Can you explain to me why so many British citizens who have always lived in UK are leaving it?
Posted by daizy_g@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 145 comments
I used to study and live in UK for 5 years and have always liked it there. I have many friends who stayed there after uni and worked for different companies. What I see now is many people leaving UK. Not only expats but local people as well. Can you please explain to me the reasons why so many locals are moving out of UK?
Captlard@reddit
Not immigration is still way higher than emigration. The number now is lower than a few years back
"The provisional estimate of the number of people emigrating out of the UK long-term in the year ending (YE) June 2022 was approximately 560,000. Non-EU nationals accounted for 195,000 of this long-term total, EU nationals accounted for 275,000 and British nationals 90,000." . Clearly not this years numbers. but would imagine the bandings to be similar. So not so many locals on the scale of things.
Thick_Kiwi_2362@reddit
where di they emigrate to
Captlard@reddit
destination
% of UK emigrants
typical yearly volume
Australia
~12–15%
~35,000–45,000
United States
~8–10%
~20,000–30,000
Spain
~7–9%
~20,000–25,000
Ireland
~6–8%
~15,000–20,000
Canada
~5–7%
~15,000–20,000
France
~4–6%
~10,000–15,000
New Zealand
~3–5%
~10,000–15,000
Portugal
~2–4%
~5,000–10,000
Mannerhymen@reddit
How does that compare to say 2019?
Captlard@reddit
Link has the stats
Mannerhymen@reddit
I can only see the graphs starting at 2020. The reason I wanted 2019 was because I would imagine that Covid interfered with migration slightly. But from the graphs provided , it looks like British emigration has increased. In the past few years.
Captlard@reddit
It’s probably buried in the web page prior: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration
Ok-Morning4886@reddit
I'm 27yo, have been in the UK for 20 years, and I want to leave and live in Europe. Here are my 7 reasons.
I finished Uni, got a managerial Job, which paid £25k per year.. 2 years after, I changed jobs, max I could get was 28k. Thing is, you're salaried, so often working 50h+ a week.
Maybe it's just my luck, but 5 companies I worked at, all of them were toxic. These fake British smiles with gossip behind your back and sarcasm really get under my skin.
I wanted to buy a house before covid.. a 3 bed house near town centre was about £120k. I saved up £15k over 4 years, the same house today costs £210k... and these are 100+ year old victorian terraced houses, with 0 insulation.. anything semi or detached will cost you upwards of £300k
I desperately tried to increase my income, so I worked sales jobs, it support jobs, managerial jobs etc... I could never make more than 30k per year.. The closest i got was with amazon flex and food deleveries which paid cash..
Post Brexit.. any company which sells internationally, exports goods, or is a major brand, doesn't have their headquarters in the UK, as it will cost them a lot more in fees, as opposed to having their infrastructure in Europe... So if you want to work for e.g. Nike or Mercedes, you're likely looking at Europe..
I mentioned house prices.. but rent prices.. £700 for a room in a share house in some unknown town, £800/1000 in a bigger city... for comparison, you would pay that much in Amsterdam or Roterdam, and could get a much better paying job as it's the capital..
The costs of owning a car... anywhere in Europe, you buy a car, insurance costs you 300/500 euro max a year, anyone can drive the car. Here, I bought an old Honda civic for £800, my annual insurance was £2200, just for me, when I added my partner, it was around £3k. Also, my dad drives a Van (Fiat Ducato), I wanted to learn how to drive it, but the insurance came up to £7000 a year... not £700, but £7,000 annually so that me and him could drive a van... he pays about £800 annually as he's older, but this is just ridiculous.
So yeah... not even mentioning the cold and rainy weather, or the 2 stabbings which happened last year in the park next to where I live.. these are my main 7 reasons as to why i want to leave this country..
Slight-Whereas-8375@reddit
PEsniper@reddit
Damn... And I thought Australia was shit
Slight-Whereas-8375@reddit
Quality of life is better outside of the UK. I left to a controversial location (naming it will provoke discussions), can’t even compare to the current state of the UK.
CrispyDave@reddit
The country has been seriously mismanaged for a long time.
