Page 6 | Is anyone else planning to leave the UK?

AuntieMeemz · 2025-10-17T08:59:32+00:00

Everything we gain, earn or get is taxed and we are not seeing the benfit we would expect from it. We have a government that is not representing all of us. I have always taken a keen interest in current affairs, in the UK and abroad so it's not a rash decision (and i don't want to trigger a debate about my reasons for leaving). I have learned when it is time to walk away. Even before all this, we had decided to leave the UK, but we are speeding up plans. Is anyone else doing the same? The grass will not be greener on the other side (have lived in 3 other countries when i was younger). We will be working on line for our last couple of years before retirement. 'We' means DH, DD (18 )and DS (21). DH totally onboard. DD and DS not, so we can't just leave them.

KatyaKanani · 17/10/2025 21:57

echt · 17/10/2025 21:49

And what's "leftist" about what @KatyaKanani said?
They were facts.

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I know! I would have thought a post complaining about constant strikes, power cuts, the three day week, and poor public sector service would definitely not make you a "Lefty"! 😂

mindutopia · 17/10/2025 22:02

No, you should see how shit my home country is. I have a much better quality of life here. Food shopping is cheaper. Health care is better and more accessible. Schools are better. I can’t think of anywhere I’d prefer to live. We are high earners and pay tax, but relative to what we earn, we have a comfortable life. People in every country think their country is crap because they too sometimes watch too much YouTube.

Baninarama · 17/10/2025 22:04

Peridoteage · 17/10/2025 21:55

Nope. Ive got family and friends in US, Australia, canada, france, italy, Germany & china. It's not much better elsewhere.

France is even more fucked financially than we are. Higher taxes.
Australia is really expensive to live, facing some major environmental challenges.
US has huge wealth divide, lots of issues with racism& sexism, guns & donald trump. They get barely any holiday.
China has a lot of weird shit that never makes the news here
Italy wages are actually quite a bit lower than uk & they are also kinda bankrupt
Germany like the uk has had a huge influx of migrants and has social undercurrents that are pretty nasty. Tax is higher than here.

On a global level, capitalism has concentrated wealth in the hands of a shrinking few. You can't escape that by moving abroad.

You will get more equality somewhere like norway - oh and higher taxes.

Norway is pretty but boring - you still can't buy a bottle of wine on a Sunday or Bank Holiday as the state-run wine shops all close and they're the only place allowed to sell alcohol.

SeriaMau · 17/10/2025 22:26

RosenWilloughby · 17/10/2025 21:17

Interesting. How do you feel it’s improved?

Healthcare?
Crime?
Housing?
Immigration?

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Healthcare has vastly improved over the past 20 years. We lead longer and healthier lives.
The rate of crime has dropped substantially over the past 30 years. We are now a much safer society.
I own my own home now, which I didn’t previously but I accept that’s a personal perspective.
I’m not impacted my immigration, for good or bad, but I appreciate for others this may be a problem.

KatyaKanani · 17/10/2025 22:27

SeriaMau · 17/10/2025 22:26

Healthcare has vastly improved over the past 20 years. We lead longer and healthier lives.
The rate of crime has dropped substantially over the past 30 years. We are now a much safer society.
I own my own home now, which I didn’t previously but I accept that’s a personal perspective.
I’m not impacted my immigration, for good or bad, but I appreciate for others this may be a problem.

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This, exactly

SoReadyFor · 17/10/2025 22:32

I wouldn't move for that reason.
I would move for a change and adventure. In case reality doesn't meet expectations.

FastFood · 17/10/2025 22:33

No, I'm from EU so I could, but I love it here. Brits are genuinely great people to be around and happy to pay taxes here.

NapoleonsToe · 17/10/2025 22:34

We left. Couldn't be happier.

NebulousWhistler · 17/10/2025 22:39

KatyaKanani · 17/10/2025 16:00

Quite a few seem to think it's a different land......

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lol, now you know how the Northern Irish feel 😂😂

KatyaKanani · 17/10/2025 22:39

NebulousWhistler · 17/10/2025 22:39

lol, now you know how the Northern Irish feel 😂😂

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😂

Papyrophile · 17/10/2025 22:47

It's a very decent place to live IMO. Can't think of anywhere I'd really prefer. Can't really even ask for more sun.

