UK reindustrialisation
by
Malcolm Mackley
22.07.2026
At the current age of 79, I am old enough as a teenager to have enjoyed the social revolution of the 1970s with the UK leading such things as the emancipation of women, pop music and also possessing world leading chemical companies such as ICI, world leading food companies such as Unilever and two fine oil companies BP and Shell.
In the 1980s, things began to change and the UK was one of the first countries to move away from coal which at the time, was the main source of UK energy supply. This movement away from coal was brought about by Nordic countries complaining about acid rain from UK emissions, cheaper coal availability from open cast mining abroad, and coal miner politics. Gradually; Manufacturing industries such as chemicals, cement, steel, glass products, vehicles and ceramic industries, began to become expensive and the belief started to emerge that the ‘UK was too expensive to be a major manufacturing country’. At the time, the emergence of the IT revolution was anticipated to replace traditional heavy industry.
The 1970s also marked the discovery of North Sea oil and gas for both Norway and the UK. In hindsight; the Norwegians handled this well with the Norwegian government controlling revenue and then establishing a sovereign fund from which every Norwegian person currently benefits. The UK handled this potential economic bonanza less well and at the time were preoccupied in privatising ‘everything’. However; in the 1970s the UK had another energy source; nuclear power and along with France were European leaders in the technology. France continued into the late 20th century and has remained active and competitive; however the UK paused in their development of new reactors and is presently playing catch up in the 21st century.
My whole point is that only now, in 2026 are the words reindustrialisation of UK industry being used. Collectively the UK has slipped into the belief that heavy engineering is not appropriate for the UK.
Global warming has also emerged as a very important factor, along with the belief that whilst importing ‘stuff’ is allowed, manufacturing it in the UK is not allowed. This reminds me of a 1980s quote from a Cambridge entrepreneur. ‘In the UK you have to obey UK rules. If you go far enough away from the country, you can do what you want.’
The UK now needs to reindustrialise in order to provide current and future wealth; also employment and some independence from other countries.
