To think it’s shocking how bad Britain has fallen apart compared to other European counties

[TheColourofspring]

I am in Spain at the moment in one of the big cities. It’s clean, modern, well maintained. Transport is cheap, food is cheap, healthcare seems to work pretty well (from talking to local). Parks are noticeably well maintained- even saw park keepers! Clean & tidy.

Pensions higher, if you lose your job you get a portion of your salary in unemployment benefits while you look for another and there are no penalties. Based on the premise that if you have paid in, you will get looked after if you are in need.

I am not saying it’s perfect- no country is but it was the same when I was in France last summer.

In Britain, everything is underfunded and close to the edge. Schools, the NHS, local authorities are all at breaking point. My local parks look shabby & there is very little maintenance. Roads have pot holes. Yesterday I read an article about pharmacies being the latest at ‘crisis’ point with major drug shortages (thanks to brexit). Queues at borders, people can’t heat or eat properly, food banks, housing is ridiculous for many people.

I think it’s just so noticeable when you go to other places just how run down Britain is.

Finding it shocking and a bit depressing - like I said, all countries have their issues but I think Britain really has been pillaged by the tories & Brexit really is a disaster.

Feminism is one area where the UK is doing much better than elsewhere, that's for sure.

YANBU. We live in Europe and were really taken aback by how run-down and depressed everything felt on a visit last autumn even compared to the year before. We moved away just before Brexit, and the country’s decline has been especially noticeable since covid. We were warned by family that seeing a doctor in their area is nearly impossible, so our GP here made sure we had antibiotics to bring in case DD’s cough turned into a chest infection on the trip (which it did).

We’ve also had visitors come from the UK and react in shock at how nice our roads, parks, public transport, schools etc are. If we need a GP appointment, we call and get something that same day.

The narrative of British exceptionalism is just not true these days.

NHS dentistry has been destroyed in Britain and the tortes are trying to do the same to healthcare.

There's no NHS dentist in a 50 mile radius now

kendodd where do you live in the UK that has no NHS dentists in a 50 mile radius of your home?

Yes, they’ve thrown women under the bus so badly that their convictions for rape have risen around 75% in recent years due to a change in the laws regarding rape, so it is now thankfully easier to both prosecute rapists and the threshold for rape is much lower. The minimum punishment is also four years in prison, where as in the UK you may just receive community service in the unlikely event of actually being found guilty of your crime. The changes in the law in Sweden have also led to victims being much more likely to report rape and sexual assault as not only are they listened to, they aren’t treated as criminals and there is a much higher chance that their attacker will actually be punished.

It's true that Sweden is going through an increase in gang violence (which is being tackled quite effectively) but the risk of being shot at if you are not involved in these gangs is really, really tiny. I live in Stockholm and have yet to see any weapons. In fact I haven't even seen a single physical alteration. It's pretty peaceful if you are not a part of that scene.

I think the point of the thread though is that the UK is failing their residents by not being able to provide the most basic necessities such as healthcare, and through strikes, reliable education and transport. It's not OK for a country like the UK to have such disregard for their people. As far as I am aware, there is no other western country who can't get their act together on that sort of basic level.

Some info on Sweden's issues:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/25/bombs-blood-feuds-malmo-explosions-rocking-swedens-cities

South west England

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gun-gangs-shatter-swedens-peaceful-reputation-xbw75cn9v

From this year

If we need a GP appointment, we call and get something that same day.

Same here. Even as was the case on the weekend during the pandemic

Parks are pretty, schools are very good here, decent public transport

These threads tend to attract the downers.
Since I’m told it’s only me that likes it here this is a good thread re London for anyone needing a lift.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4775974-most-magical-places-in-london-feeling-so-depressed-to-be-back-help-me-find-some-joy-and-wonder?reply=125447593

This for starters.

https://unherd.com/2021/04/swedens-migrant-rape-crisis/

Women thrown under the bus for the 'greater good' as usual.

