UK 'could lose economic status'
Britain">http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... cl#Britain is in danger of losing its status as a leading global nation as
countries in Asia and Latin America continue their rapid economic
growth, according to a government minister.
Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne said that without
"major restructuring", the UK faces "inevitable decline," and could be
overtaken in the world pecking-order by countries such as Mexico, South
Korea and Brazil within a decade.He told The Sunday Times: "We don't have a God-given right to be one of the richest and
most influential countries in the world - that is earned. If we don't
adapt, then we will decline. "There is no eternal rule that says Britain will be a paramount global force in global politics indefinitely." The Liberal Democrat MP said "at a time of huge change in the power
structure of the world" the UK was facing "a massive task to remain
competitive economically" and keep its position as a global political
leader. Britain is estimated to be the world's sixth-largest economy behind America, China, Japan, Germany, and France. But as our economy stutters in the wake of the recession, gross domestic
product in Asian and Latin American countries is growing. The politician added: "The Chinese economy doubles in size roughly every
seven to eight years, then doubles again in 15 years. There are a lot of
countries that are less spectacular, that are G20 countries from the
next tier down - like Mexico, South Korea and Indonesia - that are still
experiencing what is by European standards extremely strong growth and
becoming much more important countries in the world." Mr Browne said in order to retain its status, the UK needs to build wider
political alliances, improve its infrastructure, ensure it remains
educationally competitive and make a greater effort to learn about the
history and culture of rapidly developing countries. "Out of all the countries in Europe, we have some major restructuring that
is required to make this country globally competitive in the next
generation," the MP for Taunton Deane added.
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Mark 12:10 The stone which the builders rejected is become the cornerstone.