Bad news, but the basic problem is more basic than that:
Lack of accountability of civil servants for the economic burdens of the rules they invent.
Countless times we have debated here about the differences across the pond, with those who pride themselves on how hard it is to satisfy CAA saying this rigor somehow yields better pilots and safer aircraft.
Not only is this not proven by any stats I have seen, the opposite is true - excessive govenrment interference drives the aviation system downward.
The US has twice the aviation assets per capita - pilots, aircraft - half the operating costs and a somewhat lower accident record.
I suggest that you fix the system, because my experience is there are no greater aviation lovers on the planet than in the UK. You deserve better.