have i missed something …….
I think you might have. The UK is pulling out of recession. The previous quarter showed that the UK was barely in recession, this quarter, will probably show an overall growth. Yes you're right that some other European states have been quicker than the UK in pulling out of recession, but that is predominately due their much less reliance on the finance industries – I'm not sure how fair it is to put all the blame for the shift from manufacturing to finance, on Gordon Brown.
Shopping our way out of recession
"So far in December sales in the three key shopping streets in London – Oxford Street, New Bond Street and Regent Street – are up 10% on 2008, according to the New West End Company (NWEC), which represents retailers there. Sales are also ahead of December 2007, which was an all time record."
Next year will be better
"….you might be surprised to know that HSBC is forecasting the UK to have the fastest growth among the large European countries both next year and the year after. It is not at all alone. Goldman Sachs is also positive about UK growth…"