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Original poster

Absolutely shit scared about the future in the UK?

649 replies

JDNCh · 04/01/2025 18:17

Name changed - I’m genuinely terrified by the hate, division and atmosphere here right now, online and spilling over on the ‘the real world’. I’m scared by how quickly things are changing, and just how much influence the US/Elon Musk/Reform+supporters are having. I’m scared of what the actual point of it all is - what’s the endgame? And what’s the solution? Why is no one protesting/rising up from the other way? Do people generally agree with all this?

I’m in no way a minority (white, female, 30s), I’m not super left, I have one little boy and I’m so scared for his future. I don’t want to live somewhere so intolerant with this constant atmosphere of distrust and something getting ready to blow.

What’s the general consensus? Is this what the people of the U.K. want?

OP posts:
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JHound · 04/01/2025 18:56

And just to be clear I am fine living in the UK, happy even. Just moved back after a decade overseas.

But I also know people, specifically from ethnicity minorities who are trying to find ways to get second passports / relocate their family overseas because they are scared of the path they believe the UK is heading down and want somewhere safe for their families.

User37482 · 04/01/2025 18:57

I actually think we are on the precipice of a cultural shift on transparency and honesty tbh.

Unpaidviewer · 04/01/2025 18:58

iwishihadaname · 04/01/2025 18:35

if Nigel farage is correct in who are joining reform. Young people Very depressing

The younger people in this country have been the most let down. I'd be really angry or depressed if I were trying to start out now. When I left school you could work hard and get ahead. That's what DH and I did. Neither from good backgrounds but we've scrimped and saved, and now we are comfortable. It would be impossible today. Housing costs, worse job opportunities, living costs etc.

Lots of young working class, white men are turning to the right in both the UK and the US. And I don't really blame them, what alternativedo they have? They are the group who perform the worst in UK schools yet are constantly told how lucky and privileged they are. Traditionally if you were from this type of background you would have gone into the type of work that's now been moved abroad, steelworks, manufacturing etc.

Original poster
JDNCh · 04/01/2025 19:00

Iwanttoliveonamountain · 04/01/2025 18:52

I was totally fearless until I had my son. It will subside the cold weather will be over and things will start looking brighter again.

Me too! I feel like a completely different nervous wreck. Thank you ❤️

OP posts:
iwishihadaname · 04/01/2025 19:01

Unpaidviewer · 04/01/2025 18:58

The younger people in this country have been the most let down. I'd be really angry or depressed if I were trying to start out now. When I left school you could work hard and get ahead. That's what DH and I did. Neither from good backgrounds but we've scrimped and saved, and now we are comfortable. It would be impossible today. Housing costs, worse job opportunities, living costs etc.

Lots of young working class, white men are turning to the right in both the UK and the US. And I don't really blame them, what alternativedo they have? They are the group who perform the worst in UK schools yet are constantly told how lucky and privileged they are. Traditionally if you were from this type of background you would have gone into the type of work that's now been moved abroad, steelworks, manufacturing etc.

Show quote history

I blame them there is no excuse for racism

Upstartled · 04/01/2025 19:01

There have been a few shots across the bow by the electorate. First Brexit, then the red wall snubbing Labour for Conservatives for a term, and now we can see the rise in Reform.

Our established parties still have the opportunity to wake up and acknowledge the flux as unstable protest at the status quo. Business as usual will feed the populists who have no solutions but are prepared to ask the uncomfortable and often disregarded questions.

So, yes. I'm a little worried but I think the shit will hit the fan in Europe first so perhaps we'll have the benefit of a cautionary tale before 2029.

fromthevault · 04/01/2025 19:02

The right doesn't have the answers those men and boys need, though. Who was it that destroyed the UK's manufacturing base, after all? And Nigel Farage wouldn't piss on your average white working-class lad if he were on fire.

Original poster
JDNCh · 04/01/2025 19:02

Tommytoronto · 04/01/2025 18:46

@JDNCh That’s understandable. He is a precious miracle after all!

There is a book out there about how the world isn’t as bad as the media portrays. I’ll try and find it for you. My Dad read it recently because he was also worrying

Thank you so much!

OP posts:
Echobelly · 04/01/2025 19:03

I don't know about 'terrified' certainly deeply concerned.

It seems that since I was younger, maybe I was just not as aware, but as though the papers and those who control a lot of media online have got more and more visciously set against any progressive views to the point they are really making efforts to twist things.

