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AIBU?

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Original poster

Seriously thinking about leaving the UK - AIBU?

586 replies

HonoraBridge · 28/03/2025 16:31

I love the UK in many ways but it has been going downhill for at least 20 years and it feels as if the speed of the decline is accelerating. I no longer see a happy, or particularly safe, future here. For the first time in my life, I am very seriously thinking about leaving the UK and that feeling gets stronger day by day. When I mention this to friends, many are feeling the same way. YANBU - you are right to think seriously about leaving the UK. YABU - the UK is a still a great country to live in and you are being unreasonable to want to leave.

OP posts:
Ubertomusic · 28/03/2025 20:42

4pmwinetimebebeh · 28/03/2025 20:32

That just isn’t true though. Happiness and quality of life ranks significantly higher in many many other countries than the UK. The economy is stronger, health is better etc etc in many places. The UK is not the best place to live by far! So many better options.

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But... but do they have pubs??!

jewelcase · 28/03/2025 20:39

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Right. So the earlier point about people ‘contributing nothing’ is not true.

It’s true that we are in deficit, but 54% being net recipients doesn’t necessarily mean that. Current government policies will mean that we are in surplus again by the end of this Parliament.

I don’t think you’re right about wealth taxes. It’s true that the overall tax burden is historically high for the U.K., but it is low relative to many other countries. And crucially not much of it is raised from wealth. Taxes on income and consumption are much too high, and on wealth are too low.

I don’t understand the point you make about wealth that is tied up in property and pensions. It’s still wealth! And it can still be taxed, in the form of charges if there is a liquidity issue.

I also don’t understand your £1.5m figure. Paying benefits to someone doesn’t make them wealthy.

Of course where people ‘won’t’ work, this is an unfairness. But I suspect almost nobody would disagree with you on that.

Ubertomusic · 28/03/2025 20:39

PopeJoan2 · 28/03/2025 20:31

They had all spent quite a bit of time there and loved it. Here in the West we are mostly only shown negative images of African countries. Some people’s minds would be blown if they saw how amazing some places are out there. These were very intelligent young people who had spied a future opportunity.

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Yes, I am enjoying the thread particularly because everyone is talking about Australia, NZ, US, EU so basically the declining West.

Not a single glance outside the box 😁

Parker231 · 28/03/2025 20:39

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We are immigrants with a non uk passport. We were lucky enough to have the qualifications, language skills and job opportunities to choose where to live so we left the Uk as a result of the Brexit vote. Hardly a racist attitude.

MissAmbrosia · 28/03/2025 20:37

If the UK is so shit, why would billionaires want to live there? And why are they leaving now? Is it because they got away without paying proper tax on their income before? And we let them buy up half of London leaving perfectly decent properties empty 99% of the the time, without penalising this?

hookeywole · 28/03/2025 20:37

Norway is a Sovereign Economy. More money than debt. They didn't sell off their oil to private companies. Their industry is part state owned. Yes high taxes but their money is used for the country and people enjoy a high standard of living. Worth reading about.

yep

StartupRepair · 28/03/2025 20:37

Most developed countries are dealing with unaffordable housing , ageing populations, fading health infrastructure. Coming up are issues with climate change and food and water security. You might as well live near the people you love as everywhere has problems.

SchrodingersTwat2 · 28/03/2025 20:35

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cramptramp · 28/03/2025 20:35

Why are you asking if you’re being unreasonable? It’s up to you if you leave or not.

Pedallleur · 28/03/2025 20:35

Talkinpeace · 28/03/2025 20:25

Why does Norway not have Government debt ?

Sky high taxes
a cracking safety net
limited foreign ownership of businesses

now look at the UK again

Norway is a Sovereign Economy. More money than debt. They didn't sell off their oil to private companies. Their industry is part state owned. Yes high taxes but their money is used for the country and people enjoy a high standard of living. Worth reading about.

Ubertomusic · 28/03/2025 20:34

Talkinpeace · 28/03/2025 20:25

Why does Norway not have Government debt ?

