single market. You can’t have a hard Brexit and a sound environment. This leak shows the shabby backroom deals Theresa May is pimping around.’ A spokesman for Traffic, which campaigns against the illegal wildlife trade, said: ‘Political change may mean some shifting of priorities, but the UK’s leadership in addressing international wildlife crime has had a global impact and it should remain a priority. ‘If the UK wants to be in the driving seat, it is essential we channel resources to support actions to end the poaching crisis.’ The leak is the latest to hit Mrs May’s Government during the Brexit process, including turf wars between Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Dr Fox over who should lead trade deal negotiations. Last year, a high-level order from Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood to Ministers demanding the leaks should stop was itself leaked to The Mail on Sunday.
The key speaker at the diplomatic briefing was Tim Hitchens, the powerful head of the Foreign Office’s Economic and Consular department, who was previously our ambassador to Japan and assistant private secretary to the Queen.
Dr Fox’s official was photographed on the 0722 Putney to London Waterloo t r ai n as he wrote up comments by senior Whitehall officials.
Under ‘PS comment’ – short for private secretary, a high-ranking civil servant – the official writes that the Foreign Office’s ‘strategy team’ were keen on ‘emphasising the need for FCO posts to work closely with DIT’, a further sign of the suspicion which has grown up between the two departments.
Under ‘Permanent Secretary’ – the most senior official in the department – the aide notes the ‘huge change’ which has taken place in the nine months since the referendum. Antonia Romeo took over as the DIT’s Permanent Secretary at the end of March, shortly after the note was written. The documents also reveal the envoys were given a ‘sense of the conversations going on about trade and growth’ after Brexit to allow them to ‘understand the Economic Diplomacy p priorities and the implications f for your post’. They were told it was an ‘exciting time’ to be working on ‘economic diplomacy’, and they had a crucial role to play... in implementing our approach to prosperity’.
A spokesman for Dr Fox denied there had been a security breach, saying: ‘These are unclassified documents which had been prepared for a Foreign Office event.’
A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘The UK is a global leader in tackling the illegal wildlife trade and a key part of worldwide efforts on climate change.
‘Our commitment to both issues is as strong as ever.’