Among other things, I've been mulling over Andrea Widburg's scathing take in her January 2026 American Thinker piece: Britain's once-mighty empire — spanning a quarter of the globe, coloured red on old maps — has withered into an "impotent, useless" shell, too radical even for moderate Muslim nations like the UAE. Widburg contrasts the moral steel of 19th-century Britain, which boldly abolished barbaric practices like suttee (widow-burning) in India, with today's self-loathing quagmire of welfarism, unchecked immigration, and institutional rot. Drawing on Allister Heath's Telegraph op-ed, she paints a nation that's not just declining, but actively sabotaging itself through Leftist policies intertwined with Islamism.
The Lion's Lost Roar: From Moral Empire to Moral Vacancy
Widburg nails the historical pivot: In 1829, Lord William Bentinck, Governor-General of the East India Company, outlawed suttee despite fears of Hindu backlash. Driven by "dreadful responsibility" to Christian values, he ended a practice that claimed thousands of widows annually — often coerced into flames amid societal pressure. This wasn't just benevolence; it was the confidence of an empire that believed its civilisation superior and worth exporting. Bentinck also curbed female infanticide and human sacrifice, betting British righteousness would prevail over unrest.
Fast-forward to 2026: That self-assurance is extinct. As Heath argues in his Telegraph piece, Britain hasn't been this "weak and irrelevant" since the early 1500s, pre-Armada and pre-East India Company. The decline? Self-inflicted: Welfarism bloated the state, egalitarianism stifled excellence, risk aversion killed innovation, demographic slumps (fertility at 1.4 children per woman) invited mass immigration without integration, over-regulation strangled growth, environmentalism (net zero zeal) hiked energy costs, pacifism gutted the military, and self-hatred eroded core values. Heath calls for radical fixes: Double defence spending to 5% GDP, slash welfare, deregulate energy, and abandon net zero delusions. Without them, Britain remains a "vassal" to America, preaching "human rights" while lacking the muscle to back it.
Economically, the slide is stark. Once the world's richest, Britain now ranks 35th in GDP per capita (purchasing power parity). North Sea oil output plummets, forcing reliance on pricey US LNG imports — ironic for a nation that could frack but won't. Heath blasts rent-seeking over wealth creation: Subsidised arts and humanities degrees drain billions, while nuclear builds lag. The result? A economy hooked on population growth via immigration, yet crippled by housing shortages and welfare dependency.
The Toxic Tango: Leftism, Islamism, and Institutional Decay
Widburg's sharpest jab: Britain's woes stem from Leftism's alliance with Islamism, both eroding Western institutions in a power grab. Leftists, she argues, bet on prevailing in the endgame — but Islam, retaining gender norms and warrior ethos, holds the edge.
Exhibit A: Academia's radicalism repels even moderate Muslims. In June 2025, the UAE slashed government scholarships for UK universities, citing London's soft handling of Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood. While US, Australian, French, and even Israeli institutions made the cut, Britain's were axed — ostensibly over "academic freedom" defences that ring hollow. UK officials shrugged, prioritising free speech for radicals while stifling others.
Case in point: The Henley College fiasco. In late 2025, a politics teacher in his 50s was ousted after showing A-level students Donald Trump videos — including inauguration footage — while discussing US politics. Referred to Prevent (the government's counter-terrorism program) as a "priority," he was likened to a terrorist. Henley College, just outside Oxford, escalated a routine lesson to child safeguarding authorities, forcing his exit. Would the same zeal apply to pro-Palestine or BLM content? Unlikely — this reeks of ideological Leftist bias.
This rot amplifies Heath's point: Britain camouflages weakness with "soft power," but Trump exposes the bluff. Ignoring UK on Greenland or Maduro, he treats Europe as peripheral — America respects only strength, not sermons.
Signs of Rebellion: Polls, Protests, and the People's Pushback
Yet Widburg sees hope in the "lumpen masses," awakening from welfare's opiate as culture erodes, children face abuse (e.g., grooming scandals), and freedoms vanish. Keir Starmer's favourability? A dismal 18%, with 72-74% disapproval. Labour trails badly: A January 2026 YouGov poll puts them third, behind Reform UK (leading) and Tories. More in Common's MRP projects a Reform majority if elections were today, based on 16,000+ respondents. Another poll gives Reform an 8-point lead at 26%+, Labour at 17%, Conservatives at 19%.
Protests signal grassroots fury. "Operation Raise the Colours" in 2025 flew English flags nationwide, sparking anti-immigration debates. Tommy Robinson's "Unite the Kingdom" rally in September drew 110,000-150,000, featuring nationalist speeches and clashes (26 officers injured). While media labels it "far-Right," attendees voiced frustrations over integration failures — drawing folks who'd overlook Robinson's extremism for change.
Eclipse or Rebirth? The Fork in the Road
Widburg's verdict: Britain's elite-driven disaster could end if the people rouse like "fierce, patriotic dragons." Unarmed populace vs. inept police? It's a gamble, but history shows Brits can pivot — think Magna Carta or WWII defiance. Yet without slashing migration, rebuilding the military, and reclaiming values, the empire's heir risks becoming a cautionary tale: Too radical for allies like the UAE, too weak for foes.
In 2026, the choice is stark. Embrace Heath's reforms — 5% defence GDP, welfare cuts, energy freedom — or fade further. Trump's America watches with indifference; the world moves on. But if Reform surges and protests swell, perhaps the lion stirs. Truth is, decline isn't fate—it's policy. Time for Britain to choose revival over requiem.
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