I'm concerned that a 'populist' right wing government, either Tories or a Tory/Reform Coalition (possibly back by Musk) will get in and offer all the wrong solutions to all the wrong problems. Their logic seems to be 'the past was better so we'll make things more like the past', except they're not talking about affordable housing or wages that pay for people to live on, they're talking about making things more racist, sexist a homophobic, which is not going to make anything more affordable or anyone's lives easier. Of course at the same time, they will be sure that they and their mates profit off everything they can.

I've always found the whole 'Oh politicians are only in it for the money' a cliche, but the British Right absolutely are these days. They will sell off our kids' futures to tech bros by allowing AI/automation without corporations having to give anything back to society for the consequences of that.

User37482 · 04/01/2025 19:03

JHound · 04/01/2025 18:56

And just to be clear I am fine living in the UK, happy even. Just moved back after a decade overseas.

But I also know people, specifically from ethnicity minorities who are trying to find ways to get second passports / relocate their family overseas because they are scared of the path they believe the UK is heading down and want somewhere safe for their families.

I’m an expat ethnic minority, I’m not worried about the far right, it’s barely a thing in the Uk, I accidentally walked into an actual Nazi rally (they had fucking swastikas) in Spain once. There are many worse places for brown and black folk tbh.

I’m worried about violent crime not being punished, I’m worried that social cohesion is being damaged by calls for blasphemy laws in parliament , Jew hatred, institutional cover ups. I’m worried that men who have CSA images don’t go to prison because they are “sorry” I’m worried about a lack of growth in the economy, I’m worried about taxes going up, I’m worried that women’s right are being eroded because apparently we just don’t know what one is. The chaos in the Uk is a direct result of the progressive left. The old left were normal(ish) people.

Elle771 · 04/01/2025 19:04

Bigcheeserolling · 04/01/2025 18:27

Ironically (posting on here) I feel much more positive if I get off SM, listen to the news no more than once a day and try to engage with with people in my neighbourhood about local things. Feel much better about society and people in general.

This. Literally. There is a vocal minority on SM and the algorithms don't help either. Staying off SM and looking at headlines few times a week or if someone in real life happens to mention a story will do your anxieties the world of good!!

Original poster
JDNCh · 04/01/2025 19:04

Echobelly · 04/01/2025 19:03

I don't know about 'terrified' certainly deeply concerned.

It seems that since I was younger, maybe I was just not as aware, but as though the papers and those who control a lot of media online have got more and more visciously set against any progressive views to the point they are really making efforts to twist things.

I'm concerned that a 'populist' right wing government, either Tories or a Tory/Reform Coalition (possibly back by Musk) will get in and offer all the wrong solutions to all the wrong problems. Their logic seems to be 'the past was better so we'll make things more like the past', except they're not talking about affordable housing or wages that pay for people to live on, they're talking about making things more racist, sexist a homophobic, which is not going to make anything more affordable or anyone's lives easier. Of course at the same time, they will be sure that they and their mates profit off everything they can.

I've always found the whole 'Oh politicians are only in it for the money' a cliche, but the British Right absolutely are these days. They will sell off our kids' futures to tech bros by allowing AI/automation without corporations having to give anything back to society for the consequences of that.

i think this sums its up perfectly for me!

OP posts:
MissyB1 · 04/01/2025 19:04

fromthevault · 04/01/2025 18:53

I agree it all seems rather gloomy at the moment OP. The rise of the far right, wealth inequality, climate change etc all worry me immensely. Social media absolutely doesn't help though - and even MN appears to be heading down the path of bots and loonies so there's very little light relief here either.

Undoubtedly things have got worse in the UK since 2010 and the disaster of Brexit. It's not the country even I remember (I'm 'only' 50). But most of us still have an okish lifestyle (although I'm very very aware that many don't) - freedom of speech, women's rights, heallthcare etc are still far superior to much of the world. Sometimes it feels like cold comfort though!

I agree with the posters upthread that getting off the internet probably helps enormously - and I should take my own advice on that one!

I agree with you. Since 2010 I noticed the decline, slow at first then speeded up significantly! And yes the rise of the far right (across the world), is a definite concern. But we have to be positive about what we still have in our society, and educate our kids about their responsibilities to all the human race and the planet they live on!

I’m 56 and have lived through good times and bad times (the bad times mainly being under Tory Governments I must add).

hazelnutvanillalatte · 04/01/2025 19:04

ScribblingPixie · 04/01/2025 18:34

I doubt there's many Jewish people in the UK who haven't had that conversation in the last year or so.

Show quote history

The UK is not a safe place at all for them now. The hate and divisiveness in general is coming from both sides which is very scary

TooBigForMyBoots · 04/01/2025 19:05

Getmeonaflight · 04/01/2025 18:56

Far right riots? Oh please. Because starmer said so?

