Brexit is not only a concern for Britain’s economic future, it’s also threatening the country’s “street cred”: 2018 could mark the end of “Cool Britannia”.<br /><br />Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.st/2zF0LIE <br /><br />Could 2018 be the year Britain loses its cool? By autumn, the complex Brexit negotiations should be drawing to a close. Deal or no deal, what's decided before then will affect the future of Britain, and the continent, for decades to come. <br /><br />As Brexit begins to bite, not only is Britain's economic future in play but the country could lose its "street cred". <br /><br />20 years ago, Britain was riding on the crest of a wave of cool; Britpop ruled the airwaves, and the young, newly elected, Prime Minister Tony Blair, was pledging to build a new Britain. <br /><br />20 years on from Blair’s iconic address, Theresa May took to the stage at her conservative party conference, to deliver a less successful speech. As the ruling Conservative Party battles with Brexit, it's looking less cool than ever. <br /><br />And the poorly prepared Brexit negotiations aren’t doing much to improve their image. And all this could have a significant impact on how Britain is viewed by the rest of Europe. <br /><br />Britain's thriving creative industries currently generate $84 billion every year. That's over 4% of GDP. There's a danger London could start losing out on the world's best creative talents. <br /><br />But the vote for Brexit in June 2016 has so far done a lot less economic damage than many expected. Consumer spending and business investment have held up.<br /><br />The employment rate is at a record high and although wage growth has been poor the jobs market has been running hot. <br /><br />Hardline Brexiteers suggest the country has nothing to fear if the prime minister walks away without a deal. Yet this would bring gale warnings for economy. So far, British businesses have been surprisingly resilient to this uncertainty. But if a no-deal Brexit looks increasingly likely, investment could suffer and things would take a turn for the worse. <br /><br />If Britain leaves without a deal, it risks becoming not only a poorer country but a far more isolated one. <br /><br />Daily Watch: mind-stretching short films throughout the working week.<br /><br />For more from Economist Films visit: http://econ.st/2zDKGTA <br />Check out The Economist’s full video catalogue: http://econ.st/20IehQk <br />Like The Economist on Facebook: http://econ.st/2zG8ypu <br />Follow The Economist on Twitter: http://econ.st/2zF6bmW <br />Follow us on Instagram: http://econ.st/2zERXTm <br />Follow us on LINE: http://econ.st/1WXkOo6 <br />Follow us on Medium: http://econ.st/2zCvrKx
