[Isofarro]

"the death of manufacturing in the UK is mainly due to the government totally failing to invest in R&D for the last 15 years or so."

Interesting. Why is it the government's obligation to invest in R&D (of manufacturing?), surely that's the responsibility of the manufacturers themselves?

[mattmanser]

They problem is that they don't, they'll take the low-risk route every time.

The debate included anecdotes saying that China, Germany and America have been pumping %-wise much higher amounts into R&D (or schemes to 'encourage' it) through their governments compared to the UK.

[blasterford]

To a socialist it's the governments obligation to do everything.