Politicians not best diplomats

WHATEVER they may say, the primary purpose of a politician is the pursuit of power. The national interest is a secondary consideration.

Because the House of Lords flexed its liberal democratic muscles, threatening to use its power to overturn any legislation/ratification emanating from the Commons whose object was to leave the EU, the Government was obliged in 2017 to call a General Election on a manifesto that promised to give effect to the result of the referendum.

But in the process the exit negotiations were turned into a very public affair. Instead of the two negotiators and their respective advisors quietly securing agreement in secrecy (as was done in 1971-2) every twist and turn was minutely dissected by the press, politicians and the public.

As a direct result, the talks achieved little as both sides played to the gallery of public opinion. The 1973 referendum followed a very public formal agreement between the two sides in 1972 – marked by a splendid banquet at the Palace of Versailles given in honour of the Queen by President Pompidou of France.

All we were required to do in the 1973 referendum was to ratify the agreement that our Queen had already approved. Small wonder then that the nation voted to join the EEC (as it then was).

This time around the two Houses of Parliament have done all they can to sideline their government – and their Queen.

Arguments rage over the possibility of a second referendum, of a possible general election, of a change of Prime Minister, and as ever the depressing return to politics of Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell and Nick Clegg. This is nothing but power politics.

Megaphone diplomacy is a wholly ineffective way to conduct delicate negotiations to secure agreement which inevitably entail concessions by both sides. Modern politicians are totally unsuited to participate in such a process. Charles Swabey Osmaston