British manufacturing has declined dramatically as a share of the economy. Manufacturing accounted for around 33% of UK GDP in 1970, compared with roughly 9% of economic output today. Around 9 million people worked in British manufacturing in 1970; by 2024, that figure was approximately 2.7 million - a fall of about 70%. The UK still has a major manufacturing industry but its importance to the wider economy has more than halved in 50 years. @Henry Tufnell MP , MP for Pembrokeshire is PM For A DAY - would you vote for him? #pmforaday