Are things in the UK as bad as it sounds in the news?

[Lolobella]

I left the UK in 2017 and now live in Europe. I obviously still follow the UK news closely and visit, although I have no family left there.

In the last few months the UK news have become increasingly grim and concerning. I can't tell if it is just the news painting the country in a worse light than necessary, or if things are genuinely as bad as the news make it sound.

Obviously this is a tough historical moment for many countries, but the doom and gloom in UK news is just on another level and makes if sound like the country is in free fall. Poverty, strikes, crazy energy prices, failing NHS and public services.. Is it really so bad?!

Yet people keep voting the Tory in. Among my peers, millennials, only the poorest are pro Tory. People keep voting against their own interest. The Tory is like the republican now, attracting the poorer and less educated population, to keep the big corp and politicians who accept bribes in power.

It really baffles me hearing my friends who cannot afford American private healthcare system on privatising the NHS.

Having worked and lived in many countries, I think the UK is still a much better country to live in than most places around the world. Definitely beat being an average Brit than an average American.

@RonnieJazz Awrite David Icke.

You don't realise how slow and uninvested this country is, and all the compromises you make in daily life, until you go abroad. Investment and development in new infrastructure/housing/business is happening in plenty of European countries and the US. Markets are moving, shifting, going forward, recovering from the pandemic. Somewhere like the US you can almost feel the speed of change. Return to the UK and its back to plodding along, hoping you won't face too much disruption in your daily life through strike action or crapped out services, all while paying out a lot of money for poor quality in return. There is no vision, no growth, no leadership.

Yes, just since 2010; shows how quickly things can deteriorate, if such people are given free reign.

They didn't have to deal with brexit, they caused it. Do read recent history.

It is bad in the UK . It’s very similar in almost all aspects as it was in the early 70’s as far as I can see. Inflation is causing wage increases to be decreases, strikes are being used to force higher wages. Wage demands seem very high and no one is apparently backing off . It will I think cause a GE and it will bring about a Labour government who have made clear that they would not entertain such increases either, so how this is going to end , I can’t see. It’s true that much of the inflation we are seeing today is a direct consequence of the Russian - Ukrainian war , the list of supplies that left Ukraine to the UK (and European markets) is huge , and what little I know about Russian exports,it appears that those exports being prevented into our markets is also having a massive effect . I notice too that energy prices of the EU citizens are as high as the prices in the UK but (please correct if I’m wrong ) didn’t the EU governments temporarily cap all increases and pay the outstanding balance from the treasury ? It was months ago I read about European energy supplies but I’m almost sure you guys have got an exceptional short term assistance.

Sorry but this is just really overdramatic and disingenuous. We’re not “extremely rich” and neither is anyone we know, we have just above average salaries and we’re not choosing between heating or eating. Extremely rich would be like top 2% implying that 98% of the country is either starving or freezing, that’s just not true. Yes everyone is cutting back spending to some degree but this post just sounds like the Daily Mail.

Yet where I live all the restaurants, coffee shops and pubs are busy.

I think it feels bad to people, but there's still a lot more help out there than there is in many countries. I live in Spain, also moved in 2017. Energy prices here have always been higher than the U.K., but now it seems the U.K. is higher. Food shopping prices aren't that much different, neither are water. Rents are much higher in the U.K., as are house prices, but they're getting high here too. The biggest difference is salaries and benefits. Salaries in the U.K. are so much higher than here and benefits much more generous. I have a neighbour here who has no water or electricity, he hasn't had any for three years. This is allowed to happen here. People are just more used to being poorer in Spain (we're not talking Madrid etc), people are used to studying at uni to be an architect and working in the equivalent of B&Q because there are just no jobs for them. There are many people that never travel outside of Spain, because they can't afford to. It's more affordable to go for a drink or a meal as there cheap bars, so people don't feel as poor on a day to day basics, I guess.

@kc431 I think the difference in opinion lies in who counts as extremely rich.

what are you scared of?

Statistically, “extremely rich” would be top 1-5% I think? And I don’t think 95-99% of the country are choosing between heating or eating (yet).

@Daffi It is a few weeks before Christmas. Most workplaces large and tiny are having Christmas meals out, lots of clubs and societies too. If a restaurant is not busy at this time of year it will not survive January and February when places do get quieter.

Sadly, it really is as bad as it seems, if not worse. I work full time in what many would consider a well paid job. I'm in that bracket of 'looks good on paper' but the past 2 years, my reality has shocked me and the past few months have made me realise how much I'm struggling.

I haven't been on holiday for 6 years, through I was lucky enough to have an extended long weekend in the UK during the hottest weekend of the year celebrating 2 milestone family birthdays, and recently had a long weekend (sleeping on campus at DC uni for free) when I went to pick her up. We went sightseeing and had a meal out. I had to save up for it. Never had to do that for a meal out EVER - not even in my student days.

