The net result, held at breakeven, was reported as being due to the positive contribution of foreign investment in the UK’s finance and insurance sector. The other positive was the influence of the fall in Sterling after the Brexit vote.
The post war decline of the 1960’s and 1970’s, if anything, proves that quick fixes have far reaching consequences. As the decision to devalue sterling encourages exports by making them cheaper, but at home it increases costs and makes consumers poorer, Inward Foreign investment is only a financial asset so long as you control the cost of trade and ultimately it drains opportunity for home gown capital assets. Home grown manufacturing of any kind of substantial size is pretty much extinct in Britain today, any producer of any standing has been eaten by a foreigner.