Business & Money

The changing face of modern Britain

New government figures have revealed the decline of traditional Britain under Labour in a modern Domesday Book.

The research, which has been compared to the famous 1086 land and livestock survey by William the Conqueror, details the loss of Britain's community services in recent years in favour of businesses revolving drinking, gambling and depravity.

While local libraries, schools and post offices have fallen into decline (6%, 10% and 39% decrease respectively), wine bars (16%), nightclubs (26%) casinos (27%) have all seen an increase while Labour has been in power.

Betting shops and lapdancing clubs have seen some of the highest increases, with the number of bookies spiking to an additional 1,270 (39% increase).

Meanwhile, Britain, which is thought have had 24 lapdancing clubs by 1997, has spawned another 276 strip clubs, showing an incredible 1,150% increase.

Local grocery stores and corner shops were also hit as the number of large chain supermarkets soared by 50% and hypermarket stores rocketed a 49% increase.

Drive-through restaurants showed the second highest increase with over 500 more branches being added to Britain's landscape, a 53% increase.

However on the other side, almost 200 public libraries have been axed and a further 150 swimming pools ceased to exist.

During the same period, a staggering 3,460 traditional pubs poured their last pints, 6,220 petrol stations fell and nearly 12,000 sports and social clubs closed their doors.

Now you see it...
Great things vanishing
from Britain's shores.

The UK also lost almost 600 hospitals and clinics and 200 police stations since the government came to power in 1997.

Tory communities spokesman, Justine Greening, said the survey showed Labour had failed to protect key services.

"Labour has presided over the decline of traditional Britain and watched as our local communities are damaged," she said, "local neighbourhoods have lost access to essential local services and facilities."

The research was conducted by the Valuation Office Agency as part of a revaluation of business rates.

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government insisted that the figures didn't paint a full picture of community life and that other opinion studies have shown most people are happy with their communities.