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.

Oneliner

Why can’t you leave?

Surely you can just look for a job in a different country. It might be difficult but if you did want to go then I can’t see why you can’t.
Everything can be overcome.

I am hoping to after this shit is over. It has never crossed my mind that I can’t.

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

Fair enough if you are bored to tears with it but often I find (in France at least) is that upon hearing my accent people often want to discuss the topic. There is no hostility, just interest in what the views are from across the channel. I have had some really interesting discussions as a result of some random person in a bar wanting to have a chat about Brexit.

What I don't get, as evidenced by some on this thread is the idea of hiding ones nationality, the notion of carrying national shame and all the handwringing nonsense that brings.

Honestly for any young people that have the means I would advise them to leave, better opportunities in other countries now. Why would a young person want to do the below?
Face higher educational costs if they want to go to uni.
Higher housing costs often paying more in rent then mortgage but struggling to save a deposit.
Wage stagnation & potential income
tax increases to pay for Covid.
Unlikely to receive a state pension before they die & an NHS that is no longer free.
Any savings having to go on care.

Inequality is growing, the rich are getting richer & smaller. But people won't vote differently because they have aspirations of getting into that group which is unlikely for the majority.

Look how many posters now view the furloughed as scroungers. As a key worker who worked throughout wtf?!

I find everyone in Europe loves to talk about brexit :) Everyone from the taxi drivers to the waiters. Brexit has huge support in Italy, Greece, Holland, Sweden and in some part of France too (not Paris)
I have noticed more and more people understand the point of brexit, and not seeing now as a wholesale rejection of the EU, but of the bureaucracy behind parts of it.

Most of our Dutch and Italian friends are quite envious of the new chapter awaiting the UK, they see it being a much bigger success than we do!

I don’t think we ever got past Thatcher. What she did can’t ever really be undone. Whole communities were destroyed and have never been rebuilt.

I find it hard to accept people who are only now finding the U.K. government so difficult to handle that they want to leave after we have been in austerity for over a decade.

I need to be more accepting of people who are extremely distressed by Brexit.

You guys can all be really proud to be British this morning with the news of the Oxford vaccine. Developed in the U.K. by U.K. scientists, tested on U.K. volunteers ( and In Brazil too) and a cheap, easily transported and still effective vaccine that can be rolled out across the world. Be proud! No need to be ashamed today

Surely you can just look for a job in a different country. It might be difficult but if you did want to go then I can’t see why you can’t.

It often really isn't that simple though.

Sure, if an individual has (perhaps niche) skills that are in demand overseas then they may be able to move, but many people seem to be unaware that a lot of countries have strict controls on companies recruiting overseas nationals for jobs that the locals can do....(e.g. The U.S).

I think many people, particularly the young, take the idea of "Freedom for Movement" across for work purposes as being some universal truth/right..it really isn't.

sasha It is truly wonderful news!!!!!! :)

It is cheap, easily stored and can be rolled out in a few weeks!!

@Friendsoftheearth Thats interesting, in what way do they see it as being a success for the UK ?

Of the countries you mention, support for EU membership is 71% to 83% even in Greece its 75%, only france drops to below - 68%

Eurozone is a different matter.

I've some friends in s/w france, her father is an advisor to Marine le Pen and she was a big brexit supporter, 4 years on, she thinks its a stupid idea.

(Survey done in 2019)

jasjas I can only report the enthusiasm for brexit I have personally experienced on the many business and leisure trips I have done in the last few years. At the beginning, many were horrified and offended by the vote to leave. I noticed as the information trickled down and people understood why, it became a topic of conversation and finally now we see enthusiasm and understanding.

The UK is completely different to the EU in many ways. It is a trading island, known for its independence and all the rest. The UK were always at odds with the EU's plans for expansion and more integration. This way the EU can crack on with their dreams of becoming a federal state without interference. It is better for all concerned.

Obviously it isn't ideal if you are a country that does not want more integration (Holland, Sweden etc) but they have at least a clear route out if they choose to leave in the years to come. Or they can stay if it suits them, and they are happy with the progress.

I think we will be far better friends and allies of the EU now, it is my belief that the relationship between us will flourish on more equal terms.

The UK were always at odds with the EU's plans for expansion and more integration.

Erm, the UK was one of the loudest cheerleaders for expansion of the EU eastwards!

jasjas.

EU26 resident here and very much agree.. I think some of the continentals may not want to show offence in conversation with a visiting Brexiter and will politely nod in polite agreement but as you rightly say all the data suggests support for "Frexit", "Grexit" etc has fallen massively, and as you say in France even the RN has become rather quiet on the issue.

@Stripesnomore

I don’t think we ever got past Thatcher. What she did can’t ever really be undone. Whole communities were destroyed and have never been rebuilt.

