Brexit: is the UK finished or about to have a new lease of life?

London is a favourite place to work. UK universities still rate highly internationally. The UK has one of the world's largest economies; it attracts more foreign direct investment than France or Germany; unemployment is low. It is safe: a person is 51 times more likely to be shot in the US than in the UK

Therefore crisis creates opportunities. A crisis forces people to think (under pressure) more creatively. Freed from EU constraints, the UK could begin economic experiments such as "locally led development" whereby a location handles its own economic progress, including local currencies like "Bristol pounds". This development is currently hindered by EU procurement policies which are based on equality for all across the EU. Another experiment is at Preston, whereby "anchor institutions" (colleges, police, housing associations, university) are obliged to spend money locally.

To conclude, the value of creating scenarios is that they encourage us to think more broadly about what could happen. History never stands still; we never reach a plateau where we can take a breather. We must listen for the faint signals of change.

We must be ready to think about the unthinkable.