In 1997, I learned that a race known as ‘Anglo-Saxons’ were alive, and they were not to be trusted.
I was meeting some officials in DG Fisheries (as it then was) for WWF, asking why the EU was giving so many subsidies to large distant water fishing vessels. They stopped that practice.
The meeting had just started, and I was subject to a strange tirade about ‘Anglo-Saxon values’. It seemed I was part of this tribe. It only stopped when I pulled out my Irish passport. Civility returned, and we had a good exchange.
I learned from them that it is a term that is a reference to Americans and English values. Fortunately, the Irish did not fall into this group. I realise I do not sound Irish.
Think about what signals it sends to your audience.
One of the unfortunate side effects of Brexit is that the UK is seen by many officials and politicians in the mainland as a suspect 3rd country. Put simply, I sense that many don’t trust them.
This scepticism rubs off on the British. It has always been there. Brexit just makes it more easier to say out loud. I’ve not yet seen any ‘Brits Out’ poster than used to appear in Newry, North of Ireland.
That sense of hands-off ness has always been there for Americans. I’ve encountered too many meetings that have gone south very quickly when officials and politicians have been ‘educated’ by Americans. It does not matter if they are firms or NGOs.
If you want your case to land, think about the image you give if you send in a bunch of Brits to tell officials/politicians how to do something properly. Likewise, getting the current British government to step in for you is a brave move.
If your delegation is Brit-heavy, make sure that one of your delegation is European.
Think about the impression you give to the audience if you want to persuade them.
You shouldn’t be sending anyone in to tell officials/politicians ‘how to do their job properly’ Brit or otherwise. If you’re doing that you have bigger problems than nationality.