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 .

Btw do not assume that posters who do not like the current Government are pro people crossing the channel in boats. I am not. I would like that addressed and a greater focus on the population we have.

The law should be changed on asylum claimed in this way. Immigration may have benefits but not this, and before anyone tells me there is a difference, I know there is a difference. But I do not approve of the UK rules on asylum: they should be much stricter so that they don't continue to be an effective hole in the immigration system.

I think our current leadership is stronger than the last labour government.

Who did you vote for in the 2019 election?

A lot of it it could come from a fairer tax system. A rich country where the wealthy can legally tax avoid or dodge isn’t fair. Same for big business.

Glad everything is so rosy in Narnia! Shame that doesn’t apply to so very much of the country. I travel across the UK with my work and the heartbreaking poverty and drop in living standards this last decade makes me despair. The gall to then say people are “rabid Tory haters,” when you can’t see beyond your nose and the crap you read in the Daily Mail as to the reality of how so many people are forced to live, stinks. Every public service is broken and on its knees! Every single one and just because that’s not your experience, doesn’t mean it isn’t true!!

Either your memory is faulty or your idea of strength is a very long way from mine.

This is the most corrupt, venal, dishonest, incompetent, weak and ineffectual government of my lifetime. And I’ve seen a lot of them in my 69 years. The Tories of yesteryear despise them, check out what Major and Heseltine think of them.

Internationally our rating as an honest country has been officially downgraded substantially.
The corruption has shocked me.

I agree with you again @LexMitior - and I feel people have been fooled. I work in a co working centre that ihas some people doing visa processing-for the last 4 months it's been wall to wall every day with families from South Asia and the Phillipines, very few Europeans or Americans/Aussies/kiwis etc- many of whom speak little English- so we do still have mass migration- just not young, fit, single people from the EU who often do not stay long term. There are usually at least 3 or4 people , all will need medical facilities, housing etc. Those who voted for Brexit based mainly on an immigration type thing have been totally fooled. There is lots of immigration being approved which to me makes it all rather pointless if that's why you voted leave- as it's somewhat one way in terms of rights- it's not as if we are all going to rush to retire or work in India or the Phillipines.

70s and early 80s were bad. I remember my friends suddenly becoming eligible for free school meals as all the local industries started to close. I’ve seen it far worse

Aren’t they moving here on work visas?

I don’t think one type of immigration is better just because it’s from EU

What I do think can work is work visas so needed skills are matched.

Aus system is good but some would find it harsh.

I must be more used to non EU migration as we became accustomed to SE Asia being close neighbour. It sounds a bit off to me to see white western as best

By fairer do you mean higher taxes for people who generate wealth and so that money to be distributed to those who don't work or work enough.

I remember Labour wasting so much money and being in the pocket of the unions, which are some of the most corrupt and opaque organisations I have ever heard about. They claimed expenses for things they were not meant to claim. At least the Tories are trying to be prudent about public spending and are aiming for tax cuts in the future. Labour are out to make sure our kids have nothing to inherit and will get rid of the triple lock.

A lot of it it could come from a fairer tax system. A rich country where the wealthy can legally tax avoid or dodge isn’t fair. Same for big business.

Did you miss the latest data stating that the top 10% earners pay over 60%of all tax and that over 50% of the population take out a lot more than they contribute?

Media driven misery… not helping

On immigration, I would totally change the rules to become a British citizen. I would make the period of time much longer in this country before you could apply. A decade, not six years. A decade of ILR too, and then any criminal offence would be a total bar to citizenship, you would be deported, and refused entry to the UK. There are other countries with similar rules.

On asylum, lack of papers or identification would mean similar rules.

The UK is soft on immigration. This has suited some.

Likewise, strict quotas on university places for foreign students, and enhanced support for British students. This used to happen. We have got unbelievably pathetic about prioritizing our own people in our own systems. That includes, housing, public services etc. I'm sure that this drove the Brexit vote. Well it should be addressed.

I'd be up for no international students at the top 10 British unis so that they're reserved for our kids.

Foreign students pay more don’t they?

Who would fund the gap they leave?

I disagree on that in that universities here are well regarded and increase U.K. standing globally. I don’t think it would be wise to stop it

A quota for universities so that British students, our own people, get the benefits of the very good universities we have. Likewise medicine, and law.

At postgraduate level that is different. But undergraduate no. Strict quotas. The best for British students.

Yes they do @MarshaBradyo.

I disagree @MarshaBradyo because we had reverse rights too with regards to EU which is now pretty much impossible for many unless fit extremely specific criteria/shortage occupations etc.I am not saying we shouldn't allow highly skilled and needed individuals from outside EU , but that's not what I'm seeing or hearing - and they are it seems being paid to come to. Why is this an advantage over people from the EU who are now having to jump through far more hoops . It simply isn't.

The media are certainly only reporting worse case scenario. Where I live, a mix of affluent and struggling, you can't book a table in a restaurant for weeks. We have tried about 6 places for a table for Sunday lunch, all fully booked. My son is a Chef, he can't get food out of his kitchen quick enough, he is staggered by the large tables being booked and the amount of money they take every day.

@Santina Where do you live?
In my area this only applies to fine dining/Michelin star places.

@roarfeckingroarr ,
I haven't seen my gp in months. Have to call the surgery at 8 in the morning and wait for up to 40 minutes (thats usually the time I should be commuting to work) to get a phone allotment if I am lucky. And I am not well.

A third of people are cutting back on eating out and takeaways.

www.bighospitality.co.uk/Article/2022/05/24/a-third-of-people-cutting-back-on-eating-out-and-takeaways-as-cost-of-living-soars