I haven't had central heating for 2 years as its needs replaicng and I've never got the money to do so.

I don't have a cooker as my washing machine fell through kitchen floor 7 weeks ago - one whole side has collapsed, and the insurance is refusing my claim. I cook on a camping stove and use slow cooker and table top halogen cooker. This morning, my house was so cold, I could see my breath.

I haven't slept upstairs for a month as it's too cold. I sleep on a camp bed in the living room with 3 hot water bottles, 2 layers of clothes, including a hat and hoodie. DC home from uni has electric blanket and I've put electric oil radiator in there so they can study.

I stopped buying fresh fruit and veg whilst DC at uni and now I use Olio and local food bank for fresh stuff.

I am not on benefits. I earn just above £50k gross. I shouldn't be struggling but every day I make choices - food/heat/switch on TV. And I do it all whilst trying to hide from my DC how bad it is as I don't want them to worry. I work from home and have 3 waterbottles to keep me warm. I wear gloves indoors when working.

Without Olio and local community centre food waste programme, I'd probably live on beans, pasta, rice and cheese.

And the really sad thing is I don't see me ever getting out of this situation. I work hard, I've worked my whole life. I used to consider myself well off - foreign holiday every summer, nice things - gadgets etc, food shopping at Waitrose and M&S, meals out, take away Friday, frequent UK travels, concerts, gigs, art memberships, regular charity standing orders. A good comfortable life.

My reality is not unique or unusual.

I'm luckier than lots of people.

@kc431 It is a matter of opinion. And what percentage you choose partly depends on your own situation.

Yes

Sorry, haven’t read the full thread. Did you catch this phone all to a radio phone in about politics @Lolobella? This is what our country has become.

They are a lot worse . I have a fair bit of family that left the U.K. before and after the date you left and when they are visiting they are shocked . It’s like the rest of the world specially Europe developed and the U.K. is regressing . It’s bad

Lots of what's going on is down to deluded, blinkered head in the sand people like Leela100. In denial of the reality around them

PUTIN? Really? Do you actually believe that? Stop believing the brainwashed propaganda. This shit is of our own making - Tory govt full of thieving, lying scum, Brexit - leaving one of the best clubs in the world, and Covid giving the Tories and their friends easy access to £billions which they gave to one another, siphoned off in secret accounts, gave to companies that didn't even exist, bought £millions of masks and PPE that couldn't be used (bit their friends and family companies got paid).

And then the cherry on the cake mini budget that literally purposefully collapsed the economy. Unstable laughable PMs one after another with no clue what they're doing.

BUT YEAH - PUTIN IS TO BLAME.

When I said during covid that furlough, which was embraced by MNetters, added to universal credit, working tax credits, and low interest rates would end in tears I was absolutely pilloried. That was before Russia declared war on Ukraine.

Those who have no capacity to trim outgoings by 10% are no doubt in dire straits. I imagine nail bars, wine bars, chocolate shops and takeaway outlets will suffer badly.

After more than a decade of MNetters telling us the housing market is skewed and unfair, prices will fall as wages rise. Sadly it will out many local businesses (building and furnishing trades out of business).

What exactly did everyone expect?

Something for all the head in the sand I'm alright Jack's on this thread to listen to.

Against the grain here I think…

My energy price is 3 x what it was, but it was very low before. Gone from £70 to £200.

Food Shop has increased around 10/15%

People have heating off, some necessary, others because it’s become trendy unfortunately! People I work with on £150k sitting in oodie on work calls saying theyre trying to see how long they can last! very ridiculous when you consider there are some who are truly unable to heat or eat!

For me personally, It’s not catastrophic. But if you were already on the breadline, living pay check to pay check, then very sadly those people will be seriously struggling!

Actually it’s even worse.

Yes any suggestion demanding covid reaction would impact later was as you say pilloried.

Ukraine war is adding inflationary pressure, but still it was depressing to watch.

@Leela100 don't know where to begin with your post.
Shock but the conservatives, so called natural party of government have been in power, all be it with different leaders, for 12 years. Result - NHS on its last legs, state schools struggling to function, likewise police and criminal justice system, social care in tatters, small and large businesses unable to trade with the EU without hitting huge amounts of self imposed bureaucracy, shortages of staff wherever you look. Whose fault is that ? Putin's ?
Who knows if the Tories will win yet another election. Maybe if they turn things around. But surely you have to admit that for many people things are not good. You can't be that blind ? And entirely reasonably people will look elsewhere, to other parties, whether it be Labour, LDs, Reform or whoever because whatever the tories are doing, many places outside the home counties are not doing well.