I concur about Whittle. The man succeeded against the bureaucrats... I read his biog and it is a classic demo of how determined you have to be. He was not only a genius technically but also a very strong-willed man. It should not have to be like this. Luckily the Germans were beset by their own problems at the same time. One wonders what the outcome would have been if the Meteor and Me 262 had met in a dogfight. My money's on the latter if all other things were equal.
Britain is its own worst enemy - radar, computers, hovercraft, motorbikes, jet engines and jet airliners etc., you name it we let others have the market.
I live not far from Bletchley Park and used to work for Plessey. So I know firsthand how the bureuacrats can screw you up.