Suppose an alien civilisation just turned up and dropped a method of making energy and whisky from dandelions, a most common and nuisance weed. Value of about 1/30th of our energy supply say. Despatchble. All the aliens wanted in exchange was a dozen places at public schools for a decade and 4 apartments in Salford to house the sprogs.
Of course you're going to say yes.
If there is a problem incoming it's because UK underproduces apartments in Salford and public school places.
How much credence do you attach to the argument that there are some things (not solar panels or Burberry coats obvs) where there is a national security aspect which means that it would be imprudent to put the country at the whim of Johnny Foreigner Ltd’s government and one should therefore accept a security premium in the cost of keeping some local production rather than buying Johnny’s cheaper alternative?
I'm fine with that argument. But I would insist that it actually has to be a national security argument. We should make our own gallows to hang politicians from for example.....
Suppose an alien civilisation just turned up and dropped a method of making energy and whisky from dandelions, a most common and nuisance weed. Value of about 1/30th of our energy supply say. Despatchble. All the aliens wanted in exchange was a dozen places at public schools for a decade and 4 apartments in Salford to house the sprogs.
Of course you're going to say yes.
If there is a problem incoming it's because UK underproduces apartments in Salford and public school places.
Imv of course
How much credence do you attach to the argument that there are some things (not solar panels or Burberry coats obvs) where there is a national security aspect which means that it would be imprudent to put the country at the whim of Johnny Foreigner Ltd’s government and one should therefore accept a security premium in the cost of keeping some local production rather than buying Johnny’s cheaper alternative?
I'm fine with that argument. But I would insist that it actually has to be a national security argument. We should make our own gallows to hang politicians from for example.....