Britain’s diplomacy needs to help British business. The Prime Minister made this clear
soon after the coalition was formed and William Hague has followed up, reorganising the Foreign Office and putting commercial diplomacy at the top of the agenda. To some, this risked making
diplomats into salesmen and there was even dark talk of “mercantilism”. Both criticisms were far off the mark – there is nothing mercantilist in trying to help British businesses.
A year in, however, the policy is facing a number of other, more fundamental challenges. First, the government’s main vehicle for this policy – well-publicised, prime minister-led trade delegations – has faced criticism from a number of large companies, who feel pressured to coordinate deals with the visit for political reasons, or left out when they’re not asked to join them.
Second, many multinational companies which have UK headquarters – and so can get British support – continue to find they get more help from other countries where they may have offices, shareholders or listings.
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