>In my old home town there used to be two light engineering firms Lister Petter (makers of marine Diesel engines) and Mawdsleys again light engineering. Plus a furniture manufacturers Bymacks.
>
>None of those exist any more
>
>Neither does British Leyland which was partially nationalized in 1975. Shows what a great job the government does running businesses....


But none of my examples where state owned. But they all failed under Conservative governments that really didn't care about manufacturing.

In my old home town (Dursley) there is now no large employers. The knock on effect is that local shops close as there is no passing trade. The town used to fill at 5.00 pm with workers on their way home who would use the local shops. So unregulated private enterprise has devastated the town.