Kind of hilarious really. Or pitiful. We had the National Research Development Corporation (to patent and commercialise research) and the various defence resea

Kind of hilarious really. Or pitiful. We had the National Research Development Corporation (to patent and commercialise research) and the various defence research establishments. Gave multiple successful innovations, including the hovercraft and commercial use of carbon fibre. Also involved in the Miles M52 that government essentially gave to the US. It became the Bell X-1 - compare the photos - X-1 was famous for some reason. What's more, those defence establishments had world renowned reputation. Thatcher sold the lot. I call hogwash on this idea though - it would require government research funding. The Tory party has been allergic to that since 1979.