Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think the UK has become awful?

815 replies

ma1formed · 13/09/2023 20:26

I can't pinpoint when, but it feels like everything that was once pretty good is now quite awful

So expensive
No doctors
Uni costs for kids insane
Terrible rent / can't buy a house
Everyone seems quite unpleasant or racist

Is it just me?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
YawningCat · 21/09/2023 11:18

FirstYouGetTheMoney · 13/09/2023 21:45

No, your situation is 90%+ down to you, not the government.

I moved to the UK in 2007, arriving with a couple of thousand pounds in savings, and now, sixteen years later, have a good life here.

To pretend that it’s not down to your own choices that your life isn’t what you want isn’t tenable.

Show quote history

Possibly the most conservative comment on here.

glad things worked out for you.

not everyone’s life is so unaffected by the actions of others and luck.

EasternStandard · 21/09/2023 11:22

YawningCat · 21/09/2023 11:07

I’ve lived in seven countries. Uk was the worst by far.

Show quote history

Where do you live now?

YawningCat · 21/09/2023 11:24

EasternStandard · 21/09/2023 11:22

Where do you live now?

Show quote history

Australia

EasternStandard · 21/09/2023 11:28

Some will prefer Aus, others U.K.

I prefer U.K., London in particular as a world city. People choose it all the time over their home country. I’m surrounded by those people, happily.

I’m all for people finding a place that they enjoy. Better than the opposite

Teddleshon · 21/09/2023 15:19

Well I’ve lived in 6 countries (including Australia) and the UK wins it for me.

FloorWipes · 21/09/2023 17:39

I've only lived in 3 countries but the UK wins for me and it's not even close and I do count my blessings daily.

Also there's a lot of things we seriously need to improve here which to me is an exciting challenge that I literally do work on, rather than get depressed about.

Trixiefirecracker · 21/09/2023 18:50

I’ve lived in Germany, United States, Australia, India and New Zealand and Africa. Still prefer the U.K. Yes, I would prefer to see many changes within the NHS system and a few elsewhere but overall I’d rather be here. Weather could improve somewhat.

jgw1 · 21/09/2023 20:26

Trixiefirecracker · 21/09/2023 18:50

I’ve lived in Germany, United States, Australia, India and New Zealand and Africa. Still prefer the U.K. Yes, I would prefer to see many changes within the NHS system and a few elsewhere but overall I’d rather be here. Weather could improve somewhat.

I take it you were an economic migrant?

Be careful, some posters don't like such people.

Wanderingllama · 21/09/2023 20:41

jgw1 · 21/09/2023 20:26

I take it you were an economic migrant?

Be careful, some posters don't like such people.

Show quote history

Tbf complaint would be about "Africa" being there amongst specific countries rather than actual country in Africa

Wanderingllama · 21/09/2023 20:42

Uk used to be the winner years ago. It's actually sad how it deteriorated

verdantverdure · 24/09/2023 18:44

Wanderingllama · 21/09/2023 20:42

Uk used to be the winner years ago. It's actually sad how it deteriorated

It's a ducking tragedy.

In the next election we need to vote for whichever candidate can win who isn't a Tory, and then see about getting shot of Brexit.

Then in about 13 years if we're very lucky we may get back up to the point we were at about 13 years ago when the Tories took power.

Wakintoblueskies · 24/09/2023 19:36

CaspianPlover · 20/09/2023 22:23

Incorrect. People should claim asylum in the first safe country they enter.

So Poland should house ALL Ukranian refugees? How do you think that will go then?

Pollyputhekettleon · 24/09/2023 19:40

verdantverdure · 13/09/2023 21:00

It doesn't feel that way when people are shrugging about children drowned trying to apply for asylum in the U.K.

Show quote history

Feelings aren't facts.

'By contrast, the study of 80 countries over three decades found Western countries were most accepting of other cultures with Britain, the U.S., Canada and Australia more tolerant than anywhere else.'

India among world's most racist countries, says survey - India Today

India among world's most racist countries, says survey

Britain is one of the most racially tolerant countries on the planet, a survey claims.

https://www.indiatoday.in/world/asia/story/india-among-world-most-racist-countries-britian-tolerant-survey-163396-2013-05-16

Meowandthen · 02/10/2023 21:42

CaspianPlover · 20/09/2023 22:42

The law of the land rather trumps wikipedia.

