This week I’m writing from a crowded exhibition hall in Barcelona where I’m meeting with business people and policy makers from across the globe in my capacity as Chairman of the Parliamentary Group for the UK Events Industry.
Earlier I was speaking on a panel about Brexit. I had expected to get a rough ride but the international audience had put Brexit in the context of the Trump election, the coming Italian referendum and elections in Austria, France and Germany. Many lamented a turning of the political tide but very few felt it made any difference to where they’d want to do business.
Outside in the exhibition hall, the stands for each country say so much. France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada have strong well-funded stands. The USA is represented by individual cities each with their brash branding. The emerging markets in South America, the Middle East and Far East are making lavish statements of intent.
And then there’s ours. There’s no British branding but instead separate stands for London, Scotland and England. Most of the English regions are not represented at all, nor is Wales and Northern Ireland are sharing with the Irish.
So whilst those outside Europe are saying that Brexit doesn’t really mean anything to them and those inside the EU say that in the end a deal will have to be done; we seem to have given up. The rest of the world thinks we’ve taken leave of our senses not by voting to leave the EU but by forgetting just how much we have to offer. Surely it’s time to dust ourselves down and get on with selling all the fantastic things we make and do.