Us needs come first

Mrs May and Mr Fallon do not have a very strong hand to play against the US and Boeing.

Unfortunately we did not complete even one new Nimrod, preferring to turn the output of the production line into scrap metal. I also assume that the Poseidon contract for offshore surveillance aircraft has been signed, giving our threat little purchase.

My memories, admittedly from 40 odd years ago in Washington, suggest that US attitudes have not changed.

If the UK had something the US wanted, negotiations succeeded. We got the regulations on recovery of pancreas glands changed because it brought added income to the US rather than the thought of this providing the necessary raw material for UK insulin producers.

Similarly we got the ban (due to Foot and Mouth status) on live cattle imports from the UK lifted because US cattlemen wanted continental breeds without the animal health risks of mainland Europe.

We failed in trying to get added quota for textiles from British Honduras where the effect on US interests was negative. Similar failure came on trying to expand UK confectionery exports despite the example of Hershey producing Kit Kat under license, with benefits to US and UK.

Needless to say facilitating large exports of Scotch was no problem at all.