Britain set to slump outside world’s top 10 leading economies by 2015 - behind India, Russia and Canada

By
Kirsty Walker
Last updated at 2:07 AM on 07th December 2009

Blow: The findings will be a disappointment to Gordon Brown - Britain was ranked fourth among the world economies in 2005Britain could drop out of the world’s top ten economies by 2015, a hard-hitting report warns today.
The Centre for Economics and Business Research says Britain has
slipped to seventh in the league table this year behind America, China,
Japan, Germany, France and Italy.
It goes on to warn that Britain could be overtaken by Russia, Brazil, India and Canada by 2015.
The findings are a blow to Gordon Brown as Britain was rated the fourth largest economy in the world as recently as 2005.
The think tank report says slow growth and a weak pound will be
responsible for the projected slide, which is based on current trends.
Its author Douglas McWilliams, chief executive of the CEBR, said
Australia could also catch and overtake the British economy by 2020.
He went on to warn that Britain could lose its influence on the global stage if its economy slips further down the leagues.
The report says: ‘Perhaps the area where this will be most noticeable will be on the diplomatic front.
‘It will be difficult to maintain the UK’s current high diplomatic
profile when we are no longer in the world’s top ten. Can we maintain a
permanent seat on the UN Security Council?
‘Among other things, it means that whether we like it or not, we are
going to have to be prepared to put up with economic, political and
social decisions that are made internationally – not only in other
countries but quite likely in countries which have very different
approaches to, for example, human rights.’
But Mr McWilliams said most European countries will also fare badly
in the next few years so it is probable Britain’s relative position in
the EU ‘will not change much from now on’.

The report’s findings come just days after official figures showed Britain was the only country in the G20 group of the world’s most powerful economies still in recession. The Office for National Statistics said last week that between July and September Britain’s economy slipped 0.3 per cent, compared to the previous three months. It is the longest recession in the UK since records began in 1955, with the economy having contracted for six consecutive quarters. Canada, the other country lagging behind the rest, had resumed growth in the three months from July to September, going up 0.1 per cent.  This has left Britain as the only G20 country where the economy is still contracting. However, Alistair Darling will this week say that Britain’s economy is on the brink of recovery and that growth will be strong from 2011 onwards.

Explore more:
People:
Gordon Brown
Places:
Canada,
Russia,
France,
Brazil,
China,
Italy,
Germany,
Japan,
Australia,
India,
United Kingdom,
America
Organisations:
Centre for Economics and Business Research,
UN Security Council,
Office for National Statistics

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“The Centre for Economics and Business Research says Britain has slipped to seventh in the league table this year behind America, China, Japan, Germany, France and Italy. It goes on to warn that Britain could be overtaken by Russia, Brazil, India and Canada by 2015.”
And all because of Gordon Brown and his economic policies coupled with the greed and stupidity of bankers in the City and because we have lost our industrial and manufacturing base. We have nothing on which to base the strength of the UK economy! Take a look at the list of the 100 companies that are succeeding during this recession and you will find they are all, just about, service sector companies in, for example, recruitment, fashion, payroll, catering, travel, sports, IT recruitment, management consultancy, pub operator, wine merchant, book seller, bakery and chocolate retailer. It speaks volumes about the state of UK.
- Kenneth, Suffolk, England, 07/12/2009 06:38

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Wouldn´t it be a good thing to lose our ´´so called´´ influence in the world.
We may not then be called upon to put so many of our young mens lives at risk via these fruitless, expensive crusading escapades and we wouldn´t need to spend vast amounts of cash on so called superior weaponry to kill even more of our fellow members of the human race.
Perhaps we could really concentrate on making the lives of our existing indigenous population better in the Scandinavian or Swiss model.
I suppose the only problem with this would be for our egomaniacal leaders who couldn´t parade themselves internationally as saviours of the world etc etc.
I often think that if we have been observed by a superior intelligence from another planet over the last 100 years or so, it is not surprising that they would want nothing to do with us when they see how dangerous we are as a race.
- Brian, Mijas Spain, 07/12/2009 06:26

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You have to hand it to the two Bs who have lead the UK for the last 12 years.
They have consistently got things wrong.
They took over a healthy economy in 97 and turned us into a debt ridden wreck, whilst at the same time increasing stealth tax to a level never seen before.
The amount of money this government has spent is criminal, unlike the man in the street they do not seem to have anything to show for their extravagance, except for their bank balance being nicely increased.
- Roly, Corfu, 07/12/2009 06:01

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Will it really take so long, The rot set in 13 years ago and has intensified under Brown, whoever follows Brown will have a tough task to reverse the trend if at all, when the ship of state is holed below the water line notwithstanding some very good and hastey repair it will sink, Brown is the Captain and should sink with it, if not before.
- Harry Acorn, Mostar BiH, 07/12/2009 05:27

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Well this should show everyone that NuLabour policies work.
Work to make us poor
Work to make us the most spied on
Work to make us almost a third world country
Work to make us the laughing stock
Thanks Brown and Co for your wonderful term in office, you will not be missed.
- antipolitician, Eastbourne, UK, 07/12/2009 05:20

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This is premature, you’ll see.
I predict;
Labours election manifesto in the new year will offer a Referendum of Out or In EUSSR, citing all requirements if we vote OUT ( we know about if In )
Education will be readjusted to the 50’s methods of selection & sport included there will be an increase in police numbers of around 15,000 initially. All Quangos and PC rubbish will be cancelled without notice, to pay for the cost of police and education. The banks wil be advised of a new type of bonus system. the MPs salaries will be voted on by the public. and all accounts verified before being paid. A new ministry will be formed, called The ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Farmers will have to conform to British food requirements supply. The navy will get 20 new coastal protection vessels. The forces will leave all foreign soil and reorganise, prior to new reiirements adjustments etc.
There that ought to do it
VOTE LABOUR
- mick blair, thailand, 07/12/2009 05:11

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