> It's not like the other European countries are any better off
Agree. As I said at the start this is applicable to other rich nations as well like the France.
In short, the UK will go down from 1st world to 2nd world (if one does not like the term: 3rd world).
My point was that some part of the issue is labor supply, so one country giving up, might actually fix it for the other countries in the short term. This is why no one wants to defect.
Also doing anything to improve things or move in your proposed direction means acknowledging that we did huge mistakes in the past 20-30 years, and accepting that we are actually globalization losers. However most politicians are still the same or in the same party, that still promotes more globalization will fix everything. Also in university the mere idea, that maybe sending all IP to and training China, is maybe not the best idea and that we are now not the more powerful side any more, gets immediately shouted down as "xenophobia".
I agree with what your implying, but my take is that Brits cannot (and should not) wait for Govt to come to its senses.
I am saying take inspiration from Brits of few generations back who ventured out, took calculated risks and endured sea travel for months to reach far out places to find opportunities. I mean do the modern equivalent of this. They did the grind so that the next few generation benefited.
Also, industrial revolution happened because of individual brilliance and not some govt policy. The only thing govt did was not get in the way.
Not everyone will be able to do this but sometimes it takes few people to inspire millions.