To be seriously considering leaving this country?

[User135644]

I've lived here all my life l, have all my family and friends here but I feel desperate to get out now.

Brexit was national self harm in itself (and has made it harder to leave) but I am done with Tory island. They have destroyed everything over the last 12 years.

Had it now. Country heading for collapse.

Would love to leave. Sadly my partner wouldn't be up for it and wouldn't want to uproot kids now both are in the same school. Also the pound wouldn't stretch as far now.....
Would head to Canada I think, Jobs in my area in NZ but don't think they would have me.

I'm Polish and going back to my homeland next year due to family reasons. I'm aware though I'm leaving lot of good stuff behind. Life in the UK is not that bad for me (except few things which aren't perfect in Poland anyway, so no change for better or worse). If you have decent education or skills, you'll have good life here. If you have poorly paid skills, life will be shit in US too (even worse because of no social help). My sister lives in Germany and life there isn't bed of roses too.

I grew up in the 90s/2000s when there was so much hope.

DH and I were born late 70 childhood was 80s and lived in areas badly affected by industrial decline - though different area with different industries all gone by 2000s. We were young parents in 2008 and economic downturn badly hit us.

It's not looking great - but many countries have problems at moment.

We’re leaving in 3 years, having to time it around kids education. Back home for me but it’s probably worse. 😬

I'm also considering leaving. This is no country for old men. It was a lucrative place when you were young, free and single and had good qualifications but now it just feels like sheer misery, doom, gloom and hardship.

Of course nowhere is perfect and we’ve been trying to decide whether to go or stay for a while. We only came back to the UK in 2016 (bad timing with Brexit).

But it takes a certain level of madness to crash your own economy and I’m relieved we have an exit plan.

I don't understand the bitter responses to those planning to leave, why be bitter? It's understandable how people are feeling right now

We are leaving in a few years once my husband has finished off his contract with his employer. We’ll be heading back to Oz where I’m from

I’d definitely think about it, but as PP have pointed out, Brexit makes it hard. DH is Irish enough to get citizenship for himself but not for me or the kids. I’m investing all my energy in the Scottish Independence movement, and hoping to get out of the UK and back into the EU that way. Things aren’t great in Scotland but it definitely beats what’s going on in England, especially if we could ditch the Westminster government.

For all those people clapping and cheering and saying 'byeee' - you do realise that the people who can leave are almost certainly highly educated/skilled and are paying lots of tax? Those who want to come here or are arriving eg as asylum seekers/refugees are generally not as educated/skilled and need lots of support.

I don't understand posters who think it's great people are leaving! The country cannot afford to lose people like this but you all crack on

Strange isn’t it that lots are now seemingly looking to become economic migrants to other countries when the concept of economic migrants into this country have in the past been condemned. There is surely an argument to say that it is better to stay and work actively to improve your home country (and in a democracy there are ways to achieve that) rather than bail out and always go on the hunt for the illusory greener grass elsewhere . Life can’t always be perfect. History shows us that.

Honestly. 6 years ago was the time to go. If you didn't go then, then you are pretty fucked now.

I’ve lived in both the US and Australia neither of them are the land of milk and honey, both have their advantages and disadvantages the only thing I would say is it least the weather was reliable and cheerful

The pandemic and its consequences has hit everyone hard. You don't live a lifetime without some bumps in the road. Nowhere better than here. Although we barely have any money, I'm one of the masses and never destined to have any anyway. Hope you enjoy wherever you're off to.

OP, I get it.

While we are not oblivious to the fact everywhere has problems, for the first time ever we have considered relocating to Australia. It just seems so dire and hopeless here now.

We’re not fucked at all, what an odd statement to make.

When the only argument is that this country is a better place to live than somewhere with severe natural disasters or mass genocide and civil war, it’s a pretty sad day. I think we’re there though.

I tried to leave but didn’t work out.
Visas are expensive (if you get one in the first place), flights are expensive, it’s expensive living in a new location until you can get a job there. Not to mention all the extra stuff you need to buy once there and the higher rents than my home area.
Would do it again in a heartbeat though.

Where are you going @LizzieSiddal and do you need a visa? I'm asking as a family member is considering doing same but pension income is not high enough for the EU country they want to live in.

Languages are the real barrier. US and Aus are both as bad as UK in terms of right wing politics. I don't know enough about NZ but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be easy to emigrate there.

If I could speak any language I'd love to go to Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands or Germany. I feel like these are all places supportive of families and progressive, with reasonably accessible healthcare.

If I don't manage to get out myself, I'm going to strongly encourage my kids to skill themselves for export, and to try and do a year (or even their whole degree) abroad. I don't want them to be stuck here like I feel.

This is why Brexit ENRAGES me so much - they were born with so many options, and they were stolen away mostly by people whose life had mostly passed them by. By the time my kids might want to have access to Europe, the people who slammed the door on them will mostly be dead.

Out of interest, how did you do this? I have Swiss Nationality and have been told that DH needs to live in Switzerland for 10 years in order to apply?

Well I'm pretty chuffed that my Irish passport has come through. I'm getting to the point when I'd go with a united Ireland.

Plans well underway, hence the username! I bought a house in France not long ago and was glad I did so once the pound crashed. France offers a range of visas to non-EU citizens, although they can be slightly restrictive.

I've thought the UK was pooped for a while, ever since I attended a continental university for my masters. I couldn't believe how much better everything was in mainland Europe. It seems now that other people are realising that too.

It goes in cycles though. But overall, since before Roman times, Britain has always been a bit wilder, less organised than mainland Europe.

Scotland is even worse. It feels like the Scottish Government's mission is to restrict or license almost every activity you might actually do for enjoyment or endeavour, while treating you like a bunch of incapable children unable to make your own life decisions. It feels very, very controlled and listening to the lecturers from the SNP party faithful is enough to drive anyone slightly mad. Its also noticeable that you now have to pay for parking absolutely everywhere, in the middle of the countryside even, whereas in France outside the main cities you can usually park for free.

Truss et al are horrendous and I hope there is a GE asap. I would bear in mind that nowhere is perfect however. I spent time in Australia (which I love) about 20 years ago and was tempted to move (have a skill). Couldn't persuade partner and we are still here. One of the things I loved about Australia is that it was house prices were still low and jobs were more chilled. Now Australia has more expensive house prices than here , jobs are pretty similar, global warming is having an impact and being so close to China is pretty scary. What I would say is that no where is perfect - turn off the news and think about about what you want to change (as far as you can). If you want to move abroad then I'm sure it is a possibility if you look at upskilling etc..

I think the stakes of a move depends a lot on your life circumstances. I moved to the UK in my 20s, and now in my 40s and planning to go back to my home country in a few years.... BUT I'm conscious that the move back will be a lot more complicated now that I have school-aged DC and own property.

If you're under 30 with no DC, or even pre-school DC, I would absolutely try living somewhere else. The same applies if your DC are grown. If it doesn't work out you can come back relatively easily.

If you have school-aged DC you need to take into account the disruption for them, remember that the other country may not work out and you will decide to come back. Also think about the disruption to your careers/earning potential, particularly if you move somewhere where you don't speak the language.

From a visa perspective I don't think many people realise how much easier it is to move countries if you do it when you're young, as many countries want to attract younger migrants and often have special visa or working holiday schemes for them. I would advise almost every young person to try living in a different country for a while, it opens your horizons and just gives you so many more options.