UK's Long-Term Decline Pre-Dates Brexit

Britain's economic struggles date back more than a decade before Brexit, which is often seen as a watershed moment in the country's history. Despite some predictions that Brexit would be a disaster for the UK economy, it has been relatively resilient compared to other European countries like France and Germany.

However, Brexit was not the main cause of Britain's economic woes. The real problem lies in the country's long-term decline, which began with the premiership of Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown from 2007 to 2010. During this period, government debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 76 percent in just three years, mostly due to increased government spending.

The UK's economic model has been plagued by high taxes, high regulation, and a growing obsession with getting free stuff from the government. The country's minimum wage is now two-thirds of the median wage, one of the highest ratios in the OECD. The explosion of the Motability scheme, which gives mobility-impaired disabled people the right to allocate some of their disability benefits toward leasing new cars, has enriched its executives and contributed to a growing welfare state.