Has our manufacturing base disappeared? We are the 9th on the list of global manufacturers.
Historically we have been a nation of traders only now we trade in financial services.
I'd suggest it was 2010 when, despite a global banking crisis which, apparently, was entirely the fault of Gordon Brown, Cameron failed to win a majority and that meant he had to appease those of the ERG ilk in his party and fend off losses to Farage and his cronies.
If I was going to turn back...