Forget Brexit, the real challenge is creating enough wealth for an ageing population

In or out of the EU, the focus should be on be boosting skills and productivity in the north to match those in the south-east

Roll the clock back a year and Britain was in the middle of the EU referendum battle. The remain side was warning about the economic consequences of Brexit; the leave side was extolling the benefits of taking back control. Leave won decisively but narrowly enough to give the remainers hope that the public would rethink its decision.

The general election campaign has exposed that hope as a fantasy. Brexit is accepted as a political given by both the Conservatives and Labour. The Liberal Democrats have struggled despite promising to hold a second referendum. Britain will indeed "take back control" in early 2019. And then what?

Related: How Britain can build a successful, lasting industrial strategy