The UK's retreat from foundational chemical industries like ammonia and ethylene production poses systemic risks to healthcare and defense, according to Bloomberg's Merryn Somerset Webb and Sky News' Ed Conway. Conway argues the nation's loss of core manufacturing capacity, driven by high energy costs and complacency about imports, is eroding industrial resilience. Raw materials like salt, ethylene, and soda ash, essential for pharmaceuticals and fertilizers, are increasingly sourced from abroad, creating vulnerabilities. This shift away from the physical economy towards digital services leaves the UK exposed as global demand for net-zero infrastructure and AI data centers surges.