AIBU to think this might be it for the UK and will never get better?

[Desperado40]

I am sorry for a very pessimistic view, but I feel we are stuck in a downward spiral in the UK. Is it just me, or does anyone else think that we will be stuck in this loop with the effects of Brexit and a decade of austerity taking decades to ever recover from (if ever?).
If anyone has a better outlook, please let me know.

Yes, I'd like that question answered to, what's so bad about France.

All those with the belief that this is terminal and will never improve and it’s all dark and hopeless

genuine question

do you express all this to your children? Or even a hint of it?

and does this bleak view extend in to other areas of your life? Ie were you one of the ones that that covid was the beginning of the end for the world? No one was ever going to be able to hug / dance / holiday etc again? Are you prone to depression?

Of course there are worldwide economic pressures and the UK has become a second tier country since WW2 but it remains comparatively affluent albeit wealth is unfairly distributed. Our internal problems have been significantly worsened by Brexit and a series of inept Prime Ministers from a Tory Party bereft of ideas and fearful of its future. Labour would be better but not by much. I suspect we have to muddle through as usual.

Most of the world's major problems (economic, environmental, social, dwindling resources) stem from human overpopulation. And the population is, regrettably, still growing apace.

We are killing off the oceans, rainforests, other species and fossil resources at a rapid rate. And reaping the consequences. So no, "things" are not going to improve. Today's children will have much less prosperous, more competitive and stressful lives. It's a fact. And we have only ourselves to blame.

@Sarahcoggles

I think we should accept that whilst things haven't been great in the last couple of years, and are set to continue that way, we are still unbelievably bloody fortunate to be here. And if we ever need reminding of how lucky we are, we only need to watch the news to see what truly desperate people will do to get here, to this supposedly dreadful place. It's puts our grumbles into perspective.

Of course, I don't think anyone disputes that we are luckier than people from countries which are in such a state of chaos that they need to jump onto rafts to escape persecution.

But the argument that we're not bad as Iran so it's all tickety-boo is completely specious and misleading. We are an advanced, stable and affluent democracy and if we're becoming less advanced, stable and affluent that's a reasonable topic for debate and discussion. It's dangerous and dishonest of people to try to shut this discussion down because people aren't jumping onto inflatable dinghies to leave the UK.

Nothing at all, but english is an international language, so many migrants speak it, not french! Some have family already here but most importantly, its the ease in which a migrant can disappear and work in the UK & with no ID requirements can get healthcare and education.

Also, we have no return agreements anymore (we voted for that) once here a migrant can stay.

It will get better, don't worry. Economy works in cycles. Yes, Brexit was nail in the coffin, but all countries suffer now. Btw. I think UK will be joining back EU in 30-40 years, but on much worse terms than they used to have.

Of course not. These things are cyclical. Look at history.

What people will think of Brexit in that many years will be interesting. Climate impact and migration may change things a fair bit

@Goodgrief82

No but neither do i bury my head in the sand, its only by acknowledgement and then action that anything improves.

Someone once asked "what has improved since 2010?" no answers from the Toryfanboys

Here’s your answer at “what’s improved”:

I’m not prone to depression, have forgotten about Covid & to my DD, the world & her life is a fluffy cloud of loveliness!

However, deep in me, I feel pessimistic about the future of the U.K. no one but me(& now Mumsnet!) knows I feel like this & all my friends see me as the happy, positive one.

I want my DD to grow up resilient & happy with a ‘this too shall pass’ attitude but although I am happy in my own little bubble, the future to me looks a little bleak.

The sad fact is the entire Western Economies have peaked and the only way is down. China and the Far East have grown massively over the past couple of decades and are now reaping the financial rewards that the West used to enjoy.

For years, we enjoyed the fruits of their cheap labour, but now that's changing and they want the economic prosperity themselves, hence higher prices, internal demand for goods, etc.

Our Western governments need to wake up and smell the coffee and start planning for the new future, unfortunately, politicians generally, all colours, in different countries aren't good with blue sky thinking and planning for decades ahead.

How did H&M moving abroad make things better for the UK or the Royal Family?

Or is your attempt at humour further proof that Brexit and the Conservatives have made the UK worse off?

Has much improved in all the other EU countries over the past decade??

@Badbadbunny ummmm China is in decline, growth dropped 6% last quarter, the west is also on-shoring manufacturing from China, who may well become the next Russia over the next decade, they also have terrible covid problems.

EU has some long term plans on eco growth, green issues/climate and sustainability, which agree is the way forward.

Still no answers from the Toryfanboys.
You lot have wrecked the UK with austerity, then brexit, then Truss.

We now have austerity 2.0 which no other EU country is having.

Try answering the the first question please or can't you?

Go and read some non UK news. It is the same all over the western world, things are breaking down and people are striking. The news in the UK doesn't report on other countries that much although all western medias seem to be doing that same.

Lots of strikes for rail and airport workers all over Europe, mainly rail.
Mandatory reduction of heating in offices and public buildings
Doctors on strike in France
General strike in Belgium for government unions
and on and on.

I’m funny as fuck and I’m not going anywhere - so there’s that. 🎉

People are resilient. We have great entrepreneurs and business people. This is a blip —but have to say I don’t think there was this much whingeing in previous ones—

I think the opposite. People are so phased of with the economy and cost of living that they will vote in a better government.

It goes in cycles. The late 70’s nd most of the 80’s were horrible.

l think The Millenials will be in more positions of power and they think much more liberally than previous generations. The grey suits and White European males will gradually disappear. Voting will be reformed.

We are at the bottom of the cycle at the moment.

l think we need a revolutionary government . Like the ones who set up the NHS. It needs that sort of sea level change. I also think Murdoch will die and his stranglehold on U.K. right wing press will disappear.

I don’t understand (some of, not all…) the British mentality, a lot on display on this thread.

Instead of hoping for change or improvement, the argument is that other countries are suffering too. Its like a race to the bottom (as long as we remain better off than countries like Syria and Afghanistan then who cares if our ambulances don’t show up?!)

And tired arguments about migrants coming. As has been said many times, a small percentage of emigrants to Europe go on to Britain. And a huge draw is the lack of national identity cards, which many Britons are dead against.

Another day another UK bashing thread, so tedious and transparent.

Of course OP has disappeared after the classic wind them up and watch them go.

No improvement will come under the Tories so we will have these threads for a while yet I suppose.

The UK is not the only country experiencing challenges, but from my continental European point of view, I can't think of any other country that is experiencing this many crises all at once.

I'm in Northern Europe. Energy is obviously an issue at the moment. There was talk of potential blackouts last week, but they didn't happen. Cost of living/inflation is a big issue as well. But, there are also things that work much better than in the the UK. For example, most rental properties are let out through housing corporations. Rent increases need to be approved by both the housing corporations and the tenants union. So landlords can't just jack up their rent as/when they please, which protects tenants from the worst excesses. Houses tend to be better insulated too, so even with higher prices for most people it's manageable to keep the house at at least 18 degrees.

In terms of industrial strikes: some airline pilots went on strike this summer, but that's the only strike I can think of.

OK firstly I was responding to a previous poster who had said we were better off than Afghanistan and Syria.
And secondly, if other European countries are so fantastic, it takes me back to my original point - why are people risking their lives to come to the UK when they're giving away free money in Germany ?!