A British expat living in Singapore argues that despite the UK's political failures, the country still matters on the world stage. Jonathan Saxty, who has spent the last three-and-a-half years living in the US and Korea as well as Singapore, says he often criticises the UK but is reminded of its strengths while abroad.
Singapore's air quality crisis highlights UK advantages
Saxty notes that Singapore is battling horrific air quality caused by unregulated farm fires clearing land in Indonesia. He describes this as frankly criminal activity and points out that tiny Singapore, about the size of North London, cannot do much about it. He adds that one limitation of living on a very small, albeit efficient, island is that there is really nowhere to go.
The UK may be relatively small but it is many times bigger than Singapore. Saxty highlights the countryside beyond urban jungles like London, with beautiful landscapes and stunning historic villages. He says this brings a character and spirit of dry, self-deprecating humour and banter that is unique and can only emerge when life has a few wrinkles in it. He remarks that you miss it when it is gone.
Britain's unique combination of assets
Saxty acknowledges that Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US have their wonders. But he argues that Britain at its best has a unique combination: history, humour, stunning countryside and an alpha world city all within a landmass traversable in less than a day.
He points out that the UK has the only universities on earth in the same league as the top American ones, able to compete in tomorrow's growth technologies. He also highlights a world-beating defence industry and says London vies with New York as the world's financial capital.
Global standing and fixable problems
The UK remains one of the world's top five economies, one of only five permanent members of the UN Security Council, a recognised nuclear weapons state, and has one of the planet's maybe three or four blue water navies. Saxty suggests the UK could be fully independent of US cooperation with a bit of will and cash.
He argues that problems such as migration, crime or debt are not unique to the UK, saying France and the US are broadly worse on all three metrics. He also notes that the UK has not yet tapped the benefits of Brexit or the CANZUK opportunity to unite with Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Saxty concludes that the UK may be down but is not out, with plenty to fight for and fixable problems. He says the country could control its borders, build more houses and get taxes, spending and debt down, but that deadbeat uniparty politicians have chosen not to. He warns about the dangers of the Conservatives, saying he does not want people to be sucked in by a party which abjectly failed them over 14 years. He has not junked his UK passport and has applied for one for his newborn, believing the UK has at least a chance to turn around and urging people not to give up just yet.
