To think we are becoming a much poorer country?

[Felixss]

I keep seeing on threads increase taxes on the rich , increase salaries, increase nhs spending and increase benefits. People are acting like we are still hugely wealthy and everyone wants to come over. Poland is predicted to overtake us economically. I can earn twice my salary abroad and I'm thinking of leaving. Where is the money going to come from with a shrinking work force and low investment in new technology? AIBU to think the UK is hugely declining ?

lordslibrary.parliament.uk/times-education-commission-bringing-out-the-best/#heading-2

"The education system is failing on every measure."

There's a lot of food for thought in this report.

At my workplace we recently had a Polish factory employee leave to move back to Poland. He said right now he's financially worse off living here than he would be in Poland.

I don't know what the answer is but how can the working poor survive if they pay more tax though? Many are barely surviving as it is.

The people of this country are becoming poorer, but very rich people seem to be getting wealthier. It depends on how you look at the data.

I have always viewed our country as a bit behind the curve. Other countries seem to have more progressive social policies where the whole of society benefits. I have always been baffled by people thinking we are such a great country. Yes, the gentrified areas look great and full of wealth, but the rest of the country doesn't.

That said, I think the rest of the world is going to shit, particularly the West. Our economic systemis not fit for purpose, although i'm not keen on handing over all my rights for a new one either....

I can only see massive social unrest worldwide changing things sadly.

I think the middle class/income is shrinking hugely and its more a society of lots of people struggling and lot of people with a lot of wealth and far fewer in the middle.

So 'the country' is still rich but all the wealth is held by a small group.

Super rich doing fine, rest of population are not.

When you hear Tory MPs say we can't afford a proper pay rise for nurses and Junior Doctors, remember this:

Total wealth of UK billionaires

▪️2012: £212 Billion
▪️2022: £653 Billion

That's up 3-fold.

There's plenty of wealth. It's just in the wrong hands. We need a Wealth Tax!

There was an economist on the Today show the other day. She said we are the one of the poorest in Europe now.

The reason is lack of investment in R&D, and throwing all weight into the Financial Services. The regions are really struggling, and the divide between London and the rest of the country is pretty disastrous.

It was so stark and socking to hear the words "poorest in Europe" in regard to the UK.

*shocking

@FourTeaFallOut "Is Poland predicted to overtake us? Or are you repeating Starmer's statement back in February"

It wasn't originally Starmer's statement - it actually stems from a study from that hotbed of lefty socialism the Financial Times.

The average Polish family will be better off than a UK household by end of the decade (thelondoneconomic.com)

The article also explains that while in 2007 the average UK household was 8% worse off than its peers in north-western Europe, the deficit is now 20%

There is a lot of wealth inequality here & then we have the ageing population.

A lot of these issues are global ones. But yes, there's lots to do.

The ageing population thing seems to be a little bit of a red herring.

Research and Developement, Education, and tax collection are probably more of a contributing factor.

Not to say that an ageing population does not factor, but to say that other issues factor more.

One of the main factors is the rich hoarding resources and rationing them, another is people moving the wealth out of the country.

The government don't want the majority of the population educated because they start asking questions.

Because it's a complex nation, not an individual and so it's hard to fathom what's reality, what is spin etc and taxpayers will always have opinions on what they think money should be spent on.

Oh shit, we don't have money to increase NHS pay or create more social housing but we do have billions for overseas aid for example is why it's so complex and difficult for a lot of people to understand.

@4plusthehound I think it's a big factor when you consider we need to increase productivity. Look at the state of the NHS & social care now, what will it look like in a decade? Birth rates plummeted quicker than forecasted & then through in Brexit.

The government don't want the majority of the population educated because they start asking questions.

That'll be why there's compulsory, universal education and more people go to university than ever then? 🙄

"Poland is predicted to overtake us economically. "

As a Polish person I'd say, don't believe this bullshit. It's really bad in Poland and if current government wins next election, it's gonna get even worse.

Why am I frightened of growing old in this country. I have worked for 53 years and paid NI. I now have chronic kidney disease which will eventually lead to dialysis - I am scared frightened and very vulnerable. No private insurer will take me own even if I had the money. What has happened to this once great country - it is a cesspit.

Not to mention no one likes us because of our government that tries to fall out with every member of European Union. Clowns.

I doubt it, i am polish living in the UK and know many who went back there a couple of years ago and came back to the UK again

And some people do still want to work here.

I have a colleague on one of those large NHS band 8 salaries that is used as spin on how nurses can earn lots, amazing career progression etc and are greedy to want a pay rise.

She earns a lot yes. And is also paid by the NHS to go to other countries to recruit. Every month new international nurses start work in the UK under that project.

Whether they end up thinking it's brilliant or not, there are qualified nurses and Dr's wanting to work in the UK even now.

Re a Wealth Tax...our antiquated class system could do with a shake-up. How is it right that a 32 year-old man owns most of London (Duke Of Westminster) and inherited 9 billion without paying a penny in Inheritance Tax. It's feudal.

The poor pay tax, the rich pay lawyers.

But it's pensioners that are the problem.

The Tories think they'll lose the next election and want to take us all down with them.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/16/britain-is-a-dying-nation-in-need-of-new-curators

I know few who moved back to Poland and then to Germany after some time. We were planning to come back and ditched this idea. I can't imagine how you can be worse off living in the UK for factory wage than living in Poland for factory or warehouse wage.

The aging population is going to be a huge issue for few decades and frankly we probably want to have immigration to help with it and make it more of a gradual transition.

I think austerity did huge damage and a lack of investment in infrastructure, education and NHS and social care have stored up huge problems all made worse with pandemic and Brexit.

Housing has been a looming issue for decades and now is affecting more and more higher up the social economic tree - so it is getting some coverage but no-one seems to have an real plans or new ideas. Huge heating costs and food haven't helped many people and leave less and less discretionary spending sloshing round.

I think the are problems very few good politicians in any parties and few new ideas or consensus how how to improve things.

People would be much more inclined to do this if housing was cheaper and childcare costs were lower. It’s housing costs they are killing our country. Build more houses.