Currently while U.K. is bogged down with crisis in Brexit negotiations, Windrush generation problems, spike in knife and gun crime, austerity cuts, NHS crisis, housing shortages and anti-Semitic issues. In fact our attention has been diverted from the economic decline we are facing.
California with population of 40 million has become the world’s fifth-biggest economy overtaking United Kingdom according to federal data of USA. California’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew $127 billion between 2016 and 2017 to more than $2.7 trillion and It has also created 2 million jobs.
Whereas at the same time the U.K.’s GDP shrunk when measured in U.S. dollars because of currency fluctuations. Only the U.S., China, Japan and Germany have economies larger than California's.
There were some marked differences between sectors in U.K.. Service industries grew quite strongly, while manufacturing and construction slipped back. For manufacturing it was the third consecutive decline. It looks like Brexit has become more important than the economy of the country.
More attention is given to ideology by the political parties than the economic health of the nation. This is a wake-up call to U.K. to put its house in order. Serious priority is to be given to the economy and jobs. They should not be sacrificed at the altar of Brexit.
The issue of single market and customs union should not be brushed aside by scoring political points. One has to think of the future of the country and not of a political party only.
Baldev Sharma
Rayners Lane, Harrow
