The Labour legacy is there, the mountain of debt and depletion of reserves, nothing we can do about that now, so we may as well stop bleating. The fact is that we are also seeing a two tier Europe opening up which is impacting on us, Northern Europe still strong for exports, the South in recession, strong exports to the USA and Far East, but then it does appear the skids are coming under the Chinese economy (that's actually more worrisome for the Germans then us as out of our export total only 3% goes there, whereas in Germany it's 30%).
That stat actually brings up a hell of a question and that is it appears that many companies and perhaps our Government (past and present) have not pushed enough for the Chinese market.............we can't afford such complacency.
Plan B for me would include pushing on with Plan A - it is imperative we have to work the deficit and debt down. However, I would now chuck Trident in favour of (i) the Forces (ii) the second Aircraft carrier (iii) and the balance to be used in business promotion and development, directly from government and not through the current banks. A tax could also be brought in on the banks that penalises their failure to lend money to businesses, i.e. if they don't hit a certain performance strike rate, then they lose it. Also, it's time for a shake-up of complacency in the retail banking sector by making it easier for competition to develop, and perhaps encourage more the building society type of operation again.
The High Street - well that is more complex than what folk are whittling on about. It's changing - period, not only by the disposable income in folk's pockets but by changing channels (advent of internet being the largest), the change in distribution (where is the Royal Mail in this - plonkers - killing themselves and before gromit and his lot scream - then justify their overseas rates!!!), never mind other retail sources.
NJ's yarn of the lack of service in stores unfortunately is also true and part of the demise - the "I can't give a feck attitude that is killing certain chains.
For example, I went into Boots to buy my brand of deodorant - they didn't have it. "When will you have a new batch in?" "I don't know" - "Could you order me one then?" "I don't know." "Could you find out then?" Grumpily, she comes back, "He doesn't know either." Result, I go on-line and buy it 30% cheaper and delivered by courrier in 3 days, they have lost my business and, in doing so, made me more internet-shopping savvy and prone to make a lot more purchases that way. Idiots.