Another factor worth considering in the EU-UK negotiations is the lack of experience UK govt politicians may have in negotiations. The lack of trade negotiation experience is well documented. However, the effects of FPTP on political culture should also be considered. /1

FPTP generally negates the need for the kind of negotiations that, say, Belgian, or Dutch, or Irish politicians would be accustomed to regularly, where compromise is a necessary and accepted part of politics. /2

The UK’s electoral system creates a clear us versus them dynamic, where compromise is weakness and it is all about winners and losers. Any type of negotiation is therefore seen as a purely adversarial, rather than a (at least partly) cooperative exercise. 3/3