PRIDE BEFORE A FALL

make Manchester the most glamorous city in Europe.

villages are among the most charming anywhere and we have the Lake and Peak districts, the Chilterns and the Cotswolds.

There was ­ and is ­ a lot to be proud of, but there has always been an undertone of arrogance and perceived superiority, probably resulting from the possession of a vast British Empire. It took us half a century to come to accept its disintegration (or its members’ liberation ­ or independence!).

It is natural to want to see arrogant attitudes humbled. Unfortunately, despite its problems and failures, the UK, especially England, falls into that category. From the days of imperialism and colonialism through sport and politics to Brexit, the UK still appears to consider itself too superior to listen to and learn from others. Pride (or complacency) is one of the major causes of the current demise.

Presently this manifests itself most clearly in the complacency of Conservative government ministers who, after more than 12 years of catastrophic failure, repeatedly express pride in what they and their party have achieved. They promise a worldbeating NHS and an education system second to none. While there is nothing wrong with optimistic and ambitious targets, this is about as realistic as a pledge to

THE British Benevolent Fund is one of the oldest charities in Spain for the British community. It was set up under the auspices of the embassy and with whom it still maintains a close relationship through the consular network.

Many people assume that the consulate have the financial resources to fund Britons in need and distress, which they do not. Instead the consulates look to partners, including the British Benevolent Fund across the country to step in when there are no other alternatives.

After Brexit there are many Britons who had been living in Spain who found themselves as not officially resident with no right to Spanish state support or healthcare.

For those who have health issues and no resources for private health care this increasingly means a return to the UK.

Many times, those returnees are alone with no family, elderly with health issues and no or limited resources. Imagine the feeling.

It’s not a happy ending to a life lived in Spain.

The consulates do the heavy

And I believe it is this arrogance that led to Brexit and all the UK’s economic, political and social woes. If deep concern for my country’s future makes me a ‘Brexit moaner’, so be it. When you look at our current predicament, membership of the EU, for all its shortcomings, worked well for our country for 47 years, with free movement of people, goods and services among and within our most important partner countries. But no! It was not considered good enough for the UK. Getting back into the club is probably about as likely as Russia being admitted, but I fear we would be too proud even to think about it.