Capital Economy, Business and Finance
The Labour government has named the “sherpa” who will lead negotiations with the EU for the next five years.
Michael Ellam, Gordon Brown’s former media chief and current chair of Public Sector Banking at HSBC, will lead the UK’s side in talks with Brussels on the renewal of the trade and cooperation agreement (TCA) early next year.
He’ll work closely with Keir Starmer and Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister responsible for EU-relations.
With pressure on Labour to kickstart economic growth, the EU demanding a youth mobility scheme and political opponents watching out for perceived backsliding on the 2016 referendum, it’s a role fraught with challenges, and with pressure to get a move on.
As one frustrated Labour backbencher sighed, “it’s progress to have anyone”. Ellam is well-regarded by pro-Europeans from both main parties but Brexiteers have nicknamed the team he joins the “surrender squad”.
