According to Fox comments published Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, Britain’s trade minister, in charge of forging new worldwide economic links as the country leaves the European Union, says United Kingdom businesses are too lazy to export goods around the world.
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Fox, who was a prominent campaigner for Britain to leave the European Union and says the country must forge new trading relationships with the rest of the world, was recorded making the comments during a drinks party with activists.
We all know that in any country there are some lazy executives like that, some who just do their jobs and maintain a sensible work-life balance, and some who work themselves into an early grave with the stress and long hours.
Prime Minister Theresa May’s office said Fox was expressing private views.
The opposition Labour Party said in a statement Fox’s comments were “offensive and crass” and were symptomatic of the Conservative government’s “shambolic approach to Brexit”.
“Companies who could be contributing to our national prosperity – but choose not to because it might be too hard or too time-consuming or because they can’t play golf on a Friday afternoon – we’ve got to be saying to them if you want to share in the prosperity of our country you have a duty to contribute to the prosperity of our country”.
The minister – responsible for forging Britain’s place in the world after Brexit – said: “This country is not the free trading nation it once was”.
A picture of Liam Fox playing golf on Wednesday has also been widely shared in the wake of the former Defence secretary’s comments.
The trade minister warned that the arduous task of negotiating trade deals with worldwide partners in the wake of Brexit would be a waste of time “if we don’t have the exporters to fill those markets”. “We must be unreconstructed, unapologetic free traders”, he said.
Britain’s trade minister says United Kingdom businesses generally are too lazy to export goods around the world. Crass generalisations are no good to anybody, but coming from the guy who’s actual job it is to promote British businesses on the worldwide stage, it’s not just crass and stupid, it’s reckless beyond belief.
“If the Government doesn’t confirm it supports membership of the Single Market it won’t serve British business, but that is hardly surprising if ministers can’t even speak up for British business”.
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“He’s talking about business people here who were absolutely clear in saying that we want, and do, export, and that’s why we do want to remain in the European Union…”
