This story demonstrates that the UK just isn't yet set up to negotiate properly. Beyond failing to reach a deal and damaging a UK industry we know nothing - such as what the government was aiming for and why it couldn't reach a deal. Or what happens next. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56932551

As @UKTradeBusiness heard yesterday, how are business supposed to plan ahead when it has no idea what trade arrangements the government will or will not negotiate? Vacuous statements from government like this don't help.

We have never had the conversation in the UK about others wanting things in deals, and that we have to give to get. With the EU we pretended that wasn't the case then gave them everything they wanted in return for very little. What did Norway want in terms of access?

We're going to sign a trade deal with Australia in which their one and only interest is increasing food exports to the UK. That might have an effect on UK farmers (or developing countries, or other trade partners) but we hear nothing about that.

And where is the Labour Party calling out the government's utter failure with regard to international negotiations? At present there is no particular suggestion of doing anything different. Those opinion polls figures might just reflect that.

The UK government's approach to negotiations since 2016 has been to keep everything secret as much as possible. That approach, a throwback to the man in Whitehall knowing best, has failed. As other governments had already realised, times have changed.

Fishing communities have by and large now realised the government has failed to deliver their promises. Northern Ireland unionists have the same feeling. Services sectors are starting to understand it as well. There is a tale to be told here - but that currently isn't happening.

So Prime Minister, you failed to get a deal to allow the fish sold in UK chip shops to be caught by UK fishing fleets. Our world leading services exports are threatened by your inadequate EU trade deal. How's that global Britain looking when we can't even get a deal with Norway?

Why the UK government needs to be listening to outside voices on their negotiating approach - inside and outside Parliament. https://twitter.com/DmitryOpines/status/1388030136910589955