A £61m off-the-books sweetener failed to do the trick, but Greg Clark was focusing on the positives
Awks. It’s one thing for a government to offer a £61m off-the-books sweetener to reassure Nissan that Brexit wasn’t going to be such a big deal and it was fine for the Japanese carmaker to manufacture its new X-Trail model at its Sunderland plant.
It’s quite another for everyone to find out that the intended bung has proved completely ineffective. The Conservatives now can’t even manage a decent bribe.
Related: Government letter to Nissan reveals Brexit promise to carmakers
Related: Japan’s EU deal ‘threatens post-Brexit UK industry’