The outcome of last week's Brussels summit was economically inadequate and politically damaging for Britain. There was no real plan for jobs and growth, no credible plan for reducing deficits and no steps taken to properly empower the European Central Bank as the lender of last resort. The risk of further economic crisis remains but, inexcusably, the British government did little to address it.  Despite the best efforts of the prime minister to present Friday's meeting as the last word on the issue, we still have the chance to make a bad situation better. There is a common view across Europe, as well as within the UK, that what happened was undeniably bad for business and bad for Britain. What is vital now is for Britain to chart a way forward economically, politically and diplomatically in Europe, or we will risk being locked out of the room and bereft of influence just as the economic storms worsen.  The best route for Britain to protect our national interest requires two immediate steps - first, to rebuild alliances and, second, to get a seat at the table. Before David Cameron's decision to walk away from the summit, a number of countries were prepared to make a deal with Britain. Chancellor Merkel said recently that there was "a lot of common ground" between Britain and Germany, and we had potential allies in such countries as Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark.  Cameron should now engage in a serious and concerted diplomatic campaign to repair the damage and secure the influence necessary as another year of fresh economic turmoil