Sky high taxes
a cracking safety net
limited foreign ownership of businesses

now look at the UK again

Norway debt to gdp is 40-50% IIRC.
Better than the UK but much worse than Russia or SA for example (comparable oil economies).

Jaz111 · 28/03/2025 20:34

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Jaz111 · 28/03/2025 20:32

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4pmwinetimebebeh · 28/03/2025 20:32

BatchCookBabe · 28/03/2025 17:06

This. ^ The rose tinted spectacles that some people wear, and the fantasy world they live in is quite shocking. 'Oh the UK is shit, I'm off to live in Paris, LA, Bangkok, Sydney, Stockholm etc etc etc...' Like life is going to be soooooooo much better there. Upshot is, it's unlikely to be any better in any other country than it is in the UK, and in some countries it will be worse!

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That just isn’t true though. Happiness and quality of life ranks significantly higher in many many other countries than the UK. The economy is stronger, health is better etc etc in many places. The UK is not the best place to live by far! So many better options.

PopeJoan2 · 28/03/2025 20:31

Mightymoog · 28/03/2025 18:48

LOL,
wonder how that worked out for them!

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They had all spent quite a bit of time there and loved it. Here in the West we are mostly only shown negative images of African countries. Some people’s minds would be blown if they saw how amazing some places are out there. These were very intelligent young people who had spied a future opportunity.

EasternStandard · 28/03/2025 20:31

MyrtleLion · 28/03/2025 20:18

14 years of austerity.
17 years since the financial meltdown.
Labour only in for 9 months.
Labour front loading public spending.
Billions being spent on the NHS.
Waiting lists already coming down.

It is getting better. You just can't see it yet.

Surely the private sector needs to be thriving not this, which is under strain from policies halving growth.

IcedPurple · 28/03/2025 20:31

farmlife2 · 28/03/2025 20:30

Yes, and NZ is in recession, I believe.

No country is going to be perfect. Not to say someone can't be happier (or unhappier) elsewhere, but the most important thing is to look inside. If there's something inside you that is restless, you will take yourself with you and maybe whatever drove the move in the first place.

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Wherever you go, there you are.

Pedallleur · 28/03/2025 20:30

Grass maybe greener but still needs mowing. What would you do? How much are you paid? Is it hot or cold? Expensive to live or cheap. Healthcare, housing, crime, roads, transport?

farmlife2 · 28/03/2025 20:30

IcedPurple · 28/03/2025 20:22

NZ has the highest rate of emigration of any first world country.

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Yes, and NZ is in recession, I believe.

No country is going to be perfect. Not to say someone can't be happier (or unhappier) elsewhere, but the most important thing is to look inside. If there's something inside you that is restless, you will take yourself with you and maybe whatever drove the move in the first place.

IcedPurple · 28/03/2025 20:29

Talkinpeace · 28/03/2025 20:25

Why does Norway not have Government debt ?

Sky high taxes
a cracking safety net
limited foreign ownership of businesses

now look at the UK again

You don't think the fact that Norway has large oil deposits has anything to do with their national wealth?

Talkinpeace · 28/03/2025 20:25

Why does Norway not have Government debt ?

Sky high taxes
a cracking safety net
limited foreign ownership of businesses

now look at the UK again

MaggieBsBoat · 28/03/2025 20:23

Thank you @Mightymoog I am not sure. It’s at least 8 years before the youngest will leave and they’ll probably go to a nearby university knowing my luck and I’ll end up staying. It makes me sad but this is the life I chose I guess. Maybe in 15-20 years but by then my country may be unrecognisable.

IcedPurple · 28/03/2025 20:22

vdbfamily · 28/03/2025 20:07

I have just been staying with friends in NZ and most of the families I know there have at least one if not several of their children living and working abroad. Several came to UK, one to Australia, One to Dubai, One Hong Kong. It is a beautiful country but a lot of young people there feel remote from rest of world and move away.

NZ has the highest rate of emigration of any first world country.

Jaz111 · 28/03/2025 20:22

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Ubertomusic · 28/03/2025 20:21

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The tide is turning but somehow I don't think corporations are going to increase wages :)