Talk of taking back control is a fantasy
IT’S ironic that the vote to leave the EU was won on the basis of taking back control of our money, borders and immigration.
The reality is that the UK will have less control. Our prosperity, security and social well-being will largely depend on foreign investors’ money, American technology and trade deals negotiated in an increasingly hostile global economic market.
Boris’ plan to create a post-Brexit economy based on low taxes, privatisation and deregulation is dead in the water, torpedoed by Covid-19, a mountain of debt, political incompetence, and a failed economic model that caused the credit crunch.
The so-called holy grail of the rich, global organisations and casino bankers.
As the EU moves ever closer to becoming a European federal superstate dominated by Germany and France, the UK will lose its ability to influence events in Europe and on the world stage.
Instead of being a rule-maker, we are doomed to become a small second-division nation and a global rule-taker.
Talk of taking back control is a fantasy.
In reality the UK is in a financial black hole.
How we escape from its clutches is anybody’s guess.
But one thing is certain, the UK faces years of austerity, falling living standards, and a loss of individual freedoms as government control becomes ever more autocratic.
If I were in charge, I would introduce what I call ethical capitalism. For example:
1. Create a government of national unity for a fixed period.
2. Expedite trade deals by recruiting people with the relevant skills and experience to do so.
3. Publish a written constitution and a bill of citizens’ rights and responsibilities.
4. End reckless bank and credit card lending and use quantitative easing (QE) to invest in people, green technology and innovation.
5. Invest in the infrastructure needed for electric and hydrogen transport systems.
6. Restrict foreign investors from buying strategic hi-tech UK firms.
7. Take measures to ensure that the wealth generated by technology and productivity gains is shared fairly among shareholders, employees and senior management, and ban obscene million-pound bonuses.
8. Create a work culture based on total quality management (TQM)that involves all employees in a process of continuous improvement of all aspects of the business.
9. Create a national living wage (NLW) for all unemployed people.
10. Create a National Community Service that encourages unemployed people to participate in community projects and/or training and top up their NLW.
11. Introduce a six-day working week and encourage job-sharing and working from home.
12. Integrate NHS and social welfare provision.
13. Participate in global partnerships to tackle pollution, climate change, poverty and pandemics.
Bryan D Prescott Caerphilly