Britain: The next European superpower

For a country apparently in inexorable decline, the UK has a brilliant future ahead of it. It may no longer have an empire, a decent football team, a trustworthy banking system or affordable public debts, but the future still looks bright.

So bright, in fact, that by 2050 Britain will have the largest GDP per capita of any major Western European country, according to Ruth Lea, economic adviser to the Arbuthnot Banking Group.