To think the uk is on its knees

[Ilovemycatalot]

Just this. Every day negativity. No one is happy with life or working conditions. The country is at an all time low. Living standards getting worse by the day people getting poorer. I know we are not in poverty like some countries but honestly can’t see us ever returning to decent living standards unless you’re the few top percent earners. Tell me I’m being dramatic perhaps I am but can’t see much of a way back from this .

We chose to isolate ourselves by leaving a market of 450m of the richest consumers in the world on our doorstep. We've erected barriers to trade with them, and therefore effectively turned investment away ever since. Membership of the single market has been the source of the UK's growing prosperity since the mid 1990s.

The consequences of that choice were crystal clear before we made it. Just about every economist on earth agreed that it would make us substantially poorer. It's almost unprecedented to get economists to agree to such an extent. And here we are, substantially poorer. And it's only just begun!

The country is on its way out. The tories have ruined the country, yes everyone is getting on with their lives still and it could be much worse. But honestly, when I think about what the future holds for my kids if things stay this way, it genuinely scares me.
My partner and I have pledged to emigrate if there isn’t a change of government.

I'm really worried about schools & funding. I can't see how anyone with kids in a state school aren't worried about that.

Someone mentioned SE London. Falling rolls is a big issue for Lewisham, Greenwich.

@FlameGrilledSquirrel Doesn’t mean they couldn’t sort out things like free childcare and schools and people affording to stay at home when they’re sick. There seem to be too many on benefits. If you were prepared to pay higher taxes you could have a better society for everyone, not just for some. It’s just a different society, but of course it’s possible to change things in the long run.

Also strikes in France are completely normal!

Exactly what I was going to say.

Since when have those countries been what we’re aiming for.

I would love to hear more from residents of Eire. Is it really that good over there? Low unemployment, good wages, etc.?

GDP per capita is much higher than here

"on it's way out" ? What, cease to exist?
Where would you migrate to?.

Most state schools have increasing rolls, the population has significantly increased in the last 20 years without the development of infrastructure to help.

That was me. We’re still oversubscribed in schools. But why is falling numbers so bad?

It is not happening everywhere. I am French resident, yes some strikes, but they have to provide a minimum level of service. Inflation is roughly half that of the UK, as are interest rates. Electricity prices capped at 4%. Health service far superior. I can see a Dr face to face, without an appointment. One friend recently had a hip replacement, six weeks from seeing the Dr to having operation and being home. Another friends husband went to Dr last week with a hernia, hospital checks yesterday and operation in 3 weeks. Great transport links by road and rail, no road tax. I could go on.

CuteOrangeElephant
Because there's not as much supply as there used to be. Most European countries have an ageing population, not enough workers

Yes - I know that, but I was quite clearly replying to this post;

NHS in real trouble
We also have gaping holes in our workforce which we’re unable to fill. Germany and other Eu members don’t have that

Don't know whether to laugh or cry at this comment.
Essentially the pandemic has enabled affluent white collar office workers to wfh saving them thousands of pounds in commuting costs. What fun to be able to enjoy strike day and meet in our local park... Meanwhile the same folk begrudge public service workers any kind of pay rise and carry on denying there 's an issue with working conditions and funding.
I wonder what the voting intentions of those posters are who steadfastly deny there are big problems in the UK and I wager that posters like @MarshaBradyo have never stepped out of their little london bubble so basically the country never improves.

Hard to leave if you’re already in Russia

The difference with the 70s we didn't have the ageing population issue & I thought housing wasn't such a crisis?

Providing balance to usual gloom

I know only one type of poster wants to post on here but tough quite frankly.

I’m always glad other more positive posters bother as otherwise it would be totally misaligned to rl. And what’s the point of that?

Mn is for not just your story.

Perhaps the UK needs to take this into account and limit immigration, usimg a points system and do something about the lack of facilities and services.

We need more immigrants. Currently more over 65s than under 15s, how do you support that?

Not the France I recognise and live in

@Daydreamer12345 it's bizarre that the answer to living standards are declining is well at least we aren't Afganhastan or X

Didn’t they say the same thing about boris? “It’s not his fault he inherited brexit and the pandemic” and look at the fantastic job he did.

@Maireas the population has increased because people are living longer not because of more kids....

The fall in rolls is just starting to hit London primary schools, where are you getting information that it's increasing?

"England’s school population is set to shrink by almost a million children over the next 10 years, according to the government’s latest data, raising the prospect of surplus places and school closures in some areas of the country in the years ahead."

Indeed the Brexit is like the tale of the emperors new clothes. They are finally discussing the impacts on the BBC which is a step forward. The the arguments of the Brexiters like JRM clinging on to the fantasy about flags and nonsense about sovereignty are just ridiculous.

Yes - I know that, but I was quite clearly replying to this post;

Clav, you’ve amalgamated my post with someone else’s. I didn’t mention the NHS. I thought copy and pasting was your forte?

We do without doubt have gaping holes in our workforce. Germany, or other Eu counties might have some as well, to en extent, but they potentially have a workforce from across the continent to fill those jobs, which will be in many sectors.

We don’t, so those holes in the workforce will be harder to fill for us. That was my point.

I am French resident
I can see a Dr face to face, without an appointment

October 2022
France's medical deserts are a political emergency

In a country with a universal social security system, 6 million inhabitants – of which 600,000 have long-term illnesses – do not have a regular doctor and there is pronounced geographical inequality. In the least-equipped areas, it is not uncommon to have to wait more than three weeks to see a general practitioner, and more than a third of residents says they have given up on trying to access healthcare because of cost, waiting time or accessibility.

www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2022/10/03/france-s-medical-deserts-are-a-political-emergency_5998920_23.html

Electricity prices capped at 4%
I think it's 15% now and only for domestic users?

September 2022
French sports and education groups expressed outrage at the closure of around 30 swimming pools, after their operator said surging heating costs made them no longer viable.

www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220906-dozens-of-pools-closed-in-france-over-soaring-energy-costs

Why so defensive THisbackwithavengeance?

Do you know what, littlestrawberryhat has as much right to post on here as anyone else.

And it’s so utterly boring to read the gormless, not to mention narrow refrain of of “if you don’t like it then leave”. Honestly, is that the best you have got?

And how arrogant is that, to tell someone they have to leave the country just because their opinion doesn’t happen to chime with yours?

Is it not possible to live in the uk, have experience of other countries, and genuinely wish for better things for your own?

Some of us have already left the uk but still hold it very dear (yes it is possible to love and feel loyal to two or more countries believe it or not). Some expats like me may be legitimately worried for family members in the UK who need to call an ambulance sometimes owing to chronic illness, and some may live and work abroad but hope to return to the uk one day. Not everyone is the same as you funnily enough! And moreover, we are entitled to profoundly disagree with you too without being accused of shit stirring.