Some use the phrase "Sons of Great Britain" as an insult to the vanished empire that today eats from the hand of the United States in its predatory, abusive practices against smaller nations militarily, but rich in natural resources.

It is on the front line, faithfully following the directives of the Empire for the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian, supplying it with extensive logistical, military, and monetary support to swell the monetary dividends of national proxies abroad, ensuring them a promising future ahead of the impending flight.

Thus, Britain strikes its own economy, which is not compensated by its extensive arms sales, now financed with money from its other North Atlantic Treaty Organization partners trying to prevent any agreement that would end the fighting.

All this in the midst of a decade of austerity, though not for the wealthy classes, who continue to enjoy infinite privileges at the expense of a working people suffering countless hardships.

Years ago, Britain was an example to the rest of the world in healthcare and all those virtues that in Cuba, despite the blockade and the shortages it generates, we strive to provide to the population in general.

But today, official figures do not lie when they reveal that one in three children in the United Kingdom lives in poverty.

Social benefits, affecting the most vulnerable sectors of the population, including minors, show that child poverty has reached a record level, notes the American network Cable News Network.

Some 4.5 million children—that is, one-third of all children—live in poverty, the channel indicates, citing a government report. Furthermore, one million of them lack basic needs, such as heating, clothing, or food, it specifies.

"According to data published by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, childcare in the UK is more expensive than in most rich countries: it accounts for about 25% of a couple's net income and nearly 60% of a single parent's net income," it adds.

In this year of 2025, the level of child poverty in Britain is higher than in any European Union state except Greece, the publication notes. Moreover, its growth rate exceeds that of many other nations. If nothing changes by 2030, another 300,000 minors will fall below the poverty line.

To all this is added the youth unemployment crisis. More than half a million men under the age of 25 are not in education or employment in the United Kingdom, a trend experts call a "tragedy of wasted potential," reported the English newspaper 'The Telegraph.'

The UK records 512,000 young males who are not in education, employment, or training, an increase of 15,000 in just three months, according to data published by the Office for National Statistics. In contrast, the number of young women in the same situation fell to 434,000, widening the gap between the sexes.

Adzuna—a global job search engine—attributes part of the phenomenon to job availability in traditionally female sectors, such as elderly care and education, while entry-level positions have fallen to their lowest level in five years.

In total, 940,000 young Britons were classified as not in education or employment. Stephen Evans, chief executive of the Learning and Work Institute, warned that these figures remain "worryingly high" and that the lack of opportunities for young people represents "a serious loss of potential."

Although the British government launched an inquiry to address the crisis, civil organizations warn that only one in four young people receives support to find work, and that apprenticeship programs are insufficient.

The government attempts to reverse the trend with the Youth Guarantee, which will require young people unemployed for 18 months to accept a paid job or risk losing benefits, although economists warn the program will only reach a minimal fraction of those affected.

Likewise, an epidemic of bankruptcies among commercial airlines has intensified during the last half of 2025, leaving thousands of passengers affected.

The most recent case is that of the British company Blue Islands, which declared bankruptcy and canceled all its flights a few days ago. This regional company offered its services for 26 years, according to a statement. This airline ordered 65 Boeing 777Xs for $38 billion at the Dubai Airshow 2025, but a debt of over nine million dollars is reported to have been the definitive impediment that led to the immediate cessation of its operations.

Prior to this, Eastern Airways, another UK-based airline, resorted to courts to avoid liquidation, while leaving hundreds of passengers stranded, forcing its former competitor to offer flights with "rescue fares," reported The Street.

ON THE BRINK OF CRISIS

Although it is a relatively small island nation, England has exerted enormous financial power and dominance over the centuries. London has long been a global financial center! The pound sterling has been the global monetary standard and remains one of the world's strongest currencies. Furthermore, the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 enjoys worldwide prestige. The British standard of living also remains among the highest in the world.

However, something is amiss in the British economy. Its apparent wealth and financial superiority are something of a mirage. When the new Labour government took office in July 2024, Reuters published an article titled: England is ruined, declares new government (July 29, 2024). Although the new government intentionally used alarmist language to blame its predecessors for England's current financial problems, the observation was correct and, in fact, shed light on a problem that has been brewing in the country for decades.

As one Telegraph commentator lamented: "The lights are on, but no one in the besieged British government wants to know" (January 25, 2025). The instructive title of the commentary was: "England is on the brink of a full-blown fiscal crisis." The author also noted that other countries see England as "a middling economy in decline, on the fringes of Europe, still struggling to derive economic benefit from Brexit." The crux of the matter is that England, a nation with scant domestic savings, is borrowing considerably; it has become increasingly dependent on foreign money to make ends meet.

Internal analysis shows that since 2020, eight UK councils (municipalities) have declared bankruptcy (Telegraph, November 27, 2024); often due to bad investments that councilors hoped would help mitigate their financial deficits. Rising housing and elderly care costs, often borne by councils, are virtually impossible to manage.

As for the national government, expenditures such as social security, public sector pensions, and student loan debt are sinking the economy. Several universities are forecast to go bankrupt in the coming years, likely requiring a government bailout.
The National Audit Office (NAO), responsible for overseeing the spending of over 10,000 public bodies, has reported a "serious delay" in its audits of public accounts. This means the government is spending money without a clear knowledge of available funds. As one financial analyst put it: "The harsh reality is that the UK has been gradually running out of money for the past twenty years. We don't know exactly how close we are to running out of money. But the NAO's decision is a sign that the end could be much closer than anyone currently believes."

Economists forecast that higher public and household spending in 2025 will result in an improved British economy, outperforming the stagnation of European economies (Financial Times, January 2, 2025). However, with stagnant wage growth and rising unemployment, life for the average citizen will continue to worsen. Increased debt will likely force tax rises, further impacting the situation of the average wage earner.

And England is not alone in its financial troubles. Europe as a whole faces economic difficulties, but that is a topic for another commentary.

Translated by Amilkal Labañino / CubaSí Translation Staff