Scrutable

Comes from a long line of tradition

Suggestions here (where people have actually noticed, which is not many) is that Basil Fawlty would have made a better choice.

El Pollo Diablo wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 24, 2021 9:12 am

I mean.

Let me guess. They saw he was heading to Australia for the Ashes and thought up a bit of free publicity.

Or possibly, he wanted to come to Australia for the Ashes but couldn't get in, so became a trade envoy to get his entry fast-tracked.

Botham actually makes some sense.

The role of the envoy is to get Australians to turn up to events which involve British businesses. Australians of a certain age will have heard of him and its possible that his presence would encourage a few to turn up to a cocktail party or similar. Australia is an important market and it seems worth appointing a trade envoy for that country.

But what the f.ck:

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, has been appointed a trade envoy to Cameroon. He already serves as a trade envoy to Egypt.

Cameroon? Does Donaldson even speak fluent French, which he'll need to if he's to shmooze with the business or political elites? Is there more than a minimal amount of British trade with what is one of the poorest countries in the world? They are in the middle of an insurgency against the anglophone regions in the north west of the country. So maybe there are some arms sales to be made.

Seems a very odd choice for one in 10 of the envoys.

Woodchopper wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 24, 2021 11:08 am

Is there more than a minimal amount of British trade with what is one of the poorest countries in the world?

Cameroon is the UK’s 120th largest trading partner, accounting for less than 0.1% of total UK trade. In 2019 trade in goods and services between the UK and Cameroon was worth £200 million.

jdc wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 24, 2021 2:39 pm

Woodchopper wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 24, 2021 11:08 am

Is there more than a minimal amount of British trade with what is one of the poorest countries in the world?

Cameroon is the UK’s 120th largest trading partner, accounting for less than 0.1% of total UK trade. In 2019 trade in goods and services between the UK and Cameroon was worth £200 million.

Its obviously a market with a great potential for growth.

Sounds like a sinecure for someone they wanted to give a bung to, but don't consider especially competent and would prefer out of the way.

Woodchopper wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 24, 2021 11:08 am

Botham actually makes some sense.

The role of the envoy is to get Australians to turn up to events which involve British businesses. Australians of a certain age will have heard of him and its possible that his presence would encourage a few to turn up to a cocktail party or similar. Australia is an important market and it seems worth appointing a trade envoy for that country.

Yes, I don't see the problem as long as he isn't expected to negotiate the subtleties of different sorts of nut oil quotas. In fact it's probably cheaper and more effective to send a celeb along with the party than a massive yacht. (As long as he doesn't start circulating pictures of his knob, obviously.)

Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 24, 2021 3:15 pm

Sounds like a sinecure for someone they wanted to give a bung to, but don't consider especially competent and would prefer out of the way.

I also wonder if there's an old-school missionary element to his going there.

Funny story, and I'm sure this has *no* bearing on the matter, really, honestly guv, it's all above board, but Ian Botham has commercial interests in an Australia deal as he runs a wine company that imports from... wait, let me just check here... yes, Australia.

https://bothamwines.com/

sTeamTraen wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 26, 2021 9:57 am

Woodchopper wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 24, 2021 11:08 am

Botham actually makes some sense.

The role of the envoy is to get Australians to turn up to events which involve British businesses. Australians of a certain age will have heard of him and its possible that his presence would encourage a few to turn up to a cocktail party or similar. Australia is an important market and it seems worth appointing a trade envoy for that country.

Yes, I don't see the problem as long as he isn't expected to negotiate the subtleties of different sorts of nut oil quotas. In fact it's probably cheaper and more effective to send a celeb along with the party than a massive yacht. (As long as he doesn't start circulating pictures of his knob, obviously.)

You've not met Australian businessmen, then? For some this would enhance the deal, as he's a 'proper bloke'