Commenting on the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London today Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Jo Swinson said:

“Pinning all our hopes for the future of UK trade on the Commonwealth is reckless.

“The UK currently exports nearly five times as much to the EU as it does to the Commonwealth countries. If Theresa May thinks that she can simply replace the EU market with new agreements with Commonwealth countries she is deluded.

“The government wanted to use CHOGM as an opportunity to develop new relationships. Instead it has embarrassed itself in front of the whole world with the Windrush fiasco and alienated several Caribbean countries in the process. This government is not fit to negotiate Britain’s future global role.”