Then Brexit happened, and suddenly everything got pricier. Why? Because England imports a ton of food, labour, and car parts, and leaving the EU added tariffs, paperwork, and chaos. Inflation peaked at over 11% in 2026, and while it’s cooled, your weekly shop still feels like a hostage negotiation.
UK economy expands by 0.1% in Q4 2026, says official data - TechStory
Meanwhile, the government keeps playing tax whack-a-mole: raising corporation tax, freezing income tax thresholds, and slapping VAT on everything except children’s shoes and jammy dodgers. The result? Stagnant wages, a cost-of-living crisis, and more people using food banks than ever before. Fun, right?
Who’s in Charge? (Spoiler: It’s Not Really the Government)
Politicians pretend they’re steering the ship, but the real drivers are the Bank of England (sets interest rates, prints money) and—oops—global markets. If US treasury yields twitch, England’s mortgage rates spike. If China sneezes, our supply chains catch a cold. It’s like being in a turbulent flight with no captain.
And let’s not ignore the austerity hangover. From 2010 to 2019, public spending got slashed to ribbons, leaving the NHS in A&E and local councils selling off parks. Now, even the Treasury admits it was a mistake—but good luck un-breaking the system.
