You have to compare to what the UK would be doing within the EU, though. Also, these things take years to sort out. It's only been 6 months, and the British government is already reneging on the rules it approved in Brexit agreement. We'll see if all this fawning on the US is worth alienating the rest of Europe.

The UK is a great country. Over the long term it'll probably be fine, if it manages not to disintegrate. Even I, as a European, could see some possible upsides to Brexit. Not worth the downsides, but still. However, it requires playing it well and subtly, which the current government (and the couple of previous ones; Britain has been terribly governed for a long time)seems intent on not doing. It requires pragmatism, not ideology. At the moment it is looking weak and desperate. For example, I really cannot understand how someone would think that the UK was exploited as part of the single market, but the Australian farce is acceptable. Or why the TPP is an idea worth antagonising most of Europe.