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To wonder how the UK will look in 3 years time?

905 replies

Labradorlover987 · 11/08/2025 13:19

I was inspired to write this after reading the UC post that was just reported - the govt’s welfare bill has passed but was watered down so unlikely to make any real savings.

I earn 40k, have a school age child and just feel like I am living hand to mouth 😩 I 100% think there should be a welfare systems that supports people on low incomes but I wonder how the current system will be sustained in the long run?

Just wondered what other people thought.

I actually wouldn’t mind paying more in taxes if we could be guaranteed more in services etc - for example my council tax just went up and the services seem even worse this year than usual.

OP posts:
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Julen7 · 13/08/2025 19:29

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/08/2025 19:27

No it isn’t.

Matter of opinion.

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/08/2025 19:27

Julen7 · 13/08/2025 19:05

This is very patronising (sure it wasn’t meant to be but…)

No it isn’t.

Bathingforest · 13/08/2025 19:27

Chiseltip · 12/08/2025 08:45

Three years from now?

A lot worse I think. By then there will have been a major shift in the job market. A.I will have displaced a large number of roles, the "economically inactive" rates will be significantly higher. Current Uni students will be graduating into longterm unemployment.

Uncontrolled mass immigration into the EU and subsequently into the UK, will change the demographic of the country. By 2030, if rates remain unchanged, we will have added over a million (mostly young males) to the population. If we dont provide meaningful employment for this unprecedented number of immigrants, the alternative is a million pissed off young men, who have no allegiance to the UK, and no desire to integrate. It would be catastrophic to allow that situation to develop. Regardless of what you think about illegall immigration, it is happening, it will continue to happen, and the numbers I have mentioned are the best case scenario.

We will see the beginnings of a CBDC by then, that, coupled with the new "Digital wallet" that the government has introduced, and the linking of your National Insurance to your bank account, will kill off any notion of privacy or autonomy. The government will own you at that point. There will be the introduction of "climate credits", a digital system of control measures, designed to "encourage" compliance with an ever more reductive set of environmental rules. For example, your bank card will be blocked from certain transactions, like flying, or buying more than your allocated amount of red meat or alcohol, even geographical restrictions will be put in place, so your cards won't work outside your curfew area. Anyone speaking out will be accused of hate speech and arrested. This is currently being done with critics of certain religious practices and those who oppose the housing of illegally immigrants. So it absolutely will be done to anyone speaking up about environmental restrictions.

We will all be significant poorer, with millions dependent on a government which will want something back for the "support" it will have to provide. The unemployment rate will be such that UBI will probably have to be introduced. A handful of huge tech companies will be responsible for controlling the majority of industry, and consequently, the tax revenue. Impartiality will be a thing of the past, government will do whatever those companies say, because without them, there won't be any functioning economy. Imagine how little autonomy or influence you will have when you are unemployed, dependent on UBI, to a government that is beholden to a few tech companies, and if you complain about any of it, you get accused of Hate Crime. Welcome to the future.

And don't think it will never happen, Covid demonstrated how quickly people turned on their neighbours, reporting breaches of "the rules". When we are bombarded by media stating the "new rules" and how its "all for the good of the environment", people will turn each other remarkably quickly. Especially if their UBI was dependent on it.

"Are your neighbours or friends breaking their curfew?"

"Every time a citizen breaks the law, they are contributing to CLIMATE CHANGE and HABITAT DESTRUCTION"

"They are stealing your child's future"

Three years from now, the above rethoric will be common place. We are heading into a very dark period.

Edited

Interesting comment the least. 1984

MumOfManyAliases · 13/08/2025 19:20

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/08/2025 19:00

Your daughters already have enormous life advantages, being born in the UK to parents who care about their futures.

All will be well.

Yes, it will indeed - come the next election, when Labour get voted out of government.

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/08/2025 19:20

MyNameIsX · 13/08/2025 19:02

’All will be well’

Why do you say that? Because, Labour are in government?

No. Because it’s generally turned out that way in our life in the UK. My husband and I, 66 and 61, respectively, have both moved on from life-threatening illnesses, him 3 times.

Obviously, life in the UK is far from ideal for the majority. Comparing that life to the far more challenging circumstances faced by billions less fortunate around the world every day: yes, all will be well.

Likewise, I expect it would be under Conservative, LibDem, Reform, Green, Monster Raving Loony governments because this is the UK. Perspective.

Could it be better? Hell yes. Could be one hell of a sight worse, though.

cumbriaisbest · 13/08/2025 19:14

nearlylovemyusername · 13/08/2025 18:52

Do you mean people like Charlie Mullins who was born to a cleaner mother and grew up on sink council estate? then established Pimlico Plumbers and is now worth about 80m? but left UK last year because of the issues we're discussing here?

Edited

Charlie the rip off racist?

Araminta1003 · 13/08/2025 19:10

It is all really confusing. If you are a foreigner and a “net contributor” paying shedloads to support the NHS and the feckless work shy British, all is good. If you are an “immigrant” taking out of the system then because of your origins all is bad, because they already have enough of them like this to deal with themselves.
Is that basically the story line?
So for a foreigner net contribution matters immensely and you are there for the taking, the more the better, especially if you are ultra rich, but if you are poor you are dirt. But if you are white British and poor, then you are the holy grail?
Please make it make sense!

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/08/2025 19:09

MyNameIsX · 13/08/2025 19:00

What are you talking about?

Where did I say ‘reform will be in’?

Settle down.

My apologies: that should have been directed to Oatcat.

I’m very settled, knitting and wine, waiting for my goats’ cheese Caesar 🤣 just irritated by the number of these threads recently, generally posted by new “contributors”.