Defiant-Watch-8447@reddit
Word. Correlli Barnett's history books show the same.
WorthSpecialist1066@reddit
The last decent governments were in the 1990s. John Major and Tony Blair. Both centrists. The UK is run b6 greedy fascists now
Defiant-Watch-8447@reddit
"The time of the Elves is over, my people are leaving these shores. Who will you look to when we've gone."
Mannerhymen@reddit
Many, many reasons. These are just the ones off the top of my head for why my friends and I have left over the past three or four years:
Some of these are new reasons to leave, some have always been there but were negated by being made up for in other ways. The only thing that would have kept me in the UK would be close access to friends and family, but they've all scattered all over the world now so there's not much reason for me to go back.
Academic_Loquat1997@reddit
That's it right there, I'm in Asia with all-round year sunshine but not so goo humidity but that's what AC is for. Anyhow, I am considering move back home to Ireland of UK but there is enough reminders that the countries I once knew no longer exists and all I'm going through is an emotional bond with a world long gone so, I will stay here. I'm deeply saddened by what they incompetent psychopaths have done to both Ireland and UK bit also much of Europe. Noting will change until their is a revolt and it's close. When it hits we are looking at all out civil and racial war. Not until those degenerate scum are dragged out by the heels and hung in the town square can people get re-organised. This is World War 3 and, as with 1 and 2, Europe will rebuild because It has to. People can adapt but not this one, this is the planned destruction of the Christian West and so far it's a failure and that makes them afraid. Something really bad is going to happen soon, the Russians believe it will be Moscow but some of us believe it will be London. And, Starmer is up for it. It's unbelievable that he's still in power when it was revealed he was poked Ukrainian rent boys and sniffing Cocaine (allegedly) with the other 2 on a train. Taht's how far we have sunk as a society when people like him remain in power.
Personal_Star_2127@reddit
It's disgusting how we still have Starmer in charge. He never kept his promise on stopping the boats. In fact he encourages them to stay.
Mannerhymen@reddit
What the fuck is this? This comment degenerated pretty fucking quickly.
dom_eden@reddit
I’d add record high taxes too. Council tax is increasing beyond the rate of wage rises as well. Fiscal drag is really hitting middle earners as well.
Mannerhymen@reddit
To the land down under. It's not the land of milk and honey, but it's significantly better than the UK in almost all the issues I listed above.
YodaTheCockroach@reddit
Australia mogs the UK to oblivion. It has both beauty and riches, unlike the garbage stain in the north Atlantic ocean.
EscapeElectrical9115@reddit
Record high tax to find Islamic terrorists 😂
YodaTheCockroach@reddit
Britain is basically a country with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Not even beautiful nature, interesting wildlife or attractive people. Bad traits do indeed come in packages.
EscapeElectrical9115@reddit
For me all of those reasons plus islamist/Muslims. And these areas are unfortunately always much much dirtier. Same in Germany. Difference though, right wing is on a massive rise on the continent (I'm child of immigrants myself and yet I support them because the left has become such whimps) and the government is finally taking its people serious now and deporting people and stopping criminals from entering. The UK, especially London has become much unsafer. In my neighborhood (all new build luxury apartments in Canary Wharf area) two Muslim women had died within 2-3 years, due to domestic violence of their partner. A community space started operating daily prayers as well. I am strongly against any abrahamic religions but at least nowadays Christians don't bother other people with their ideologies (except cults). But people in white chapel trying to enforce Sharia law in London? Fuck that. Seriously. I'm not staying in Europe for long though, I will work and travel here for the next 2 years here and then plan on going to one of the east Asian countries for some time (I'm east Asian and speak my languages fluently) and remain in Asia and see how Europe is in a few years time. But at least in east Asia I feel safe, because there aren't many Muslims. China has it under control an the other countries thankfully also. I hope Europe recovers and deports and bans, I love Europe and women have a much higher social position (even though a lot needs to be improved). But I'm not going to risk myself to become subject to some islamist regime or takeover (like Iran in the 70s or Afghanistan recently where women no longer can go to school) or even just higher risk of rape or violence on the street. I am shocked that there are now areas where I actually feel unsafe in GERMANY. Never had that feeling, not even as a preteen or teen walking home alone and wearing miniskirts and showing loads of skin. East Asia seems to be much much safer AND CLEANER. Cameras everywhere and no Muslims. There are always bad people but some cultures have more than others statistically (just judging by crime rate and what I see with my own eyes and have experiencd myself). In Japan you can leave your phone and purse on the table go to the toilet and no one will ever touch it.
