Seriously thinking about leaving the UK

I have lived outside the UK for 13 years now first in the Middle East and now in Europe (where we arrived pre-Brexit).

Both my children chose to return to the UK for 6th form and uni despite our efforts to naturalise them as citizens of their new home country and despite free uni being a thing where we live.

I am currently back visiting my parents in the UK. The level of congestion on the roads, people literally everywhere, seeing my elderly parents struggling to cope with a dementia diagnosis and not being able to access even one iota of care or even a drs or physio appointment, and the high prices in general, just horrify me and although I long for the beautiful countryside when I am not here, I can’t wait to get out.

Yes, everywhere does have issues but somehow the UK has deteriorated MUCH faster than other places and whilst it was way cheaper than where we live even 5 years ago it’s now costing the same for much lower quality of life.

I don’t blame you OP for wanting to get out. But as soon as my kids have their own kids, we will seriously consider moving back just to see more of them. So there is that to consider.

Let us know if the grass is greener on the other side…

Is there a country where the wealthy haven't inflated the price of property such that normal people cant afford a roof over their heads?!

I met someone who makes conspiracy theory videos for YouTube. He said it pays him more than he could get for making fact based content. So he makes the click-tastic, sensational stuff which feeds outrage

Then the poorly paid journalists working for “traditional” news media have to compete to keep their jobs.

Blame YouTube owner Google (or any big tech company) who created financial incentives for “news” content that makes people mad.

Vote with your feet.

Depends what you mean. There are Muslim Arbitration Tribunals that make legally-enforceable judgments on shariah principles (under same statute that provides for commercial arbitration, also covers Beth Din etc). Both parties need to agree to go to the tribunal though. So if the PP is worried about shariah being imposed on her then that’s not accurate. But if by ‘shariah law’ you mean court-enforceable judgments made under shariah principles then we do have that (and have had for decades).

My husband and I often think about it but the only thing stopping us now is money. All our savings have been used up with all the price increases. It seems everybody wants something for nothing these days. None of the youngsters want to work they just want the money so they're not working as a team player they just show up clock in stay around until clocking out time. Its sickening and with the unbelievably stupid lot we have in no.10 now it's not going to get any better.

If you can get into Canada go for it beautiful country lovely people - I’d move there in a heartbeat.
good luck

Tbf, why do you think that is? People don’t want to pay for their news anymore so they need those clicks.

Average regular journalist in central London is less than £30k a year. They’re all poor too!

How old are you? Many countries are not interested in giving visas to people over 50 unless you can prove you have sufficient assets not to be a drain on them.

I agree with you that climate change should be a huge factor when contemplating a move to another country, and that the UK is a relatively good place to live from that point of view. I have certainly been influenced by such considerations; I now live in rural England, having moved there from the south coast of America to care for my elderly mother in 2018. Having always lived in cities, I thought that I'd go back to the US, or move to London or another large city, but have found that I really enjoy having a house and garden and being surrounded by green spaces after decades of urban apartment living. I was in London and Naples during the recent heatwave, and struggled to get anything done, or even think clearly.

North America and Canada don't seem good option to me as they are experiencing major extreme weather events. There's a slight possibility that Canada might become the 51st state of America as well.

I worked in benefits when we were in the EU Those coming over only had to work 16 or 24 hours like anyone one else they were blown away with what they got and our benefit system,telling me the rest of the family would follow and how much more would they get. What I'm probably saying it's it's good here if you're a non or part time worker but if you're a self sufficient grafters probably better elsewhere. Keep a property here, put tenants in.

My daughter lives in Australia. They have a lovely life but it comes at a cost. They won’t ever be able to afford to buy a house in Brisbane so will likely need to move elsewhere.

@cardibach yes I get that - I was thinking more in terms of actual physical cash or the use of NHS, state housing, schools etc ( where they usually go private) - I wasn’t agreeing with that poster whose views were very one sided -

The wealthy get to the top of the pyramid by free riding on the work of those underneath them.

They take out roads, police, armed forces, education (of their workforce), health (of their workforce). They really wouldn’t be anywhere without a healthy, educated workforce and reasonable infrastructure.

@Jennps whilst i know what you are saying itsa fact that there are plenty of very rich high net worth individuals actually contributing little to the nations coffers too , because they know all the ways to minimise it - the difference though is they don’t take that much out of public funds either - but nor do they all put that much into them either- I’m not talking about the average PAYE hospital consultant or lawyer either -

If I could turn back the clock I'd move to Spain or France. My only issue is that, from experience, it's 100% necessary to be able to converse in the language. If you become seriously ill it is a huge problem if you can't

How eloquent. Now describe why you think otherwise. Yeah, I thought not.

I can confirm this is not all … our schools were not closed for EID. You say it’s because your not religious so don’t want to live somewhere with a high religious population
you realise we also shut for Easter and Christmas ..

EU citizens absolutely have the right to work in Switzerland, Switzerland is not in the EU but part of the single market. They tried to opt out of freedom of movement a few years ago in a referendum but had to backtrack when they realized they would also loose the other benefits of the single market.

So yes, Brexit did made a difference and UK citizens lost out. It is possible to get a visa but they need to show they can’t get a Swiss or EU citizen to do the job.

I’ve heard good things from people who’ve moved to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. I think countries with smaller, younger populations are likely to be more future oriented.

I lived and worked there too. I loved it. Yes the locals could be seemingly boring sometimes, but they also usually spoke at least 3 languages and were very bright, well travelled and friendly. I think it takes time to get to know them properly. Difficult to enter the closed friendship circles beyond the exterior. I’d love to spend more time there again.

Definitely a global problem. Though not to say you shouldn't move. I've lived overseas and have friends in all different places and everyone has issues with where they are at the moment which includes Australia, NZ, America, Canada, Japan, Korea and Italy.

I have worked in Switzerland and didn't enjoy it. The whole atmosphere in the office was very staid and boring unfortunately. I have since discovered that it is quite common for people coming from the UK to suffer from acute boredom in Switzerland! The hours of work just seemed longer and the weeks dragged on. Such as shame as it is a beautiful place to live, but I missed the more relaxed style of the UK.

The benefits system is cruel and unfair to everyone, blaming the “others” for the problems instead of accepting the reality that if you want a functional welfare system that we all can rely on it has to be properly funded (maybe by taxing the rich and closing the corporate loopholes) is a classic right wing tactic.