Current precarious condition in Britain is due to the lack of Industry and Research & Development in the science and technology sector. Yes there is Dyson and BAE systems, but this is no where near what Britain was before. As an international student studying engineering, i feel there are no employment prospects here, or those which are lucrative. Business graduates don't work anywhere near as hard and get paid so much more. Why would people study science then?
But look how Britain and other nations which went the way of financial services, are paying dearly for it, meanwhile those countries which have strong manufacturing and R&D base, are doing well enough.
It really is a shame.