DBS_31@reddit
Just so you know feminism is also a part of the reason society in the west is failing as a whole
EscapeElectrical9115@reddit
Disagree, independent women in a patriarchy are the reason. And the patricharchy has never really worked. In America people like you were slaves. In a ptrichary there is always some form of oppression of some people, for the past centuries it's definitely been women but also other people. It's a distinctively male ego thing, the oppression aspect. Also even in preislamic Arabia, some tribes were matriachies. Arab women were able to copulate with whomever they wanted and any man agreeing also agreed to be the father whether it was his seed or not. There is growing Historic evidence of that. In China there is a famous matriachical tribe as well, same goes for one in Africa. Their societies are peaceful and efficient. You can watch some documentaries about them.
If majority of the western society was mariachical it'd actually function much better and certainly much more peaceful. You have prime example of highly intelligent and organised animals/organisms that are all matriachies like bonobos, whales, elephants, bees, ants, lions etc. ALL matriachies. Women are physically weaker than men because our energy has gone into growing our brains. If you look at higher education statistics women generally are doing much better than men. We were hunter gatherers for a reason, women manage the society as they stay behind and keep everything under control, while men go out and hunt for days or months. Men and women have simply different strengths. Also nowadays countless cases have been proven, where women were on the forefront with scientific discoveries and some man took her work and gave himself the credit lmao. Same goes for things like surgery. If you want good surgery without complications it's safer to choose a female surgeon. They will be slower but they will do a much more safe and precise job, reducing complications and cost in the future. Women are also much more tactile and precise with their hands. Millennia of sewing and embroidery and other types of fine motoric skills have been selectively bred within women lol. And if the patricharchy wants women to cook and do domestic work, they ought to credit the best Michelin star restaurants to women. Since according to men "women" are the cooks. Yet how many women are top Michelin chefs? Stinks like hypocrisy or again oppression of women in the patriarchy. Anyhow, down vote all you want, we all know why. 🤏🤏🤏
ldxyg1@reddit
I would like to thank you and your people for bringing coronavirus to the world and fucking up our societies 🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳
ldxyg1@reddit
This dirty western man wants to go and infect the pure Asian countries, why doesn't he stay in his own land and preserve his own land instead of infecting the superior Asian race
No_Peach6751@reddit
just because Muslims in your area are practicing their religion by offering daily prayers, you think they are going to take over and implement "sharia law"?
bigfrowne@reddit
Do you feel a bit silly now they've called for Blasphemy laws?
node_0@reddit
I think you forgot to mention mass immigration
Mannerhymen@reddit
Because it’s not a negative. It’s just a product of our low birth rates.
bigfrowne@reddit
It's definitely a negative for some. My self for example.
Mannerhymen@reddit
There's a certain irony in complaining about immigrants then emigrating yourself.
Kindly-Present-4867@reddit
How is mass immigration not a bad thing??? And if someone has been forced out of their country by the genocide of their people through mass immigration that's ironic that they became an immigrant themselves?? Grow up and start living on planet earth.
Mannerhymen@reddit
So white brits are currently the victims of “genocide”. I must have missed the killing fields and concentration camps the last time I was there.
If you genuinely believe that mass immigration is resulting in genocide, then you decide to emigrate to, aren’t you just a bit of a hypocrite?
Or is that different somehow?
manfortoday@reddit
My own curated list which definitely overlaps:
SSTenyoMaru@reddit
Weak Christianity is a new one for me.
NansDrivel@reddit
Well, the citizens keep on electing the shitty government. Why?
Fresh-Possibility229@reddit
Like choosing which sister to fuck. We aren't left with much of a choice.
rlstrader@reddit
You're also describing Canada, sadly. Although the food is better, but the weather much worst.
