AT the end of September, the Secretary of State for International Trade gave a grandiose speech under the chandeliers of Manchester Town Hall in which he made the case for seeing the UK as a world leader in developing the free-est of free trade freedoms on our planet today.

He claimed that now we’ve been released from the shackles of one of the most successful free trade deals in the history of the world economy, this Tory Government would “liberate global trade for the benefit of our whole planet”, while declaring that “free trade has, and will continue to, transform the world for the better”.

Free trade is fantastic was his clear, unadulterated message. Except free trade with the 27 other member states of the EU, who combine to create the largest economy in the world, the world’s largest trading block and the world’s largest trader of manufactured goods and services.

I recalled Liam Fox’s oration yesterday when I read reports of Theresa May’s speech on Monday evening in London in which she set out her own, and distinctly contrary, view of the UK’s free trade future.

In it, she talked of a parallel universe in which, despite turning its back on a social and economic partnership which has delivered prosperity and peace in Europe for five decades, the UK was now a “world leader” in promoting fair and mutually beneficial access to foreign markets. Except, of course, when it came to the EU.

A lot seems to have changed in Whitehall in the six weeks since Fox’s speech, because the Prime Minster has decided to embark on a fresh path.

Instead of adopting Fox’s glowing vision of free trade as a beacon of hope for the world economy, which he announced only 47 days ago, the UK will now adopt “a new approach to managing the forces of globalisation so that they work for all”.

Setting aside the irony of a Tory Prime Minister attacking the “global elite” at an invitation-only black-tie dinner in London’s medieval Guildhall, it remains entirely unclear to anyone how the PM intends to take her new agenda forward.

This Prime Minister is reacting rather than leading. She clearly has no idea of how to address the serious challenges that face these islands today, let alone how to take her own ministers with her.

It’s as if the Government has absolutely no plan to underpin its work, or a strategy on how to get out of the mess it got us all into.

For several decades, the pillars of the UK’s foreign and trade policy have revolved around the EU and the USA. And in the space of less than five months our relationships with both are in tatters. We’ve signalled our intention to walk away from the EU, while the US public has elected the most protectionist president in modern history.

Rather than being at the “front of the queue” for a new trade deal with the future US administration, Theresa May has already been relegated to behind even Nigel Farage in Donald Trump’s pecking order.

At the same time, her disastrous trip to India last week only underlined the feeble position of this Government when it comes to securing deals with the emerging markets of the world.

How humiliating must it have been for our Prime Minister to be attacked by Indian ministers and businesses for her regressive immigration policies before she had even touched down in Delhi? If anyone believes the world is lining up to invest or trade with the UK – when she’s made it quite clear that she doesn’t want their people over here – they are naive at best.

For example, we must view our world-leading universities as an economic and social asset to be nourished, not taken for granted. While last week’s trade mission saw £1 billion in deals announced for the UK, international students are worth £14bn to the UK economy every year.

That’s why, in order to improve our international position, the UK Government should look to policies which help recruit the best students from across the globe, not only to fund our higher education sector and build on our research base, but to also sow the seeds of soft power across the globe.

Instead, the cancellation of post-study work visas and the inclusion of international students in already regressive and arbitrary immigration targets threatens to fundamentally undermine this rich resource.

The UK’s position in the world is diminishing quickly. This isn’t just a question of maintaining historical prestige or status, but of preserving jobs, growing our economy and acting as a force for good in the international community today.

Scotland must not allow itself to be dragged down by the UK as it engages in the titanic endeavour of leaving the EU and abandoning the single market.

As the UK Government flounders, we must explore every option to ensure our economic and social future is protected.


Wee Ginger Dug: I'm a social democrat ... get me out of here