Is Fixation With Its Ruling Colonial Past Preventing UK From Fixing Its Serious Current Problems including Economy , Health and Housing.
R.K.Upadhyay
United Kingdom won the second world war but lost its imperial status to USA . Since then, in spite of its diminished stature , it has never come out of its colonial ruler mindset . It thinks that it is still the driving seat in global order along with USA while in reality it has become a vassal state of USA covered beautifully by term ‘ special relation ship’. The worst example was the alleged lead role of UK in Ukraine war and in destruction of Russia’s new oil pipeline to Europe at behest of USA ,when its economy was in its worst phase . Throughout the last thousand years of history , Russia has never harmed UK and had helped allies in winning the second world war by enormous sacrifice by Russian army . UK should have remained focussed on its unprecedented economic problems rather than accepting the American war as its own .
The Cold war with USSR was an American invention to perpetuate the American hegemony. War torn and tired Europe just capitulated to USA .But UK saw it as a means of staying in driving seat in global affairs by piggybacking USA.
UK could have lived in this harmless delusion if its economy had recovered like those of Germany and Japan .
But this delusion not only prevented the emergence of a new industrial revolution in UK but also hurried the destruction of its colonial economy with endless strikes on Edward Heath’s era. Margret Thatcher was god’s gift to UK who understood and acknowledged the new reality and boldly created a new economy by bulldozing the relics of outdated labour laws and loss making public sector units.
This delusion also delayed Britain’s entry into European Union by fifteen years. Its Brexit was ill conceived and and an emotional outburst to a single issue of unlimited migration from Eastern Europe. A Bismark would have planned it much more skill fully. Angela Merkel too was no Bismark either who would not have been so rigid on immigration. Skilful negotiation could have kept it in Custom Union . But the era saw the worst and selfish face of British politicians and insensitive bureaucracy of European Union. Covid ,Brexit and Ukraine together have delivered a death knell to the already sluggish British economy. Also it needs a Margret Thatcher to boldly rediscover its new strengths in new technologies as UK is behind Germany and France in productivity and inflation control and badly needs a new industrial revolution in Information technology. Similarly housing and NHS crisis need bold solutions .
But such boldness can come out from unquestioned public support obtained by enlightened public debates. However the current political debate is highly negative and focussed on emotional self goals scored in Brexit ,Ukraine and immigration and personal follies of Boris Johnson. Fortunately the PM, Rishi Sunak, understands the issues well and is steering the economy correctly . Inflation is slowly coming under control and the light at the end of tunnel is visible. But it may take a decade of focussed hard work to infuse new vigour and competitiveness in British economy .
But will Rishi Sunak get that much time to rectify the economy?
British Public , badly hurt by unprecedented inflation and the cost of living crisis, is looking for a scape goat and may commit hara kiri in the next election and may vote him out unless Boris Johnson apologises and along with the entire conservative party backs him up unitedly in public by enlightened debates. Johnson is a true politician although a bit too scheming. Rishi Sunak must work harder to survive even by conceding some popular subsidies as a change in government now will destroy all the gains made.
British public needs the illusion of still being a super power but leaders must face and accept the reality like Margret Thatcher and just focus on salvaging the British economy by being more humble and pragmatic . They have to search new products and new markets in a very competitive crisis ridden world
It must begin by having an educated , visionary but humble and team building Prime Minister .
