I wish I could escape the UK...

[Itsokay2020]

Just that really! I used to love this country, but I feel really deflated today.

I read the headlines and it’s so depressing, I go for a walk and I just see overgrown hedgerows and weeds everywhere. Footpaths are becoming impossible to negotiate due to overgrowth. My energy supplier went bust, the new supplier are dragging their heals and have blocked our attempt to switch to a better rate with a new supplier. I can sense growing frustration amongst the ordinary folk in the street, it’s a melting pot. Shelves are more bare, made worse by panic headlines in the media. The cost of living is increasing, yet wages are stagnant. The government seems unable to get a grip on all that’s wrong - where is all the money going? Our local fields are being built upon - our beautiful village of 2,000 dwellings will soon increase to 3,000 plus. This is repeated across our part of East Anglia. Selfishly, I wonder where I’ll walk the dog, whilst also knowing that my DC won’t be able to live locally due to the cost of housing. Don’t get me started on GP’s and the lack of appointments.

For the first time, I feel fear about the future. Am considering escaping the South and moving North to reduce our cost of living and maybe enjoy a slower pace. Am I just having a down day or do you feel it too?

Will a new government make it better?

Much I agree with you. One thing though rising prices seem to be happening across the EU too, although U.K. has highest rise in fuel prices apart from Czech Republic. Read this from Times on Saturday:

“UK data: Inflation hit 3 per cent in August, rising 0.9 per cent on the month — the largest increase since the Consumer Prices Index began in 2006. Part of that was due to the drop in prices a year earlier with the Eat Out To Help Out scheme but the largest rise was in transport as fuel prices rocketed. UK fuel prices have risen faster this year than in all but one country in the EU 27. The Czech Republic has seen prices rise by 20p a litre, 1p more than in the UK.

EU data: As in the UK, inflation in the euro area hit 3 per cent in August and is expected to rise to 3.4 per cent in September. Trends in the past two years between the UK and Europe have been broadly similar. Energy, food and industrial goods prices were the main contributors. Fuel prices have risen sharply this year but less than in the UK. In Germany and France, the rise in the price per litre of unleaded was considerably less than the UK, at 16p and 11p respectively.”

@MadeItOut21

Fuck off if you don't like it

Well, as said above, I did, earlier this year. But this is a terrible attitude because it prevents people from 1) recognizing that things really are going very badly in the UK and no, Europe is not having it worse or even as bad and 2) putting pressure on the politicians to fix what is wrong.

Well it depends on what you consider to be important really. I lived in Spain and still follow the news and they have many problems of their own- for example, unemployment is very high. Youth unemployment is scarily high and for me that's more worrying than having less variety of food in the shops. I agree with another poster+ wonder how many of the "UK is appalling" people have ever actually lived abroad.

@mikedyson

The UK has had problems for a long time and very few of them relate to the 2008 crash. The biggest issue in the UK is that we pay comparatively very low tax. The bottom two thirds of earners in the UK have the lowest effective rate of income taxation in the EU (the top third have the fifth highest), even pre-Covid 54% of households receive more in cash benefits than they pay in tax. Lots of people had a tantrum over the NI rise and only around 8% of people make a net contribution in any one year.

What has caused the issues is too many people think that "someone else" can pay for everything, too many people do not pay enough tax to fund the UK and most in this country have a very childish attitude towards paying tax. The problem is not "disaster capitalists", it is not "bankers", it is the majority of the population.

Where the hell is this batshit narrative that poor people aren't paying enough tax coming from?

I have had a quick Goole but can't find any sources for these claims at all - is this some extremist capitalist think-tank or something?

It's that old idea that rich people need to be given money to motivate them, while poor people need to be whipped. The UK tax take is falling, because there is so much legitimate tax avoidance. It is crazy to suggest that the ordinary care worker, for instance, doing an essential job for shit wages could ever pay enough tax even en masse to make up for the likes of financial corruption at the top. Did you come across the latest financial scandal? www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-41880153

I don't understand what they could possibly do with all that money either. It's a known fact that giving more to poorer people benefits the economy by circulation.

This is a useful link too www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41877932 "Pandora Papers: your guide to nine years of finance leaks"

Well it depends on what you consider to be important really. I lived in Spain and still follow the news and they have many problems of their own- for example, unemployment is very high. Youth unemployment is scarily high and for me that's more worrying than having less variety of food in the shops. I agree with another poster+ wonder how many of the "UK is appalling" people have ever actually lived abroad.

I think Spain’s economy was not as strong as the U.K. for many years. U.K. is getting worse. Brexit is not the only factor but it’s a significant one. The Times article I linked to above concludes with this:

“Covid was a massive shock to the global economy and it hit the UK harder than most. It is not surprising the recovery has been bumpy.

Wages have bounced back but so have prices, with inflation at its highest for a decade in many countries. Labour shortages, supply chain disruptions and sharp rises in energy prices are also present in the EU and US. Brexit cannot be blamed.

