EU standards on fire retardancy are lower than UK standards. I posted a story a while back where mattresses made in China to EU standards were mistakenly sold in the UK. I saw them being tested and they were blazing very quickly. Those made to UK standards didn't. EU standards are not the best they could be. People holidaying in Europe should bear this type of thing in mind.
According to Loake they still make shoes in Kettering because there are still people who want to buy British made products. Loake also source shoes from India, Italy and Portugal. These shoes are cheaper but still of good quality. I'm sure that method could be applied to other goods too.
A lot of people buy according to price but not everyone does. We have had 'buy British' drives before, why shouldn't people respond to such a call again? Let's be positive and hope we can once again be renowned for our skills and craftmanship.
Loake and Hardy make products in UK, I buy their "British Made" rather than "designed in UK made in Far East" because I like to buy British and can afford to for some stuff but not every one can afford to and the UK no longer make everything. I can't afford to buy a British car (there's only about Morgan and TVR left anyway) so I buy American or Chinese (Ford or Volvo to you).
Where EU standards are concerned the EU only have power to issue a directive it is then up to member states to draft laws and standards for their implementation within that state. If the implementation laws and standards the UK drafted disadvantaged it the UK know who to blame.
Just a useless aside: why did we lose out? We had Land Rover yet in the Middle East it is all Toyota pick ups?
Most modern family cars are five door, five speed, front wheel drive transverse engine; first one on the scene Austin Maxi.