What do people think will make Britain great again?

[Logiclady94]

I keep coming back to this thought and I wondered what other people thought so I decided to ask the wonderful people on mumsnet for their opinions. I was reading that more jobs were lost, people are being told to return to work to save the economy, coronavirus means that people still don’t feel comfortable doing that, work/life balance needs sorting, income and taxes need rectifying. Not an opinion but you see a lot of the richer need punishing, house prices are ridiculous..

So my wondering is what are people’s thoughts genuine thoughts about what they would change with this country?

Discouraging feckless people from procreating.

Not an opinion but you see a lot of the richer need punishing not sure what you mean by this???

Some people think increasing production and no longer outsourcing to China will. But I can't see how that would happen without prices increasing dramatically.

There are lots of ethnically produced goods made in the UK but they are often 3x the price. These exist already but most people don't buy them.

And I imagine food prices will increase as a result of Brexit too.

Nothing. We had our 'peak' so to speak and now we're going down. It's how it always goes.

I think the desire for greatness can be part of the problem tbh. What we need is a government which is just, wise, compassionate, egalitarian and truthful. Not sure where we're going to get one of those from though - not from any of the main political parties in their current form, certainly.

Having a real grown-up for a Prime Minister would help.

Less focus on consumerism and more on community and family
Not keeping up with the Jones's
More time spent outdoors in the countryside and doing sport and less watching tv or online

In 100 years we'll be viewed as important as belgium or portugal. Perhaps less so as theyre still in eu. We'll be looking over the fence from the outside watching the big boys play. Like the sad 20 year old that still hangs around with schoolkids wearing his old highschool football jacket trying to relive his glory years but everyone else looking on in pity

Used to be important a few hundred years ago with empires, colonies etc but nothing in modern times.

Getting rid of this incompetent government would be a good start

Industry and producing our own stuff and exports. Become more self sufficient and less reliant on other countries.

Perhaps for an increase in GDP not to be seen as the be all and end all.

Reducing the numbers going to university - it's getting to the stage now where mediocre office jobs ask for degrees - have some pride in having a trade.

Value education up to the age of 18. Give children a good solid grounding in the basics at primary school, including music and art. Allow them to find their interests and flourish.

Teach a world view. Don't keep changing the curriculum every 5 minutes. Value good teachers and get rid of bad ones.

Restart our manufacturing base. Go for quality which will be appreciated worldwide.

Fund our world class research institutions. Prioritise green energy.

@Lostnameperson- It’s not an opinion but I’ve read articles saying that Britain’s richest should be taxed a higher amount or their wages be capped above a certain point.. just because they earn more. Like I say I don’t agree and I think they shouldn’t be punished because their income is higher.. there should only be consequences if they are fiddling the system in any way shape or form

A female prime minister (but not a psychopath like the first one)
A massive increase in female cabinet members.

@VettiyaIruken

Nothing. We had our 'peak' so to speak and now we're going down. It's how it always goes.

100% agree. The trajectory is downwards.

I'm grateful I have dual nationality and citizenship ( of a non-EU country).

Remaining in the EU.

What does great even mean? I don’t think we were at our greatest when we built an empire based on slavery and colonisation. Even the notion of a nation being great is odd. We should be rethinking what it even means and strive for a nation where poverty is not an issue, where people are happy and healthy, and wellbeing is at the forefront of government policies.

I don’t believe that will happen, but it’s really nice to dream.

I think we need to invest in manufacturing industries and arts industries in the way we do banking. I also think we need to keep on with alternative energies like wind and really look at our food production.

A female prime minister (but not a psychopath like the first one)

Or a born placeholder like the second one?

Something I'm really noticing as the moment is the loss of town centers. Even big towns like Tunbridge Wells or Leamington Spa or Staines or Swindon where lots of people live, the main shops have all left the shopping centers. It was good for the economy but also interpersonal interaction, sense of town pride. I'm scared of a future where people only interact online (and are therefore more brusque with each other!)

Kinder politics. Although all countries suffer from this!

Britain's never had a good "festival" - the VE Day was a one off - an annual thing like that would be nice. Bonfire night is the closest thing we have to a fiesta and doesn't it feel lovely and community-spirited! Maybe we'd be less obsessed with Christmas then!!

Was Britain ever 'great'? Don't understand this mythical quest for Britain to be 'great' again - like when exactly? When it was a colonial power mistreating people all over the world in their own countries? When it was ruled by kings and queens rather than democratic leadership? When it ran ships in the slave trade? When if F-up Palestine, India, South Africa, Ireland?
Maybe we should get away from this notion of being 'great' and elect a government that actually wants to serve it's peoples needs rather than it's own.

@allfalldown47

A female prime minister (but not a psychopath like the first one) A massive increase in female cabinet members.

The two we've had so far were roaring successes??

I dont give a shit about their sex, only their principles and ability. Cant think of any so far- male or female

Nothing. It's all downhill from here. I've seen a massive increase in yob culture over the last 10 years and this will continue. The govt have no control over them and their numbers are increasing.

What greatness do you have in mind and would like to recapture? Don't mean that in a goady way. Just want a sense of what great meant for you.

@allfalldown47

A female prime minister (but not a psychopath like the first one) A massive increase in female cabinet members.

Or just stop electing the bloody Tory Party (I know the alternative needs to be better).

Thatcherism was all built on sand economically and has destroyed the social fabric of this country.

May was responsible for the hostile environment and windrush as Home Sec and then made a complete pigs ear of being PM.

Great again? When was it great before?

I don't think it will be too long before the US is engulfed in a civil war. TBH it wouldn't be completely unthinkable that Britain could go the same way.

There are so many political and cultural dimensions that are questionable: why do we still have a monarchy? why is Northern Ireland still part of the UK? I mean that's an outrage don't you think? why is the country run by a white (mainly male) elite most of whom were born into money and went to schools for toffs? it's all a load of iniquitous bollocks isn't it?