The UK is useless diplomatically (and politically) anyway. Brown thinks he can influence the world, when he can't get his country to vote for him.

We aren't an economic power, save for the undue respect we get from when we were. We are in so much debt that not even optimistic propaganda-level predictions can forsee us with a balanced budget; our economy is all based on hollow consumer spending but we produce nothing of value except for financial services which have collapsed. Our government is unpopular but has refused to hold any elections until the last possible moment, while introducing stupid and unpopular policies(such as handing the music and film industry £1b to cut off the internet access of 'file sharers' while hoping to get the money back in increased VAT from music/film sales (which will fail)). The first thing they have promised to cut, instead of peripheral services, is higher education funding at a time when education is all that will save us from future economic disasters.

I hate living in Britain.

Two cousins of Akmal Shaikh also accused the West of double standards for citing human rights abuses to justify its invasions of countries such as Afghanistan but failing to take the same approach towards Beijing.

not to worry,we still have one of the best armed forces and certainly the best special forces...next time those chinese try and excecute an Briton,just call Andy Mcnab and his pals...