Sorry, again.

Araminta1003 · 13/08/2025 19:07

I work with loads of supposed successful “foreigners” who pay tons of tax! Lots of Europeans, Chinese, Indians, South Koreans, Japanese, US, Canadians. If anything I would say we needed them for the taxes.

Araminta1003 · 13/08/2025 19:06

OK but we now have the Guardian talking about 50000 arriving on boats since Labour got in. What is going on?
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/12/more-than-50000-people-crossed-channel-in-small-boats-since-labour-took-power

Julen7 · 13/08/2025 19:05

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/08/2025 19:00

Your daughters already have enormous life advantages, being born in the UK to parents who care about their futures.

All will be well.

This is very patronising (sure it wasn’t meant to be but…)

Bathingforest · 13/08/2025 19:03

Sskka · 12/08/2025 07:48

For goodness’ sake, don’t be so naive.

There never was a ‘multicultural dream’ – that was just a fairytale to make you feel good about bringing in foreigners to do low-value jobs on the cheap (and undercut the British people whose woes you’re so puzzled by). You don’t get to feel bad because we now have something that looks like a caste system, rather a rainbow fairytale. It was what we were building all along.

Why fo you think British people are undercut. There are jobs and everyone who lives here can apply , more so the people with the British passport. Just curious

MyNameIsX · 13/08/2025 19:02

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/08/2025 19:00

Your daughters already have enormous life advantages, being born in the UK to parents who care about their futures.

All will be well.

’All will be well’

Why do you say that? Because, Labour are in government?

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/08/2025 19:00

Bathingforest · 13/08/2025 18:51

I'm very new here. Primarily thinking of my daughters

Your daughters already have enormous life advantages, being born in the UK to parents who care about their futures.

All will be well.

MyNameIsX · 13/08/2025 19:00

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/08/2025 18:58

Behave.

If I can just say “reform will be in” sort of gave you away.

For how long have you been posting on MN? Just curious.

What are you talking about?

Where did I say ‘reform will be in’?

Settle down.

MyNameIsX · 13/08/2025 18:58

A “mega dinghy” has brought a record 107 migrants across the Channel to Britain.

The boat arrived in the UK in the early hours of Wednesday, carrying the largest number of illegal migrants to have reached the country in a single vessel from France.

The average small boat that reached Britain in July was carrying 60 migrants.

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/08/2025 18:58

MyNameIsX · 13/08/2025 18:55

I think @Oatcat was pretty reasonable with her view.

Just because you would not wish it, does not make it less likely.

Behave.

If I can just say “reform will be in” sort of gave you away.

For how long have you been posting on MN? Just curious.

MyNameIsX · 13/08/2025 18:55

nearlylovemyusername · 13/08/2025 18:52

Do you mean people like Charlie Mullins who was born to a cleaner mother and grew up on sink council estate? then established Pimlico Plumbers and is now worth about 80m? but left UK last year because of the issues we're discussing here?

Edited

Bingo!

MyNameIsX · 13/08/2025 18:55

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/08/2025 18:49

You sound worried?

Please don’t take any notice of this sort of speculation by goodness knows who on the internet. It is just that, pure speculation (by a private individual or something more sinister) designed to frighten people and “nudge” them. Please don’t let it.

I think @Oatcat was pretty reasonable with her view.

Just because you would not wish it, does not make it less likely.

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/08/2025 18:53

Bathingforest · 13/08/2025 18:50

That's all that is needed.

Fair comment. Strategy worked in 1066, 1347c 1665, 1914, 1939, etc.

nearlylovemyusername · 13/08/2025 18:52

Twofoursixeight · 13/08/2025 17:01

Ok so what do you think happens to an exceptional person who is born into the lowest stratas of society under very high inequality? With no access to quality education, or the kinds of capital or safety nets that make entrepreneurialism possible? Maybe not even enough food for them to concentrate at school?

It feels like you're just not engaging with the evidence on this topic. The countries with the highest levels of innovation per capita, as measured by things like patents etc, are invariably the egalitarian ones. Inequality doesn't foster talent, it squanders it.

Do you mean people like Charlie Mullins who was born to a cleaner mother and grew up on sink council estate? then established Pimlico Plumbers and is now worth about 80m? but left UK last year because of the issues we're discussing here?

Bathingforest · 13/08/2025 18:51

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/08/2025 18:49

You sound worried?

Please don’t take any notice of this sort of speculation by goodness knows who on the internet. It is just that, pure speculation (by a private individual or something more sinister) designed to frighten people and “nudge” them. Please don’t let it.

I'm very new here. Primarily thinking of my daughters

Bathingforest · 13/08/2025 18:50

bluebunnyjacket · 12/08/2025 06:36

It'll be worse, but everyone will keep on keeping on because that we seem to do.

That's all that is needed.

MrsSkylerWhite · 13/08/2025 18:49

Bathingforest · 13/08/2025 18:43

Does this include work pensions or just the governmental please

You sound worried?

Please don’t take any notice of this sort of speculation by goodness knows who on the internet. It is just that, pure speculation (by a private individual or something more sinister) designed to frighten people and “nudge” them. Please don’t let it.

Bathingforest · 13/08/2025 18:43

Oatcat · 12/08/2025 07:05

Taxes will go up, publics services will be worse for the majority - a two tier system will start to operate, prioritising those who Labour seems worthy.

I do wonder that once people realize that state pension will be means tested they will want to keep more of their own money. You can't tax people without a strong vision of what society/ government offers - we don't currently have that from either party.

Reform will be in.

Does this include work pensions or just the governmental please

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