MundaneCity3244@reddit
Not in BC where I am at lol
justanotherlostgirl@reddit
And lots of the U.S. too. I see how a lot of the lists people have provided here are horrible and it's hard to imagine thriving in these scenarios. I also see it the same in other countries in the West, if that helps to offer some perspective.
Mannerhymen@reddit
Many of these problems exist in most western countries to some degree, but I think the UK is on a bit of a downward spiral and there's a general feeling of hopelessness as a result.
JudgeIntelligent3902@reddit
I left for Singapore. Here are my reasons in descending order of importance:
Delicious-Tackle-227@reddit
Because it's no longer British
pedronz77@reddit
Between them, the government, businesses, foreigners and women destroyed the UK.
Slow_Pace_125@reddit
The UK is shit.
YodaTheCockroach@reddit
Always was, always will be.
bertles86@reddit
Overpriced failing infrastructure; public services like hospitals, GPs, dentists overrun and mismanaged; unrealisitc childcare costs; no real likelihood of getting on the property ladder in your lifetime; increase in pretty much all crime metrics; police no longer working for the people and not attempting to solve the most basic of crimes; increasingly scary cancel culture where different opinions are no longer accepted and minority views are directing policy.
Enough? Or you want more?
The UK is not a nice place to live, raise a family or plan your future. It's quite simple.
YodaTheCockroach@reddit
It NEVER was a nice place to live, just ask Victorian Londoners.
StunningAssistance79@reddit
It’s on the fast track to being a failed state with shit weather while the majority political leadership thinks they still rule an empire that the sun never sets on.
YodaTheCockroach@reddit
For the vast majority of history, countries with shit weather were also dirt poor as a rule. The last 2 centuries are an exception to the rule and an anomaly.
manfortoday@reddit
It will go the way of Argentina unless a rapid transformation occurs. Even in the best case scenario, that would take 15-20 years before things got better instead of worse.
You can't reverse decades of national decline in a single parliament or even two. That's assuming the public wanted it. Suggest you must cut the NHS or public sector at all, to fund pensions some other way. Those parties will lose the election.
Leading_Flower_6830@reddit
It's already failed state
daizy_g@reddit (OP)
Well UK used to be huge empire...
Puzzleheaded-Mood549@reddit
A hordes of illegal migrants welcomed and housed in 5*hotels by Tool the Traitor. These "talented individuals" spend their days wandering around the neighbourhoods and intimidating the locals, loitering near the primary schools.... And then the Pakistani "grooming gangs" all over the country, churches and pubs being converted into mosques, raging antisemitism, useless police farce. Terrorist gangs can easily walk into a military base, like it's a public toilet, then, vandalise the aircraft and leave 😆😂.
Delicious-Tackle-227@reddit
Because it's rapidly becoming the 3rd world problem the UK was supposed to protect us from
wonderland1976@reddit
I left the UK in 2004 when everything in London was hunky dory. Needed a break and a change.
First I moved to Spain where I lived for roughly twenty years and absolutely loved it though it’s become a tad too expensive. During those 20 years however, I made various attempts to move to other places just to see what it was like elsewhere (went to Dubai where I spent a year but didn’t enjoy it, spent another year in Italy but wasn’t my cup of tea).
Finally I decided to move to Greece last year. It’s much cheaper than Spain and it offers same weather, great food and lots of natural beauty around you. It’s definitely far from perfect but I have the lifestyle I was looking for and will stay here for some time. I sometimes go to London to see friends but always leave thinking I’m so glad I made the move so early :-)
ROKIE13Amin@reddit
Also for those who left, where are you now ?
WorthSpecialist1066@reddit
Brexit. Luckily I’d already escaped to France
daizy_g@reddit (OP)
Good for you. France is amazing country.
WorthSpecialist1066@reddit
It’s not perfect; but I’d never move back to the UK. I’m very appreciative of the way France looks after its citizens and protects its culture and borders
Leading_Flower_6830@reddit
Compared to UK, France is indeed perfect
Defiant-Dare1223@reddit
I feel like I need a bath every time I go to France.
I left the UK for real reasons, but I'd take it every single day of the week before France.
smolperson@reddit
Country’s gone to shit, it is so bad post brexit and post covid. Times are so tough, and no words for how out of touch the government is.
