Research shows the UK is the “poorest” in north-western Europe

Research has shown that Boris Johnson is the prime minister of the poorest country in North-Western Europe in terms of per capita prosperity.

An analysis by the House of Commons Research Library – based on data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – shows that Great Britain lags behind all 13 of its neighbors in terms of wealth per capita.

Figures for 2021 show the UK’s per capita GDP is just £31,038 – behind other underperforming countries including France at £32,622 and Finland at £34,187.

Luxembourg has the highest GDP per capita in north-western Europe at £80,000 – followed by Ireland (£65,411) and Switzerland (£50,015).

Nicola Sturgeon’s party took advantage of these numbers, claiming that they showed why Scotland would be better off parting ways with “the poor man of North Western Europe”.

Westminster Scottish National Party vice-president Kirsten Oswald said there was evidence that independent countries the size of Scotland or smaller “outperform” Britain.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that independence is the only way to achieve Scotland’s full economic potential – so that we can be as prosperous and successful as our European neighbors,” Oswald said.

“Great Britain is the poor man in northwestern Europe – the lowest per capita wealth of any country in the 21st century and a prosperity gap with our European neighbors that has only gotten worse over the past two decades.”

IMF figures also show that the wealth gap between the UK and its closest European neighbors has widened over the past 20 years.

The UK’s per capita GDP in 2000 was around £5,000 less than the North-West European average (7.6 percent below the average). In 2021 the difference widened to around £10,000 (16.3 percent below the average).

Johnson has promised that Brexit will lead to “national renewal” and increase economic opportunities for Britain around the world.

but current analysis of at liberty Recent research on UK GDP suggests that the damage caused by Brexit is between £400m and £800m per week.

A UK government spokesman said: “The UK government will continue to help the people of Scotland – our economy is one of the strongest in the world, thanks in large part to our strength or our union.

“Scotland is benefiting from a £352 billion coronavirus aid package, one of the most generous in the world, protecting one in three Scottish jobs and more than 90,000 businesses.”