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Liam Fox is Board of Trade's only official member | Liam Fox is Board of Trade's only official member |
(35 minutes later) | |
Liam Fox had better not be late for meetings of the UK government's new Board of Trade - because he is its only official member. | Liam Fox had better not be late for meetings of the UK government's new Board of Trade - because he is its only official member. |
The international trade secretary's role was confirmed earlier by his department, as the Board met for the first time, in Bristol. | The international trade secretary's role was confirmed earlier by his department, as the Board met for the first time, in Bristol. |
An official was quick to say "it's not just Liam Fox sitting in a room on his own", adding that would be "peculiar". | An official was quick to say "it's not just Liam Fox sitting in a room on his own", adding that would be "peculiar". |
Full membership, it seems, is restricted to Privy Counsellors. | Full membership, it seems, is restricted to Privy Counsellors. |
There are 14 advisers to the Board, including ministers and business figures, but only Mr Fox belongs to the elite group of senior politicians who advise the Queen. | There are 14 advisers to the Board, including ministers and business figures, but only Mr Fox belongs to the elite group of senior politicians who advise the Queen. |
An international trade department spokesperson said: "We've been clear the Board of Trade needs to to act as the eyes and ears of modern business. | |
"That is why we are drawing on prominent figures from business and politics across the UK and not just restricting to Privy Counsellors, as happened in the past." | |
The Board of Trade dates backs to the 17th Century but in modern times its president has tended to be the business secretary. | The Board of Trade dates backs to the 17th Century but in modern times its president has tended to be the business secretary. |
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