But the HGV shortage is more acute here than elsewhere, while its impacts — fuel shortages, problems with supermarket deliveries — seem unique and have been exacerbated by Brexit.

Brexit-specific effects, resulting from new barriers to trade and labour mobility, are also clear. And while the impact of the pandemic will fade relatively quickly, that of Brexit will not. In some areas, such as trade and migration, it may even grow over time.

In addition, Brexit so far has signally failed to boost our exports to non-EU countries.

Covid was a massive shock to the global economy and it hit the UK harder than most. It is not surprising the recovery has been bumpy.

Wages have bounced back but so have prices, with inflation at its highest for a decade in many countries. Labour shortages, supply chain disruptions and sharp rises in energy prices are also present in the EU and US. Brexit cannot be blamed.

But the HGV shortage is more acute here than elsewhere, while its impacts — fuel shortages, problems with supermarket deliveries — seem unique and have been exacerbated by Brexit.

Brexit-specific effects, resulting from new barriers to trade and labour mobility, are also clear. And while the impact of the pandemic will fade relatively quickly, that of Brexit will not. In some areas, such as trade and migration, it may even grow over time.

In addition, Brexit so far has signally failed to boost our exports to non-EU countries.”.

Apologies for copying and pasting the Times quote twice in my comment above.

By your own admission, you live in a beautiful village, go on walks out in nature and hedgerows with your dog during the daytime. The issue is less your actual life and the scaremongering shitstorming by the media. I suggest you stop paying so much attention to the news and do more of what you enjoy.

I agree with another poster+ wonder how many of the "UK is appalling" people have ever actually lived abroad.

This is my 3rd country, am I allowed to say that the UK is appalling at the moment?

We were just discussing with my H our best options in 3 years time. When our son finishes school. Until then we have to stay.
And we came here 10 years ago thinking this will be our perm home. Hell, we don't want to start over when we are 50+...but there are objective measures where we draw the line.

To be fair we have the advantage of many options as we are EU citizens.

The grass is always greener, but once you had to settle or start over many times it really is just grass.

Thank you for all the comments, it’s interesting to see such varied views.

I spent a year in Australia when I was much younger and loved it, however I also witnessed racism and social problems. Nowhere on this planet is perfect, utopia doesn’t exist. I have family all over the UK and the differences are evident.

Others have touched upon the anger in the UK, I think that’s come across in this thread too. This country has very much been divided, that’s a sad reality and some of the comments have confirmed this.

Overgrown hedgerows may seem like a minor issue, but for me it’s what it represents. I confess to taking secateurs to the brambles to make footpaths more accessible and to stop pedestrians having to walk in the road, as do many others I know. I constantly pick up litter, as do many others. But overgrown hedgerows are a hazard if they obscure your view at roundabouts and junctions, which is what we are facing in this neck of the woods and sadly requests to make it safer fall on deaf ears. Potholes that were sprayed with paint to mark them as urgent 18 months ago have still not been repaired, the paint has worn away and yet they remain as active defects on the local authority website. It’s these little things that erode the British pride.

Comparisons to Afghanistan are unhelpful, if that’s your measure then so be it but it’s not a comparable country. I don’t want to settle for thinking we’re better than Afghanistan, it’s worrying that others do!

My political allegiance is irrelevant, I may not have voted at all! But we are stuck with a Tory government with an agenda that is not in our best interests. I still believe I am right to be concerned.

For those that have successfully relocated or moved abroad, your stories are inspiring and I am so glad it worked out for you! My family, and my job (which I love!) keep me here for now.

Where are you wanting to go OP? . I live in another country and many people are dead set on leaving here too. I just have to wonder where everyone is going to end up, as nowhere is perfect.

@Itsokay2020. What made you have faith in this government to start with though? Ive a feeling you regret saying that upthread.

@Itsokay2020 I also spent time in Australia, still love the country but rasicm was sadly and quite shocklingly like nowhere else. Among both rich and poor. Ended up moving to Scandinavia, and for now there is no way in hell that we would want to live anywhere else.

@Tilltheend99

People got what they voted for every election for 11years. It’s always a case of waiting for the county to be raised to the ground before anyone notices. The opposite of levelling up.

Quite

@TheSunIsStillShining

I agree with another poster+ wonder how many of the "UK is appalling" people have ever actually lived abroad.

This is my 3rd country, am I allowed to say that the UK is appalling at the moment?

We were just discussing with my H our best options in 3 years time. When our son finishes school. Until then we have to stay.
And we came here 10 years ago thinking this will be our perm home. Hell, we don't want to start over when we are 50+...but there are objective measures where we draw the line.

To be fair we have the advantage of many options as we are EU citizens.

The grass is always greener, but once you had to settle or start over many times it really is just grass.

How sure are you that the nice country you move to won't go the same way, 20 years later? Then again as you're EU citizens Brexit is probably a factor, and immigration etc will be easier.