Put down the Mail and give up the prejudices.

even with all the issues, and the large number of bigots, the UK is still better than living in a war zone.

Anyone with common sense knows why the young men come. 🙄

Meowandthen · 02/10/2023 21:45

Trixiefirecracker · 21/09/2023 18:50

I’ve lived in Germany, United States, Australia, India and New Zealand and Africa. Still prefer the U.K. Yes, I would prefer to see many changes within the NHS system and a few elsewhere but overall I’d rather be here. Weather could improve somewhat.

Africa is a continent of 54 countries. How horrible to lump them all together.

Theoriginalmrscillianmurphy · 02/10/2023 21:48

I left the UK in 2004. The country I'm in now is my home contact and not much better.

The housing crisis where I am is insane.

Louloulouenna · 02/10/2023 21:54

@Meowandthen I think it’s quite a common thing to refer to having lived in say Europe or South Asia, particularly if you’ve lived in a number of different constituent countries

Cantmovetoday · 02/10/2023 21:59

@Theoriginalmrscillianmurphy Where are you?

JaneyGee · 02/10/2023 22:27

jgw1 · 21/09/2023 20:26

I take it you were an economic migrant?

Be careful, some posters don't like such people.

Show quote history

What they don’t like is living in an overcrowded country, sitting in traffic, and watching the countryside ruined by housing estates. It’s ok for a smug little twerp like Gary Lineker. He doesn’t have to live with the consequences of mass immigration. He’s safe in his massive detached house with a huge fence around it. He doesn’t live in some overpriced rabbit hutch on a new build estate, with loads of other rabbit hutches squeezed on top of him.

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 02/10/2023 22:30

JaneyGee · 02/10/2023 22:27

What they don’t like is living in an overcrowded country, sitting in traffic, and watching the countryside ruined by housing estates. It’s ok for a smug little twerp like Gary Lineker. He doesn’t have to live with the consequences of mass immigration. He’s safe in his massive detached house with a huge fence around it. He doesn’t live in some overpriced rabbit hutch on a new build estate, with loads of other rabbit hutches squeezed on top of him.

Show quote history

Sitting in traffic is caused by drivers not immigrants.

Shitty housing is caused by profit driven developers maximising their earnings.

bombastix · 02/10/2023 22:46

I travel a lot for my job (promoting UK which is a good sale most of the time) The UK is still a great place. The government is awful, it urgently needs investment in schooling and health, and everything needs a good clean. But it was like this 26 years ago and the people are still good.

It does seem to be much tougher to be poor than a few years ago. Some parts now look shabby. It needs some care. I don't think we care about it enough and we have been foolish about our politicians over the last five years.

EasternStandard · 02/10/2023 22:49

JaneyGee · 02/10/2023 22:27

What they don’t like is living in an overcrowded country, sitting in traffic, and watching the countryside ruined by housing estates. It’s ok for a smug little twerp like Gary Lineker. He doesn’t have to live with the consequences of mass immigration. He’s safe in his massive detached house with a huge fence around it. He doesn’t live in some overpriced rabbit hutch on a new build estate, with loads of other rabbit hutches squeezed on top of him.

Show quote history

I agree with you on Linekar

jgw1 · 02/10/2023 22:50

JaneyGee · 02/10/2023 22:27

What they don’t like is living in an overcrowded country, sitting in traffic, and watching the countryside ruined by housing estates. It’s ok for a smug little twerp like Gary Lineker. He doesn’t have to live with the consequences of mass immigration. He’s safe in his massive detached house with a huge fence around it. He doesn’t live in some overpriced rabbit hutch on a new build estate, with loads of other rabbit hutches squeezed on top of him.

Show quote history

Is that why the Prime Minister is introducing a whole series of measures to ensure there is more traffic and pollution?

bombastix · 02/10/2023 22:56

Gary Lineker isn't in charge. If it looks bad to you, then the government is better source of blame than a football pundit.

Hawkins0009 · 02/10/2023 23:14

bombastix · 02/10/2023 22:56

Gary Lineker isn't in charge. If it looks bad to you, then the government is better source of blame than a football pundit.

he may not be in charge but like with many celebs. they command more followers ect that can be influenced by their views etc