I find it hard to accept people who are only now finding the U.K. government so difficult to handle that they want to leave after we have been in austerity for over a decade.

I need to be more accepting of people who are extremely distressed by Brexit.

And she dragged the country into the 21st century...albeit kicking and screaming.

Well I have never ever started a conversation with anyone about brexit, not ever, so the idea that they are just nodding along is utterly inaccurate. The conversation is always started by them, and as usual I will say neutral and listen to their view.

No one in the UK is interested in 'selling' brexit to anyone else, it is in our interests that the EU stays viable and stable. I don't wish to see the whole thing cave in at any point. It does need to be far more transparent and accountable though.

In terms of expansion and integration I am talking about the future plans for an EU army, banking and tax and other over arching institutions that will govern the EU in the future, that are now being pushed forward. Not the expansion in actual countries joining! Although I am not sure how supportive the UK were of Romania etc joining - but just to clear I am talking about the even deepening governance of the EU.

Friendsoftheearth .... yes fine words but what advantages do your friends (or you) see for us?

Also, it was the UK that was most keen on expansion, indeed i believe Cameron supported Turkey in this regard, though that has thankfully ground to a halt now.

The vast majority of our trade is in services, not in goods.

If you know France, then you'll know they are an independent and proud nation too (as are almost all other EU countries)

Personally, i think the danger is that the UK and EU become rivals over time, not close friends at all, unless Biden can influence Johnson, its probably the only way the UK can make Brexit a success, undercut the europeans, though we couldn't do that pre 1973, so why would it work now?

Friends

I can only report the enthusiasm for brexit I have personally experienced on the many business and leisure trips I have done in the last few years. At the beginning, many were horrified and offended by the vote to leave. I noticed as the information trickled down and people understood why, it became a topic of conversation and finally now we see enthusiasm and understanding.

Well I live within the EU26, I don't just drop in.

The locals and people I meet on my travels were surprised at the leave vote...4 plus years down the road the ones they almost exclusively, that the Brits are crazy to leave and increasingly gobsmacked at what they see and hear coming out of Westminster.

This is all anecdotal I know but I'm certainly not sensing increasing widespread support, anything but..but as I said I only live "here"..

Friendsof the earth I am half Dutch and have many family and friends there. What you’ve just claimed is utter bollocks.

Anyway we don't need to go over old ground. It is old news. The UK have left the EU, the future will be bright for everyone once the vaccine is rolled out, and op if you wish leave, stop talking about and just do it!

I spent many years living overseas, I was happy to come home and appreciated the beauty and order of the UK - and the seasons especially on my return - I learnt that we are lovely, kind and green land that has many flaws but also world class opportunities, universities and those things matter to me a great deal - not to everyone agreed, but for us we have had an amazing and safe life here. I am sure it will be a great experience for you. All the best

How did we go from the joy and pride of the Olympics in 2012 to this, just 8 years later??

Why on earth do people always cite the Olympics on threads like this? How does people getting all patriotic and emotional at the sight of a big, massively expensive sports event have anything to do with having a well-run country? It's just window-dressing and self-promotion.

In any case, I agree with a poster upthread. Boris and the Tories might be awful, but we still live in a free, democratic country which many people would risk life and limb to come and live in. If people vote for arseholes (and Brexit), they have to take the consequences.

In terms of expansion and integration I am talking about the future plans for an EU army, banking and tax and other over arching institutions that will govern the EU in the future, that are now being pushed forward

The UK took part in EU border force patrols, global and european banking and tax measures are essential to avoid tax evasion.
The UK is already part of a multi national Army - NATO, do you object to that?
Any EU so called army, would be complementary to that, not in addition -even if it ever happened, it gained traction under Trump as he wasn't a fan of NATO, Biden as POTUS takes us back to the international norms.

OP, if it really is making you so unhappy, then find a country with a government you do like. Not everyone is as unhappy as you, and some people actually like living in the UK. I think it quite good actually, even though the government could definitely do better. But then my in-laws come from a non-EU country where the government is shockingly awful and makes our lot look amazing.

This is what makes Britain such a great place, world beating tolerance hmm

Jasjas you criticise other posters for intolerance but you’re intolerant of anyone who disagrees with you, especially on the Brexit threads.

notimagain

I have no discernible skills other than being able to see where money can be made.
I am 60 with no qualifications and if it hadn’t been for this pandemic I would be in the US now having started my new business there this year.

It isn’t impossible and if you want to do it and you have done your research, read a lot, spoken with people who have done it and then made a plan and thought of plan B to Z then I think anything is possible.

How did we go from the joy and pride of the Olympics in 2012 to this, just 8 years later??

Because the Tories had only been in power for 2 years then, and hadn’t managed to release the full shitshow at that point.

Unleash rather than release.