I’ve spent a lot of time travelling thanks every country has complete shit holes and problems, I would prefer to live in England out of every country I’ve travelled to, for its people, history and culture. But everyone is different- but I esp dislike most of France.

As a swede Im intrigued to hear about masskillinhs and rapes or that police wouldn't go to gang riddled Malmo. How ridiculous.

It is true though that it is not the liberal haven it once was. It is racist AF. Hence I no longer live there.

Me too, OMG.

LNDNmummy, your first sentence is quite incomprehensible!

@QuentininQuarantino I think this is a very middle to upper class statement. I would be in agreement with you personally, for my own circumstances.

However, there are a significant number of people who do not pay childcare (many have family help), do not have student loans because they do not have the luxury of being able to study for 3-4yrs+ and would never be in a position to pay private for medical care.

For people in lower wage brackets I would think they would be quite strongly against additional tax rises.

Yes Aayan Hirsi Ali points out that the liberal left don't want anything to do with the assaults on women doesn't she? And the old 'racist' label gets chucked out in very much the same way as it has and still does in the UK.

The left have made this a topic that they will not touch and women/girls continue to be victims.

Tax rises don't need to affect those in lower wage brackets as much though. I'm in Finland, fairly high tax rates in general but on my 15k income I paid less than 200 euros tax last year (just got my tax papers yesterday, just under 1000 withheld, most getting returned), last year I paid nothing - everything that had been withheld was returned at the end of the year.

I understand that POV @Robinni but I still
think everyone from every class benefits from free and excellent education from early years and it has to be funded. I’m not sure it’s an upper class POV - they seem happy with a lower tax “attract investment” society exactly because they can cushion themselves and their dc from the consequences of underfunding state education and healthcare by going private, but the trickle down isn’t trickling down.

But a middle class statement, maybe yes, although income tax doesn’t have to go up for the lowest earners.

To be fair to recent UK governments (I know it's hard...), the personal allowance (what you can earn before Income Tax is due) has increased from £5k to £12.5k since 2006-7 and the minimum wage from £5.35 to £9.50 over the same period.

What 'racist label'? It IS a racist country. Any label is therefor a just one.

I don't understand the opposition to tax systems like much of Europe when most of those countries have a higher standard of living than the UK. Why not pay more tax if you have a better life? The trouble is the structural wealth inequality which would take a huge shift and many years to dismantle. We seem to have headed for closer to the US culture where it's every man for himself and there is great resentment at the idea of your contributions benefiting anyone who earns less than you.

Like the USA the UK is a fairly nice place to live if you are comfortably off and have secure affordable housing and can afford a bit of private for some things. It is not a good place to live if you are struggling and can't afford to live in a good area. The same can apply elsewhere too, but many countries still have far more good quality social housing if all sizes in good areas and their health systems are functioning better which makes it somewhat easier , even if struggling

I have a family member in Sweden and I hated it last time I visited. There was violence in the streets and a real sense of unrest. Three times we saw violence on her street and that was during my short stay and it used to a quiet area.

I was happy to return to my life in England, in my home town which may have a few idiots who throw down a McDonalds wrapper on their way home from the pub but it's a nice area. You feel safe.

And you can see a doctor same day. Not sure if people commenting are in Wales or Scotland, but definitely in England you can get an appointment same day if your need is urgent.

As I mentioned before you can go to an NHS walk-in centre and be seen. You can get non-urgent appointments at your doctors within 7 days. It's crackers to say you can't get to see a doctor. And there's no fee, money to pay upfront to receive back at a later date.

Children are especially looked after. Ring up about a sick baby/child and you are dealt with.

Considering how many people we have crammed into our tiny nation, I think we do ok.

I meant that it is used as a way to silence victims of abuse as it has been used in the UK. There is a mindset that says that women/girls should just shut up about their experiences in case they end up rocking the race boat.

Remember what the Labour MP said about the Rotherham rapes?

In case you don't remember this:

https://metro.co.uk/2017/08/23/mp-shares-tweet-saying-abuse-victims-should-shut-their-mouths-for-good-of-diversity-6872181/