𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

As a British expat in Singapore, who over the last three-and-a-half years has also lived in the US and Korea, there are plenty of things I pick the UK apart for. Compared to London especially, Singapore is a gazillion times safer, has a sparkling metro system, clean streets, a digital and slick bureaucracy, effective border control and a smart welfare state which shames ours.

But right now I am reminded of the other side of the equation. Singapore is currently battling horrific air quality caused by farm fires to clear land in Indonesia. This is unregulated and frankly criminal activity. Tiny Singapore – about the size of North London – can’t really do much about it. Yet one limitation of living on a very small, albeit efficient, island. Really nowhere to go.

The UK may be relatively small but it is many times bigger than tiny Singapore. There is a country beyond urban jungles like London. Our beautiful countryside, and stunning and historic villages. That also brings a character and spirit, one of dry, self-deprecating humour and banter, which is both unique and can only emerge when life has a few wrinkles in it. Trust me, you miss it when it’s gone.

Sure, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US have their wonders. But Britain – at its best – has a unique combo: history, humour, stunning countryside, and an alpha world city all within a landmass traversable in less than a day.

Beyond that, we have the only universities on earth in the same league as the top American ones, able to compete in tomorrow’s growth technologies. We have a world beating defence industry, which I’d wager we are going to be beyond grateful for in the coming years. Only London vies with New York as the world’s financial capital.

We remain one of the world’s top five economies, one of only five permanent members of the UN Security Council and recognised nuclear weapons states (and could be fully independent of US cooperation with a bit of will and cash) and one of the planet’s maybe three or four blue water navies.

Our problems – whether migration, crime or debt – are not unique to us. I’d say France and the US are broadly worse on all three metrics. We also haven’t yet tapped the benefits of Brexit or the CANZUK opportunity to unite with Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

We may be down but we are not out. We have plenty to fight for and our problems are fixable. We could control our borders. We could build more houses. We could get taxes, spending and debt down. Our deadbeat uniparty politicians have chosen not to.

I warn about the dangers of the Conservatives because I don’t want you all to be sucked in by a party which abjectly failed you over 14 years. I haven’t junked my UK passport and indeed have applied for one for my newborn. The UK may be in the last chance saloon, but I truly believe it has at least a chance to turn around. Don’t give up just yet.