Frequent_Mango_208@reddit
Where did you go?
smolperson@reddit
Germany! Still want to travel Europe so went to the first country that hired me haha
Defiant-Dare1223@reddit
Talking about from the frying pan into the fire lol
Frequent_Mango_208@reddit
Are you enjoying it though?
I am feeling so trapped in the Uk but I am not sure where to go…
smolperson@reddit
Yes I love travelling! I have a remote job though so my lifestyle is a little different. I’m originally from down under (the pay is much better in Australia than in the UK) so if I had to stay in one place, I am not sure I’d pick Europe.
beepatr@reddit
always has been
English went to the Americas, to Australia to just about anywhere that wasn't England.
Mostly for sunshine, England is cold, wet, dark and miserable for a large part of the year. Their doctors used to tell depressed or sick patients to go to sunny, dry climates for their health and the English still do.
The terminally-online might say it's for politics but that's nothing new, Thatcherism was worse than now but English have been retiring to Spain for a very long time and before that anyone that could afford it would go spend a few years in France and Venice and other places.
Take a survey of Bondi Beach and it's going to be mostly English and has been for many decades. Australia populated whole towns with English immigrants, even after England stopped shipping its undesirables there.
spamalt98@reddit
Haha. Been lately? Increasingly likely to be people from Asia, India, and the middle east.
Special_Army_2796@reddit
Why leaving ha when I went to school even aged 9 -12 year's knew right from wrong and knew the punishment if you were out of ordered it physically hurt slipper or kane, You knew to stay within the rules like in society OTHER WORDS BETTER EDUCATION
Wouldnt_U_like2know2@reddit
I had golden handcuffs working for a UK company. The day I understood a competing company was willing to buy me out and offer me a job abroad (UAE), I was one of the happiest I’ve been in many years. Happy I could leave Uk and not come back anytime soon.
brendansaysso@reddit
Mass migration
Remarkable_Math_2649@reddit
Wokeness ruined that nation😂
Steph_Sydney@reddit
Apparently of the 500k who leave Britain per year only about 100k are British citizens.
draxenato@reddit
I left after the riots of 2011. When I saw how *all* political parties demonised the rioters and started pushing for more draconian legislation, the police, local councils and *every* newspaper was clamouring for a more fascist Britain, that was too much for me. By December 2012 I landed in Canada as a permanent resident and I've never looked back.
I could wax lyrical on why the country is in this state, I could break it down to its roots, but it's the future that's more important, and it's not good for the UK. It's a society in decline and it knows that, gallows humour is everywhere.
oli_ramsay@reddit
Police now use facial recognition, people get years in prison for offensive tweets, and they are now on about monitoring people's bank accounts for benefit fraud. Fuck this place. Plus the shit weather lol
False_Scholar_6234@reddit
Yep, the UK is goosed, but Canada is turning into a wkefesr, communist hole also. It's the same playbook being followed by all western countries, to turn them into China. Your Prime Minister waxes lyrical about China's authoritarianism. Good luck with that.
AlanDevonshire@reddit
It’s actually quite simple. It’s a shithole unless you are stupidly rich.
StunningAssistance79@reddit
Congratulations you just described the entire planet!!!
auburnstar12@reddit
I don't think you're wrong, I think it's just much more pronounced in some places than in others.
jashsayani@reddit
That is true for most countries.
Leading_Flower_6830@reddit
No it's not
Frequent_Mango_208@reddit
I’d argue it stays like that even if you are not rich lol
DBS_31@reddit
The people also are as shitty and unpredictable as the weather, economy and environment. They treat each other like shit, and the social atmosphere is fake & superficial
sunshineradish@reddit
I left about 7 years ago, came back recently for a visit and was shocked at the state of things. It looked so rough and worn out.
justanotherlostgirl@reddit
What does that mean though - ‘worn out’?
smolperson@reddit
Is “worn out” British slang? That’s surprising to me. Anyway it just means things are not upkept the way they should be. Things are shabby, like dirtier etc.
