… To be considering leaving the UK?

Doesn’t represent the Canada we live in. We’re in Montreal, where are you?

I totally disagree with this. Universities in Canada are a joke now, that is why so many have degrees.

As a Canadian, Canada is in a really bad place now. Jobs are hard to find, pay is often low, infrastructure needs updating, housing is through the roof expensive, and people die waiting in the ER and have no GP, and if you as a woman go to prison, or are raped, there is every chance you will be put in a bed next to a man.

If you have kids, I would also say the education system here is not likely as good as the UK, though it varies by province. But something to consider if you would be using the public system.

No, I want everyone to be paid billions, zero tax and massive benefits for all.

(I just accept that's not possible.)

I get it but teaching kids to pass tests doesn’t always make the best model either. Creating a love of learning is important and a lot of teacher son rhe UK will
tell you that the curriculum and learning in the UK is very restrictive:

Approx 23% of working age people in the UK receive some sort of benefit as opposed to approx 5% in Canada.

57.5% of working age Canadians have a university degree or higher as opposed to 22.6% in the UK.

So yeah your friends may not have agreed with the Canadian school system but twice as many go on to get a degree and a fraction rely on state benefits. I know both systems very well and the UK system is broken. Not to mention amazing teachers who are on their knees in the UK. The Ontario Teachers Pension Plan is worth 226 Billion. We value education and those who educate.

I have loved in 2 other European countries.
Although both nice enough places, I missed the UK and am now firmly settled back here.
As a pp said , climate change is now a huge consideration, with parts of Southern Europe becoming uncomfortably hot for extended parts of the year

None of the latter 3 are actually happening

Easily verifiable facts. Doesn’t seem a lot of point in continuing if we’re not accepting reality.

None of the latter 3 are actually happening and we have education. Also unfortunately the things we like such as that education you talk about and universal health care, pensions etc cost. You can’t just ignore the cost. The few hoarding the majority of wealth don’t need that wealth so really they need to and should be taxed more.

I think the only countries I would be prepared to move to permanently would be Australia or New Zealand. I’d happily spend a year or two in many many places but I’d only move to those countries knowing it was for a limited time.

Australia or New Zealand (not actually been to either) are culturally similar enough for me to have a really good go at settling. But they’re really far away from everywhere 😆.

Definitely, you do this through lower taxes and education. Not crippling taxes, closing down schools and vilifying anyone successful.

Hahaha. Exactly what I was thinking. Why on earth would you want to move there?

Cool so raising wages for all maybe is something that should be focused on rather than the wealthy few wanting to hoard their wealth.

They should, agreed.

Not paid less, receive less benefits or even start working. The fiscal drag on income tax should be eliminated meaning the higher rate kicks in at £72k rather than £50k. The £100k loss of tax free allowance should be around £160k if even at all. Education tax should be reversed.

So why shouldn’t all hard working people have good wages-you know to spread the tax burden out a bit and cut down on those pesky benefit recipients.

This is the crux of why net tax payers are wanting to leave, not only do they get burdened with ever increasing taxes but vilified by people who only take from the system in the process.

The Nordic countries are also quite close to Russia. Several have recently introduced conscription, I understand. Something of which to be aware.

So you want people paid less, lower taxes for the few who hoard the wealth and no benefits. Sounds peachy! What a utopia!

That reminds me of a wonderful retort. A school friend moved to Jersey and was telling us it was quite a shock as it was so small "only 9 x 5" he said. A friend instantly replied "9 x 5? That is small. My bedroom is bigger than that". Still makes me smile to this day...

Wages go up? Really? I can already hire engineers to work from home in Romania far cheaper than UK engineers - with an impressive work ethic. UK staff costs are absolutely not competetive and even at existing rates recruitment is a nightmare. Meanwhile we use in work benefits to subsidise coffee shop workers.

Simpler things are what we all need to learn to be grateful for .

My neighbour has a 35 grand car paid for by the disability benefit her husband gets. Maybe they should have simpler things, and maybe I'd be less annoyed at dragging myself out of bed at 6am to go to work if I wasn't buying other people stuff I can't justify for myself? Why do only people in work have to tighten our belts, why can't the 50% of people who are non tax payers tighten theirs or even better become taxpayers?

Maybe wages need to go up- just a thought. People are working harder than ever and a few at the top hoard the wealth.

The problem is, it’s only a minority paying net tax now. It’s completely skewing politics and it can’t be sustainable.

It’s about money you can get a visa pretty much anywhere if you have enough cash to invest or bring a business. We have moved extensively and visas have never been an issue.