To want to escape the U.K

[Schummakker]

I’ve become so disillusioned with his government, it’s corrupt and awful nasty politicians such as Priti Patel and cannot stomach to even see Boris Johnson on the television or the sound of his empty waffling forever gaslighting.

I’m seriously feeling depressed at what we have as a gov’t.

Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a sensible morally correct leadership of intelligent people you could actually trust to lead a nation.

Feeling really down about it.

I think we’re doing a lot better than you realise I’m afraid and you’d be shocked at the corruption and racism in many other countries including European.

I have school friends in NZ, I'd love to be there with them.

I think you should leave. And take all your likeminded friends with you.

I'm with you OP. I currently live in Scotland, and I'm so tired of the constant political uncertainty over every single thing, and the increasing creep of tax and the State controlling your life. And the dreadful public services, like no footpaths along B roads much of the time.

I used to live in the The Netherlands and it was a much better run country. Public services are really good, tax isn't that high (you can deduct commuting to work expenses and still get MIRAs on FTBs) and the people are nice. It feels very "safe" as a result, particularly in the more rural Eastern Netherlands. I don't like the way British people don't tend to keep long term friends either.

@bellinisurge Someone very rich that we knew made the jump to Ireland back when the Brexit vote came in. Their family seems very happy there but the money probably helps with that. We were really surprised but it is looking to have been the right choice. They left an amazing life here but I don't think they regret it at all.

I have a British passport, but I'm not from here originally. If my DH would agree, I would be long gone! It isn't hatred of the country or even the government, but I am so proud of the bit of my heritage which is European, as in, part of the EU, not ethnicity. When I visited Brussels and saw the official buildings with the EU flag I was a bit emotional. I'm really sad that I won't be able to say I live in an EU country anymore. It just feels like deliberately abandoning something quite progressive. DH's job and my other passports mean we probably could move to any number of other places. But this is his home and now my home and we have children here so we are sticking it out and hoping for the best.

This thread made me daydream about a reset. Where we could get rid of them all, including the House of Lords, and start afresh.
To devise a new way of choosing representatives of the people and of electing industry experts to panels which made proposals with transparency. A system which didn't enable power-hungry, self-serving tossers to get into government.

I don't like the way British people don't tend to keep long term friends either.
I am at a loss on this one. Seriously?!

It seems there’s a lot of people in mumsnet who never even contemplate personal responsibility -everything is someone else’s fault. I’d be interested where this Utopia lies. Mind you it’s often a very small step from Utopia to distopia.

Quite often what these people are saying is I don’t like people who are different to me, who have different opinions and priorities (ironically they often describe themselves as very liberal), mine is the only way.

A system which didn't enable power-hungry, self-serving tossers to get into government

Diana how would you guarantee that power hungry etc. tossers didn’t get into government?

Yes OP.

We moved to another European country a few years ago as we could see the way the U.K. was heading (further right wing and potentially worse than the Thatcher years), and I’m very grateful we had the gumption to get on with it.

Not a single regret.

Thanks @AspergersMum but I ain't going anywhere. The fuckers trying to mess up this country will have to answer for it at the ballot box eventually. Now that the blessed JC has gone they will have to face grown up opposition.

I like France a lot - but the recent terrorist attacks there have been quite worrying. Also, our French friends complain about the school system and excessive amounts of homework in secondary school - so I would have to send ds2 to an international school if we moved there. Switzerland or Denmark perhaps

Yes i like Denmark too, i lived in Stockholm for a while, whilst taxes were high, you didn't need anything else, leisure centres roads, cycle lanes, healthcare, transport, rent etc all provided by the state or inexpensive, despite earning a similar amount in London, i was worse off.
Only ever travelled through Switzerland but it looked lovely.

Yes France has certainly had more than its fair share of attacks but the odds of being involved in one are miniscule... i hope!!!

@JuniperSling

I think you should leave. And take all your likeminded friends with you.

Tolerance, such a British ideal, sadly unreacheable for many.

We turned down a company move to Denmark because we couldn’t make the figures add up. Copenhagen is lovely, but not lovely enough to make up for a significant financial hit (and that was even with a 2 year tax break).

I’d be all for paying MP’s more money, however they cannot have ANY conflicts of interest. No businesses that could gain from Government contracts, all acquaintances must be declared to avoid any accusations of cronyism. They really must be held to the highest standards. They can just lie and cheat to get into power and then lie and cheat to stay in power. Disgraceful.

I think, if you have to bolster your country up, by tearing others down, that's a bit of a shame. Equally, if you feel compelled to indicate how superior your country is by saying the equivalent of 'well at least it's not Nigeria/China/Saudi Arabia' - take your bloody pick, that's a bit tragic as well.

It's perfectly reasonable to love one's country, to take pride in one's country, but also to be aware of its weaknesses and what could be done better and needs to be done better. One eyed patriotism is bloody useless. It just allows ignorant boorish buffoons to lead you about by the nose.

Also. Our Government is not Our Country. They're just the latest bunch of arseholes in charge.

Nothing that has happened in the last 5 years has come as a surprise to any of us who warned from the start that Brexit would be a disaster, that Corbyn was unelectable and that Johnson was a dishonest, untrustworthy buffoon

Or that having a referendum in the first place was going to turn out well.

It's perfectly reasonable to love one's country, to take pride in one's country, but also to be aware of its weaknesses and what could be done better and needs to be done better

^This, i love my country but not the right wing governments we've had recently, nor the lack of public investment we've had for decades.

Thing is, Brexit isn't the government's doing. And the shit it unleashed.
But just as we got past Thatcher and Thatcherism, we get past this revolting fucking mess we've got ourselves into.

Unfortunately, us Brits aren't popular abroad. 'Expats' might have to accept that really they're immigrants. But no doubt there will be an exodus of talent and key workers. It's going to be pretty grim for those of us left behind. I worry for my children growing up here. I wish we had the option to leave.

Unfortunately, us Brits aren't popular abroad.

I have lived and worked for extended periods in Sweden, France and Italy, I have pretty much visited most European countries in a work capacity and have visited over half the counties in Africa. From my observations most ex pat Brits that I met had made a decent effort insofar as learning the language (or at least enough to get by) and had adapted to local customs and generally 'stepped up' Sure, there is always a minority who insist on only drinking down the English pub, buy imported Brit food down the supermarket and don't bother to even learn a few basic phrases but they were very much a minority. Most expats saw the value of making an effort, the rewards both professionally and socially that such an attitude brings.

I've lived in both the UK and Ireland.

The grass is definitely greener in Ireland but the cost of living is high.

One of the reasons why I hide being British abroad is not wanting to have to discuss Brexit.