In a striking assessment from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Lady Mayor Susan Langley has issued a powerful warning about the damaging effects of British self-deprecation on the nation's economic standing. The City of London's ambassador for financial services contends that persistent pessimism within the UK is actively undermining its reputation on the global stage, despite the country maintaining its position as one of the world's most attractive investment destinations.
The Global Perception Challenge
While attending the prestigious international gathering last week, Lady Mayor Langley reflected on the latest PwC CEO survey findings that placed Britain in second position among global investment hotspots, sharing this ranking with Germany and India. "I've always been a glass-half-full person," she noted, "and I remain so today. However, these results highlight an undeniable reality: international competitors are closing the gap with remarkable speed."
The Lady Mayor emphasised that during her Davos engagements, she repeatedly addressed the critical issue of misinformation and disinformation circulating about London and the broader United Kingdom. "There are active efforts to undermine our reputation through false narratives," she observed, adding that the problem is compounded by the British tendency to focus excessively on perceived weaknesses rather than celebrating genuine strengths.
Celebrating British Excellence
Lady Mayor Langley pointed to several areas where the UK demonstrates world-leading capabilities that deserve greater recognition:
- Green finance innovation and sustainable investment frameworks
- Fintech development and digital financial services
- Data analytics and artificial intelligence applications
- Scotland's remarkable offshore wind capacity, now ranking among the world's top ten markets with a 40.5 gigawatt pipeline
- The Scottish financial services sector's substantial £17 billion contribution to the UK economy, supporting over 150,000 skilled positions
"We excel at discussing our shortcomings but hesitate to champion our genuine achievements," she remarked, urging a fundamental shift in national discourse.
Strengthening the London-Edinburgh Alliance
Another dominant theme emerging from Davos discussions involved growing geoeconomic tensions between major powers, which threaten decades of international integration and challenge the stability of global financial systems. In this increasingly fragmented landscape, Lady Mayor Langley stressed the imperative for enhanced collaboration between London and Edinburgh.
"As two capital cities central to the global financial architecture, built upon open markets and respect for legal frameworks, we must intensify our cooperative efforts," she asserted. The interconnectedness between the two cities extends across multiple domains:
- University partnerships driving world-class research in artificial intelligence and other innovative fields
- Integrated energy grids and digital infrastructure networks
- Transport connections facilitating movement and exchange
Lady Mayor Langley highlighted the renewed Partnership Agreement between the City of London Corporation and the Scottish government as particularly significant. "This represents more than symbolic intent," she explained. "It constitutes a practical commitment to collaborative working and creating opportunity pathways for individuals from diverse backgrounds to succeed within financial and professional services."
Building Inclusive Opportunity
The Lady Mayor addressed concerns about social polarisation and uneven opportunity distribution, noting their detrimental impact on national competitiveness. "Talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not," she stated, expressing her shared ambition with First Minister John Swinney to demonstrate that financial and professional services offer rewarding careers accessible to all, regardless of background.
As Britain prepares to celebrate Burns Night with Scottish leadership at Mansion House, Lady Mayor Langley concluded with a resonant message: "In these uncertain times, we must remember that cooperation between London and Edinburgh represents strength, not conformity. Our complementary skills and expertise make us natural partners whose collaboration has never been more essential."