inrecovery4911@reddit
No, it's not. But it's a phrasal verb idiom, so not necessarily familiar or easy to figure out (without Google 😛) for non-native speakers of English
Puzzled-Put-7077@reddit
Dirty. Rubbish everywhere roads and pavements falling apart. People sleeping in hospital waiting rooms as the waits are 12 hours
sunshineradish@reddit
Tired and shabby
Cassim_Cassius@reddit
The weather. The most depressing weather in the world.
zyneman@reddit
small place, big world is the main reason
justanotherlostgirl@reddit
I would love specifics too - as far as I know wages not keeping up with the rising costs of things would make life miserable but maybe folks can weigh in with specifics other than ‘gone to shit’. Like lower amount of jobs, failing infrastructure not replaced, long lines for healthcare?
Usernameoverloaded@reddit
-Failing infrastructure -Sewage in all waterways -Local councils have been defunded by central government and gone bankrupt -NHS mismanaged and underfunded with long waiting lists for cancer treatment and other serious surgeries -Lack of NHS dentists -Education underfunded and teachers overstretched, schools falling down with no funds to repair -Social services underfunded Political corruption and taxpayer money going to cronies and lobbyists -Worker protections being eroded -No renters protection against rentier landlords -Lack of housing and the chance of getting on the property ladder slim for the average first time buyer -Cost of living crisis -Increased xenophobia
I could continue but you get the gist
Spanks79@reddit
A lot of it has been caused by Brexit indirectly. As the economy has done so much worse than the rest of the EU. So in comparison the UK has become poorer.
This is also why we should worry about how the USA is pushing growth by all kinds of powerplay and protectionism. We should really invest in Europe in our own industries, not let Americans buy everything of value early stage and certainly not let the Chinese take over lots of valuable stuff, then suck out the knowledge to use it to compete with us.
We should be aware China is our enemy, like Russia. And the USA is an ally but economically not our friend.
Let alone for the UK which is now on its own. Struggling. The UK should come back into the EU, we kick out Orban and build our own defense industry, chip industry, medical stronghold and stop giving our scientific funds away to the highest big ither powers.
daizy_g@reddit (OP)
And when you know UK was one of the leading counties in EU setting the rules...
flatknackers@reddit
UK was always trumped by Germany and France. That was the problem for Britain in the EU, they just couldn't tolerate not being the boss.
daizy_g@reddit (OP)
Yeah but the were in the bug 4 together with Italty and had big influence. Niw they are their own boss and are flourishing....
Spanks79@reddit
Yes. Actually it would be much better for the eu if the UK would be in.
daizy_g@reddit (OP)
I don't know about that but to know from a leading country UK has outcasted itself...such a downgrade. I thought the British people had gone mad when I saw how they voted pro-Brexit...I knew the prices will skyrocket.
Usernameoverloaded@reddit
You missed out the Middle Eastern investment funds.
It’s a race to the bottom, asset stripping and fire sale accelerated by the Conservative government. Enabling offshoring for themselves and their mates, and without EU oversight or legislation to put a dampener on things.
flatknackers@reddit
Face it, even the USA is the past, Europe is the past. The balance has shifted. The future belongs to Asia, and Saudi / UAE.
The problem with all of Europe and the US, Canada, Australia, NZ is they're taxing the shit out of their citizens, the governments have no real plans because the politicians just do whatever they think they need to in order to get or stay in power. None of them have a plan, and none give a f**k about their citizens. A large chunk of your tax is just paying the interest on your national debt to Japan and China. Look who holds the national debt, that's where the future is.
The only way around this is to become rich. When you're rich you don't give a toss about all this because you can live in your bubble and have everything delivered to your house.
Ecstatic-Cattle-2201@reddit
Woke propaganda, high taxes, bad weather. At uni it’s fine bcos with friends, after, it’s desolate
alfieatthelse@reddit
The population has been deliberately dumbed down and made apathetic towards politics, allowing corrupt Tory politicians and their cronies to asset-strip the country. Meanwhile, they deceive the very people they have misled, claiming that immigration is the primary cause of their poverty, which has also fueled support for Brexit.
werchoosingusername@reddit
Sadly dumming down goes almost for all western countries. UK was robbed of its future when some people decided to pull the EU plug.
