Government Affairs Blog

DC Confidential

If you want an insight into how British diplomats think and do their job, then Christopher Meyer’s DC Confidential is a must read.

Meyer got a lot of flak when his book was published.  He does reveal private conversations but there is nothing here that will truly embarrass the actors on the international stage: if anything it makes them more human.

So kiss-and-tell this isn’t, but what Meyer does do is explain how Britain exerts influence and the limits of that influence.  There is much on the Blair-Bush relationship and Iraq.  There is also much more on how power works.  

One fascinating episode is the ‘banana war’ between the USA and Europe.  The US took the EU to the WTO over its protectionist policy towards banana growers in the Caribbean.  The WTO found in favour of America but Europe dragged its feet over change.  The US decided they had no choice but to retaliate.

The American Government drew up a list of imported European products.  These were to have a higher than normal tariff levied upon them.  One product chosen was cashmere sweaters made in Scotland. 

Meyer worked hard to have cashmere removed.  Its inclusion would have dealt a significant blow to the industry.  The Americans were unmoved.

Then Meyer found himself in conversation with Senator Trent Lott, an ardent supporter of penalising the Europeans.  Lott had Scottish ancestors and was keen on introducing a Tartan Day to the American calendar.  He told Meyer that he intended to invite representatives from the Scottish parliament.  Meyer explained that they may refuse to attend if America went ahead with its plan to penalise the Scottish cashmere industry.

The Scottish industry was saved and Tartan Day went ahead with representatives from the Scottish parliament in attendance. 

Simon Goldie is Head of Communication at The Chartered Institute of Taxation – www.tax.org.uk - and a member of the CIPR GAG committee