Far right riots because that's what they were. What else would you call racist riots, started by misinformation about an imaginary "illegal" immigrant?

User37482 · 04/01/2025 19:05

Echobelly · 04/01/2025 19:03

I don't know about 'terrified' certainly deeply concerned.

It seems that since I was younger, maybe I was just not as aware, but as though the papers and those who control a lot of media online have got more and more visciously set against any progressive views to the point they are really making efforts to twist things.

I'm concerned that a 'populist' right wing government, either Tories or a Tory/Reform Coalition (possibly back by Musk) will get in and offer all the wrong solutions to all the wrong problems. Their logic seems to be 'the past was better so we'll make things more like the past', except they're not talking about affordable housing or wages that pay for people to live on, they're talking about making things more racist, sexist a homophobic, which is not going to make anything more affordable or anyone's lives easier. Of course at the same time, they will be sure that they and their mates profit off everything they can.

I've always found the whole 'Oh politicians are only in it for the money' a cliche, but the British Right absolutely are these days. They will sell off our kids' futures to tech bros by allowing AI/automation without corporations having to give anything back to society for the consequences of that.

I think AI is coming whether we like it or not. It’s simple to me, build more houses, restrain immigration to genuinely highly skilled people and reduce numbers, build more prisons and actually convict people when they do bad shit.

fromthevault · 04/01/2025 19:06

The chaos in the Uk is a direct result of the progressive left.

Oh, come on. I'm really trying not to rise to this.stuff but this is pure gaslighting. Who has been in charge for the past 14 years?

LondonPapa · 04/01/2025 19:08

JDNCh · 04/01/2025 18:17

Name changed - I’m genuinely terrified by the hate, division and atmosphere here right now, online and spilling over on the ‘the real world’. I’m scared by how quickly things are changing, and just how much influence the US/Elon Musk/Reform+supporters are having. I’m scared of what the actual point of it all is - what’s the endgame? And what’s the solution? Why is no one protesting/rising up from the other way? Do people generally agree with all this?

I’m in no way a minority (white, female, 30s), I’m not super left, I have one little boy and I’m so scared for his future. I don’t want to live somewhere so intolerant with this constant atmosphere of distrust and something getting ready to blow.

What’s the general consensus? Is this what the people of the U.K. want?

Honestly? I don’t care. The people have voted. When the next election comes around it’ll be interesting but I’ll just leave unless I’m able to make good money out of the situation (very likely). So to put it bluntly, I don’t care about the future of the country as I can escape if need be.

MrsPeregrine · 04/01/2025 19:08

Yes, I am absolutely terrified about the future in the UK. But not for the same reasons you give in your post. I will see what happens over the next few years but can see myself advising my children to prepare to move to emigrate elsewhere when they are grown up.

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 04/01/2025 19:09

User37482 · 04/01/2025 18:29

I’m a bit scared that we have loads of institutions that are more worried about pissing people off than locking up child rapists tbh. That really fucking concerns me. Not what Musk is twattering on about. The problem is that there is a problem not that someone pointed it out,

Absolutely this.

Getter · 04/01/2025 19:10

Bigcheeserolling · 04/01/2025 18:27

Ironically (posting on here) I feel much more positive if I get off SM, listen to the news no more than once a day and try to engage with with people in my neighbourhood about local things. Feel much better about society and people in general.

I agree!! Society, on the whole, is good. Yes, there are sinister factions - there are everywhere and in every nation, but SM and the media in general create an intense and scare-mongering environment. A little information about complicated and multi-faceted issues is a scary thing.

LocalHobo · 04/01/2025 19:11

I suppose there is Scandinavia but...the winter.
and
As Sweden struggles with harsh realities, a growing far-right, anti-immigration populist movement spearheaded by the Sweden Democrats (SD) is unfolding, fighting for ‘Swedish values’ at the expense of migrants.
The SD party was founded by a former SS soldier and had over 20% of the vote in the 2022 elections.

Tommytoronto · 04/01/2025 19:12

MrsPeregrine · 04/01/2025 19:08

Yes, I am absolutely terrified about the future in the UK. But not for the same reasons you give in your post. I will see what happens over the next few years but can see myself advising my children to prepare to move to emigrate elsewhere when they are grown up.

Where would you recommend they go? Genuinely interested after being so disheartened by Canada

YouMeandBrie · 04/01/2025 19:12

Try not to worry, I don’t think we’re going to see violent uprisings, it’s just a natural cultural shift. The last few years have been flags in bios and X lives matter and now that is out of fashion and the pendulum is swinging again. It’s all very much of the same to me. We’re mostly too cold and knackered and skint to riot. Life is tough enough at the moment.