TerriblePotential732@reddit
It’s shit. Overcrowded, bad weather, poorly governed, public service going down the pan. Want better futures for ourselves and children
TerriblePotential732@reddit
This quote from Google : According to the experts for the UK to be sustainable the population shouldn't be over 20 million, unfortunately the UK population is over 3 times that and growing.
TerriblePotential732@reddit
There are 68 MILLION people here. 68M!! And that number keeps growing. I don’t know if you have ever flown over the UK but most of it looks like a patchwork quilt. It’s farmland. Which makes that population figure even worse because it just means we are all rammed into the small parts of the land where the fields are not.
badlydrawngalgo@reddit
For me the breaking point was the fracturing society. While I was growing up there was a broad agreement on what the UK was about, and what we (collectively) wanted - even if the way to get there was wildly different). It's been fracturing since the last Tories got in and started to systematically dismantle and split society. I used to travel but then think "it's got lots of faults but it's still got lots of things to love", now it hasn't. It's failing rapidly. I'm glad I'm out, it's a huge relief.
cccjtabh@reddit
I only visited and I was shocked at how bad things are. There’s a lot to complain about the us but QOL in us is 10x better than in uk.
RidetheSchlange@reddit
They're finding out Brexit wasn't ever going to be anything but disruptive, but don't want to openly admit the mistake. Now with the generational cost of living crisis and no perspective of the government ever getting a handle on it no matter who is running it and no potential to truly realign with the EU for a significantly closer relationship and Freedom of Movement, people are finding ways out. Even prior to the Transition Period and during it people were desperately escaping to the EU, even with limited finances. Some are and have returned when things didn't work out. People are also really seeing how insufferable a significant portion of the population is.
The UK is not going to get any better and I wonder how Ireland is going to deal with it if there's a mass exodus that decides to go there.
Puzzled-Put-7077@reddit
Tax, the country’s rubbish. I pay 50% of my wages in tax and get literally nothing for it. Even the pension is disappearing over the horizon. Too many people scrounging and claiming when they could actually be doing something. The place is constantly dirty. The protests are intimidating Palestine/trans/anti-trans/anti something else government
westwoodho@reddit
If you think the reason poverty and inequality is spiralling is because of "too many people scrounging" and "protests are intimidating", I suggest you also try blaming the actual government who have been running the country into the ground for 14 years.
Puzzled-Put-7077@reddit
It’s death by 1000 cuts. It all adds up, the benefits bill the profiteering by private companies providing public services. People voted for this government time and time again, they are not doing anything except what Tory’s have always done. Make poor people poorer and rich people richer
Puzzled-Put-7077@reddit
We have the highest sickness levels in the western world. You cannot tell me that all of them cannot work AT ALL.
Mannerhymen@reddit
Congratulations on your appointment as a columnist for The Sun!
I really like this article and I can’t wait for your opinion on immigration.
Puzzled-Put-7077@reddit
Immigrants are fine if they are respectful of British values (respect women, don’t want everything to be like wherever it is they come from etc etc), work (and pay taxes) As an expat that’s how I seek to behave in my host country (following their cultural norms obv, not British ones)
AlbaMcAlba@reddit
There aren’t many locals moving out. It’s extremely difficult to just move to another country and that’s assuming the locals wished that.
There is a tiny minority probably in your circle that are able and willing to move.
All that said the UK has pretty much fucked itself over with Brexit.
daizy_g@reddit (OP)
I see British citizens buying houses and moving to Bulgaria Post Brexit. And they stay on a D visa in the country.
As for Brexit. didn't the Britiss wanted it to happen so the UK can be as Switzerland.
Spirited-Dirt-9095@reddit
Racist fuckwits wanted it.
AlbaMcAlba@reddit
The English wanted it based on false promises and lies by Boris et Al.
parachute--account@reddit
I'm someone who left following Brexit. I had always wondered about working overseas, and the Brexit vote was a trigger to actually doing it, as the door was gradually closing.
As others have pointed out, even back then, just wanting to move abroad wasn't enough, most people didn't have the opportunity, even with free movement. I don't have kids, my partner is/was a freelancer so her work was mobile, I was experienced in an in-demand job so a company would pay for the move.
