I think that
The British Disease, or
The English disease once had a different meaning.
After World War II, and the decline of British industry, the lament went up over the loss of position, and status in the world, to the United States.
Under Margret Thatcher, and now Tony Blair, they have regained some of what they lost. Enough, at least, so there is now a different disease.
DMan, I think the old disease, and its mutation, is called Blatcherism.