--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We've been a bit too defensive about the…" description: "\"We've been a bit too defensive about the European Union rules. We don't want to become protectionist and nationalist in the way we buy things but we th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/vince-cable-10688_about_we-ve-been-a-bit-too-defensive-about-the_3031974.png" --- # We've been a bit too defensive about the European Union… ![“We've been a bit too defensive about the European Union rules. We don't want to become protectionist and nationalist in the way we buy things but we think we could do a lot more to promote British business through procurement.” quote by Vince Cable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/vince-cable-10688_about_we-ve-been-a-bit-too-defensive-about-the_3031974.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/vince-cable-10688_about_we-ve-been-a-bit-too-defensive-about-the_3031974.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/vince-cable-10688_about_we-ve-been-a-bit-too-defensive-about-the_3031974.png) > “We've been a bit too defensive about the European Union rules. We don't want to become protectionist and nationalist in the way we buy things but we think we could do a lot more to promote British business through procurement.” [Vince Cable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-cable/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Britain should avoid protectionism yet can boost domestic firms by prioritizing them in public procurement. **In simple terms:** Support local businesses without becoming nationalist. Key Takeaway Use procurement to favor national companies responsibly. Themes economics trade policy nationalism Mood analytical concerned Type political policy When to use this quote - government contracts - small business growth - trade negotiations - economic development Key Concepts public procurement industrial strategy fair competition Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards prevent protectionist excess? - How to balance openness with domestic support? 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But commercial paragons in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/i-do-occasionally-encounter-a-british-business-that-delivers-what-and/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [Britain has supported theocrats and dictators as long as it served British business interests, whether under Tory or Labour rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/britain-has-supported-theocrats-and-dictators-as-long-as-it-served/) [Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/) > [British business is disappointed that the MPC felt unable to act more boldly to counter the worsening economic circumstances and the sharp slowdown in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frost/british-business-is-disappointed-that-the-mpc-felt-unable-to-act-more/) [David Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frost/) > [The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-difference-between-patriotism-and-nationalism-is-that-the-patriot/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [My critics began saying I was a chauvinist, nationalist, mad nationalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subramanian-swamy/my-critics-began-saying-i-was-a-chauvinist-nationalist-mad-nationalist/) [Subramanian Swamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subramanian-swamy/) > [In many parts of the country, like South India, people don't bother much about the nationalist passions that BJP was attempting to rouse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-chandrababu-naidu/in-many-parts-of-the-country-like-south-india-people-don-t-bother/) [N. Chandrababu Naidu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-chandrababu-naidu/) > [I don't think the alt-right would call me alt-right. They call me alt-lite, usually. 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As China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-chinese-public-is-deeply-nationalist-which-matters-to-china-s/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [I am a secular rationalist Nationalist proud Indian who is inconvenient to both Hindu and Muslim communalists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-akhtar/i-am-a-secular-rationalist-nationalist-proud-indian-who-is/) [Javed Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-akhtar/) > [There's a number of journalists and politicians who are interested in the rise of the National Front and the huge nationalist gathering, the movements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/there-s-a-number-of-journalists-and-politicians-who-are-interested-in/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [I am not a nationalist in any way, and I hate flag waving, and I don't think much good has come out of nationalism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-not-a-nationalist-in-any-way-and-i-hate-flag-waving-and-i-don-t/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) ## More by Vince Cable > [The government increasingly resembles somebody who is trying to give the kiss of life to a corpse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-cable/the-government-increasingly-resembles-somebody-who-is-trying-to-give/) [Vince Cable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-cable/) > [Our workforce is very co-operative, very flexible, easy to work with and one of the big selling points. 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