Britain throughout the 2000s and I guess early 2010s was a pretty amazing place, very hopeful, vibrant and forward looking. Although the 2008 market crash was bad it's really the grinding negative impact of austerity that I think has been the key factor. The lack of recovery post 2008 drove the malaise and regression that then led to Brexit. After that it's got even worse, with the combined influences of the pandemic, the shambolic response, continued austerity, asset-stripping, corruption and mismanagement.
When I go back to the UK now the mood has changed, it feels disaffected, rough and angry. I like going back and seeing friends, but there's not much chance I will ever move back. There would need to be a sea change in policy and huge economic recovery. This means that Switzerland and not the UK gets my £150k in income tax.
Tigweg@reddit
Their eyes have been opened, almost everywhere is better now. I think Brexit was the final nail in the coffin of a nearly dead economy. 14 years of Tory government have fucked that country every way to Sunday. I actually left it on 06, and now live in a communist country where most people are happier than there
Hutcho12@reddit
I think the real surprise here is that you liked it. Where have you lived before? Must be pretty grim places.
daizy_g@reddit (OP)
I am Bulgarian. We are part of EU and I can say Bulgaria has improved a lot in the last years. There are many British people moving in Bulgaria because of the sunny weather and the lower costs. But when I was in UK 2008-2013 Bulgaria was not as developed as it is now. So I found UK clean and organised, with strict control and better working administration. I also liked the history and the landmarks.
Hutcho12@reddit
Yeh ok that would explain it. But the EU is a large reason behind Bulgaria’s rise and now the UK is out, they’re on their way back to being the sick man of Europe, like they were in the 60’s and 70’s.
daizy_g@reddit (OP)
But didn't you, British people, wanted out of EU and voting pro-Brexit. I remember the talk back that you were sick of paying the EU. the increased immigration and you wanted these money to stay in your country. You wanted to be as Switzerland.
unseemly_turbidity@reddit
The vote was almost evenly split: something like 52% for Brexit and 48% against. A lot of people didn't vote at all. So in fact, the majority didn't vote for Brexit and even some of those who did only did it as a protest vote against the status quo and not because they seriously wanted it. And a lot of them regret it now.
Hutcho12@reddit
I’m not from the UK, don’t live in there anymore and certainly would not go back. Nor would I have voted for Brexit given the opportunity. I’d 100% rather move to Bulgaria.
daizy_g@reddit (OP)
Oh I am sorry. I thought you are British. Bulgaria is fine now. Lots of sun and warm weather, it's 24 degrees today. tomorrow will be 28 . It's even a bit hot for spring. We have beautiful nature and nice food as well.And salaries and infrastructure have improved.
These_Tea_7560@reddit
Someone said Brexit ironically turned the nation into that of which the British empire would’ve colonised, pillaged, and enslaved centuries ago (or decades depending on what part of the world). The economy went into a recession in 2023. The state of it isn’t 100% Brexit’s fault. But you’ve got the CEOs of large, heritage corporations going to Rishi Sunak and practically publicly begging….
Tall-Firefighter1612@reddit
Because Brexit
daizy_g@reddit (OP)
Didn't British people voted pro-Brexit?
Tall-Firefighter1612@reddit
It was a close vote. I dont know the precise percentages but it was someting like 48 against 52 in favor or something. So a lot of people disagreed with it. And quite some people thought it would never happen and voted brexit as a joke.
Also, the brexit turned out way worse than expected for most of the common people
Hutcho12@reddit
This. And the whole attitude of the people that mad people go along with it and continue to do so.
Zombie_Booze@reddit
No future
wbd82@reddit
Brexit
sierra771@reddit
14 years of Tory Government asset stripping the country as well as our freedom of movement (Brexit). Those lucky enough to have an Irish grandmother are off like a shot. There is reason for some optimism though in that the Tory party appears on the verge of collapse and hopefully out of power for many years. Personally I’d like to see the likes of Boris and JRM held personally liable financially for what they’ve done - let’s see them live on 30p a day in a Salford council estate.
Glass_Confusion448@reddit
What do they say when you ask them?
HackerBaboon@reddit
Failed society