My profession is on the shortage list of virtually every country and I'll probably take a job offer that sounds exciting rather than 'migrate' for the sake of it. But I can't really think of any country that's a lot better than the U.K. I'll be a dark skinned foreigner anywhere I go and here's better than most.

[quote ssd]@Itsokay2020. What made you have faith in this government to start with though? Ive a feeling you regret saying that upthread.[/quote]
Ssd would you prefer anyone who votes Tory just to keep quiet about it?
Should only non Tory voters be allowed to discuss who they voted for on mn?

How many times have you voted for this government under Cameron’s austerity, Brexit, May’s ‘red lines’ and Johnson’s ‘shit I’ve fucked up the negotiations so I’ll distract everyone with an American imported culture war because ‘cancel culture’ is apparently worse for my fans than being able to heat their homes’?

If you’ve done any of these then realise you have to take responsibility. It took until hospital wards were filthy, rubbish bins were overflowing, British seas declared toxic, school crumbling before people stopped voting for their lives to be worse in the 90s in the stupid belief that a vote for Conservatives was aspirational and harmed people they didn’t like.

The fact you says you’d ‘lost faith’ told me everything.

If you want to move, move no need for the flounce but spare a thought for those who didn’t vote for this shit but cannot run away.

get together with a few neighbours and ask the Council to get them trimmed

As Op has nothing better to do than complain about living in a country with one of the highest standards of living, most moderate climates and best democracies in the world perhaps she could stop whinging about uncut hedgerows and get out and cut them? They always say that a quick route to happiness is to stop focussing on yourself and get out and do something for others instead.

@Itsokay2020

Interesting point about children not being able to afford to live where you are it's similar here

My friend and her husband re-mortgaged their home where we live (4 bed family house) and took £30k out of it and put a £15k deposit down on 2 small 2 bed semi's (new builds and these are joined together as they had a 10% discount if you bought 2 together) and they've put them on buy to let mortgages and are able to rent them out and in just under 18 years they'll be paid off so that her kids have a "local home" as the older properties are a lot more money and she thought it would give them a step on the ladder.

Not sure id want to be right next door to my sibling 😂 but it's made me consider doing the same for my 2 kids as the extra she's paying on her mortgage every month is so small it's barely noticeable but she's in turn going to have paid off 2 houses for her children.

Because the English have a delusional idea that they are better than everyone else. Sadly, If you look at stats on education, productivity, etc they really are not. But good forbid you suggest it is less than perfect, you will be told to leave

I've not seen any real food shortages. Shelves have only been bare if I've gone in late in the evening etc and its been non essentials, rapidly restocked.

My local council seem to have no difficulty blocking every housing development going, I'd rather they allowed more homes to be built so that property prices are manageable for my children.

I've had no difficulty accessing essential healthcare. My GP practice have (admittedly under duress) been allowing more and more face to face appointments.

Where I live (south east - london commuter belt) local maintenance (footpaths/drainage/roads) are ok too. Not perfect but we need to be reasonable in our expectations, we aren't a rich country any more.

The U.K. is quantifiably a basket case at the moment. International media describe it in precise detail so I’m not sure why you’re giving the OP a hard time.

I do think people have had enough and things will get better. We just need to get rid of this shambolic government. The majority don’t vote Tory but FPTP is a nightmare. Opposition parties need to work together for once.

@Tealightsandd

In Italy the far right are gaining popularity. Mussolini's granddaughter representing one of the far right parties just did very well in the polls in Rome.

Tensions and problems are not unique to the UK.

In fairness, only the local council elections and she got onto her "branch" with just over 4000 votes. She's not the famous granddaughter (Alessandra) who has been in politics (and sleb telly when she loses credibility- which is always) but Alessandra's stepsister. Neither of them are really called Mussolini either, which says it all.

@Coffeepants

Because the English have a delusional idea that they are better than everyone else. Sadly, If you look at stats on education, productivity, etc they really are not. But good forbid you suggest it is less than perfect, you will be told to leave

I think you couldn’t be more wrong on that. We are a gloomy bunch who tend to down play our strengths and attack those that do well. In America success is lauded. Over here we try and bring the person down.

@mustlovegin

Rupert Murdoch and his ilk have totally removed unbiased news from the equation

What do you mean? You can still wallow in The Guardian, Channel 4 and all the others

Yes I can, but unfortunately politics seems to be only influenced by the Daily Mail etc, just look at the Tories and Brexit. They are clearly following a disgusting backwards looking, screw equality and the environment agenda.

I couldn’t cope with the heat of Australia. Or the drought or the wildfires. Or everything that wants to kill you. At least in the UK the only thing that wants you dead is the government.

I do love these sweeping statements. Have you looked at a map recently - Australia is a very large country, not every part of it suffers from drought or wildfires, or even extreme heat. I don't think the number of people dying from "everything that wants to kill you" is that high either.