Sad to read that the MG Rover Car Group (Britain's last major car manufacturer) collapsed today after a deal with a Chinese car company fell through. My parents used to get deals on Rovers when their company, British Aerospace plc. owned them (and beyond when BMW bought them) but were far too loyal to Vauxhall to take it up.
How embarrassing that a British company relied heavily on a Chinese investor, who had no faith in their partner staying around long enough for it to work.
A taste of things to come in USA of the future, perhaps?
Isn't that already sort of happening - with China buying IBM?
Zed
The last car I bought in the UK before moving to Canada was a Rover 414.
Loved that car.
You have to wonder what is left of what made Britain Great.
Although most western countries have or are going the same way, it seems to have been worse for the UK.
As someone that grew up in the 30's and 40's, I cannot help but ask what has happened to all that made the country so vibrant.
In my early working life, almost everyone I knew worked in a manufacturing job. and we were building products that were not only built they were designed by British workers.
The same is slowly happening over here but it has always seemed to be more rapid in the UK. Even Ireland appears to be more productive nowadays. What has happened to British Pride?
I was reading what a bad position the company is in right now, what a mess. BMW Owns the brand name and will be quite happy to see rover vanish. It can restart the brand if it so choses with no debt, unions, run down buildings or political interference. They dont even own the land the production site stands, the dealerships or it's own finance company, this is a company with zero assets o
I feel for those expecting a pension, I just hope they are taken care of even if the tax payer foots the bill.
Still the 4th biggest economy in the world so i heard.
You have to wonder what is left of what made Britain Great.
Although most western countries have or are going the same way, it seems to have been worse for the UK.
As someone that grew up in the 30's and 40's, I cannot help but ask what has happened to all that made the country so vibrant.
In my early working life, almost everyone I knew worked in a manufacturing job. and we were building products that were not only built they were designed by British workers.
The same is slowly happening over here but it has always seemed to be more rapid in the UK. Even Ireland appears to be more productive nowadays. What has happened to British Pride?
Still the 4th biggest economy in the world so i heard.
You have to wonder what is left of what made Britain Great.
Although most western countries have or are going the same way, it seems to have been worse for the UK.
As someone that grew up in the 30's and 40's, I cannot help but ask what has happened to all that made the country so vibrant.
In my early working life, almost everyone I knew worked in a manufacturing job. and we were building products that were not only built they were designed by British workers.
The same is slowly happening over here but it has always seemed to be more rapid in the UK. Even Ireland appears to be more productive nowadays. What has happened to British Pride?
But based upon what? Nothing tangible such as manufacturing. And what has happened to those skills?
A nation of shopkeepers?
You have to wonder what is left of what made Britain Great.
Although most western countries have or are going the same way, it seems to have been worse for the UK.
As someone that grew up in the 30's and 40's, I cannot help but ask what has happened to all that made the country so vibrant.
In my early working life, almost everyone I knew worked in a manufacturing job. and we were building products that were not only built they were designed by British workers.
The same is slowly happening over here but it has always seemed to be more rapid in the UK. Even Ireland appears to be more productive nowadays. What has happened to British Pride?
Keith you,ve just hit a nerve .....
But based upon what??
based upon being bigger than number 5.
Britain's still vibrant. the economy is going great guns, and talking to my old fella, whom works on chimneys, his company turned over £1.8 million last year.
That's a lot of chimney's which equates to a lot of industry.
I still have very vivid memories of the British Leyland collapse even though I was only a nipper......my dad, grandad and uncles all worked there. I think the writing has been on the wall for rover for a while.
Every time I go home I am staggered at how many travel agents, estate agents, hairdressers and supermarkets there are without much else in the way of industry!
India has just become the fourth largest economy in the world after the US, China and Japan. I think we are around 6th with France!!
I still have very vivid memories of the British Leyland collapse even though I was only a nipper......my dad, grandad and uncles all worked there. I think the writing has been on the wall for rover for a while.
Every time I go home I am staggered at how many travel agents, estate agents, hairdressers and supermarkets there are without much else in the way of industry!
India has just become the fourth largest economy in the world after the US, China and Japan. I think we are around 6th with France!!
I also heard that some well off Indian families are employing English butlers and nanny's.
Queen Victoria would not be amused.
I still have very vivid memories of the British Leyland collapse even though I was only a nipper......my dad, grandad and uncles all worked there. I think the writing has been on the wall for rover for a while.
Every time I go home I am staggered at how many travel agents, estate agents, hairdressers and supermarkets there are without much else in the way of industry!
India has just become the fourth largest economy in the world after the US, China and Japan. I think we are around 6th with France!!
4th according to this. I think Gorden Brown also said the 4th, but then he has a vested interest.
http://www.australianpolitics.com/foreig...mies.shtml
You're probably right about China and India because these figures are from 2003 but then #3 Germany's economy has also tanked recently.
Whenever I am back in UK, I am suprised by the amount of cell phone stores that popped up while I was gone.
A nation of shopkeepers indeed as Nokia, Motorola et al are hardly British manufacturers (
I also heard that some well off Indian families are employing English butlers and nanny's.
Queen Victoria would not be amused.
Not surprised. B@stards are taking all of our jobs so maybe this is their way of giving some back... :x
I still have very vivid memories of the British Leyland collapse even though I was only a nipper......my dad, grandad and uncles all worked there. I think the writing has been on the wall for rover for a while.
Every time I go home I am staggered at how many travel agents, estate agents, hairdressers and supermarkets there are without much else in the way of industry!
India has just become the fourth largest economy in the world after the US, China and Japan. I think we are around 6th with France!!
4th according to this. I think Gorden Brown also said the 4th, but then he has a vested interest.
http://www.australianpolitics.com/foreig...mies.shtml
You're probably right about China and India because these figures are from 2003 but then #3 Germany's economy has also tanked recently.
Check this out....was written at the end of the year......
http://www.moneycontrol.com/backends/New...ono=158328
On the bright side we still have 2 of the worlds biggest companies BP & HSBC !!