Martine, of course we have the talent in this country. But it will not flourish to its maximum extent if it is not educated and trained properly. That has long been the case and nothing to do with Brexit.But if we accept that globalisation is a fact, that companies can and do relocate offices and factories to suit their market strategies and bottom lines, then this country has to be as competitive as possible - and Brexit has made us far less competitive in our own time zone and continent by putting trade barriers in place that were not there before, making work transfers from this country to our 27 closest neighbours much more difficult and expensive, and reducing the life chances of many of our young graduates.Inward investment to the UK, especially from the US and Japan, and of course China, was always in part predicated on using the UK as a base to attack the European market. That rationale has gone, or at least has been badly impacted.One of the great knowledge and tech hubs of Europe is still the square mile round Kings Cross / St Pancras, with Google's European HQ, the Crick Institute, the British Library and a host of other academic, research and tech organisations. Why there? One reason was transport connections - such as being just two hours from Paris and Brussels. The future of that hub is no longer as certain as it was due and that is entirely down to Brexit.The country has the talent, no doubt at all. But we will not make the most of that talent standing alone outside all the major trading blocs of the world.
Jonathan Callaway ● 1814d