The post Empire industrial collapse was caused by the Empire collapsing
What a quaint anglophobic constructiuon. I look forward to seeing links to supporting documentation. Not that I expect to see any.

If it were to be true what explains the same industrial decline, decay, unemployment and drug use seen in the US, Germany and France? All of which is documented in abundance.
There are arguments that can be applied to make the UK a special case, but they are merely local modifiers of an inevitable process.
If young emerging markets produce a cheaper widget they will drive older uncompetitive industries to the wall. From heavy industry to textiles to leatherworks, if someone produces the same for a cheaper price they will take market share and you will cease to exist. Economic reality unless government subsidies exist.