Hallywally · 17/10/2025 22:59

Where to though? Utopia doesn’t exist. There are far worse places to live. If I was rich I would have a house in a sunny country but would always have a home in the UK.

Dappy777 · 17/10/2025 23:00

I would if I could. If it wasn’t for family ties, I’d leave. I no longer have any sense of national identity, that’s for sure. This isn’t really a nation any more. I don’t live around people with a sense of shared history and shared culture. Starmer was right to describe it as an island of strangers. For years I have worn a poppy on Remembrance Day. I won’t bother this year. Last year there were so few people wearing one in my local Tesco that I actually felt self-conscious. In fact, I even got one or two dirty looks. Maybe this year I’ll wrap myself in a Palestinian flag instead.

Beesandhoney123 · 17/10/2025 23:16

I'd move, but the thought of all the jiggery pokery with tax, documents, cost of finding somewhere, moving the animals- might not be cost effective.

However, our life style is eroded, sadly Mr Sunak was right when he predicted what Labour would do to the economy. I'm not getting any younger. It all will definitely affect me. I'm not young enough to feel immortal and start again.

Our infrastructure is being sold off, medical records, digital ID looming, more data on us all. Its probably the same everywhere corrupt politicians.

We just must stand up for what we belive in. I remember being shocked at the poll tax riots. People had had enough.

SomeConstellation · 17/10/2025 23:22

Dappy777 · 17/10/2025 23:00

I would if I could. If it wasn’t for family ties, I’d leave. I no longer have any sense of national identity, that’s for sure. This isn’t really a nation any more. I don’t live around people with a sense of shared history and shared culture. Starmer was right to describe it as an island of strangers. For years I have worn a poppy on Remembrance Day. I won’t bother this year. Last year there were so few people wearing one in my local Tesco that I actually felt self-conscious. In fact, I even got one or two dirty looks. Maybe this year I’ll wrap myself in a Palestinian flag instead.

So why would you want to go and live somewhere where there’s no possibility of you sharing any sense of history and culture with the population, if what’s driving you out of the UK is a lack of shared culture?

EmeraldRoulette · 17/10/2025 23:28

Lost track of which poster said healthcare has improved in the last 20 years

I think it's got worse. I appreciate it depends what you mean by healthcare. So for example, if you mean scanning technology has improved, yes it probably has.

But GP services and approaches to the patient generally have not improved. That's been my experience and both my parents. Though dad's been gone awhile now. Speaking of which, hospice services and availability also declined.

actually, I don't really know anyone who would think that those services have improved in 20 years.

Crushed23 · 18/10/2025 03:10

I left the UK in 2024 due to stagnant wages, but I loved everything else about living there.

Love where I live now too, but I hate the precarious state of being an expat. Would love to get PR but I’m a few years off that.

spoonbillstretford · 18/10/2025 03:20

Apparently everyone, as there is a thread on this every five minutes.

My answer is only if Reform ever looked like forming a government.

spoonbillstretford · 18/10/2025 03:23

Beesandhoney123 · 17/10/2025 23:16

I'd move, but the thought of all the jiggery pokery with tax, documents, cost of finding somewhere, moving the animals- might not be cost effective.

However, our life style is eroded, sadly Mr Sunak was right when he predicted what Labour would do to the economy. I'm not getting any younger. It all will definitely affect me. I'm not young enough to feel immortal and start again.

Our infrastructure is being sold off, medical records, digital ID looming, more data on us all. Its probably the same everywhere corrupt politicians.

We just must stand up for what we belive in. I remember being shocked at the poll tax riots. People had had enough.

What happened between 2010-2024 do you think? What was Sunak's legacy?

SeriaMau · 18/10/2025 03:32

EmeraldRoulette · 17/10/2025 23:28

Lost track of which poster said healthcare has improved in the last 20 years

I think it's got worse. I appreciate it depends what you mean by healthcare. So for example, if you mean scanning technology has improved, yes it probably has.

But GP services and approaches to the patient generally have not improved. That's been my experience and both my parents. Though dad's been gone awhile now. Speaking of which, hospice services and availability also declined.

actually, I don't really know anyone who would think that those services have improved in 20 years.

Whatever you believe, you are wrong. Can you name a single condition with a worse outcome than 20 years ago? No?
https://www.rsph.org.uk/insights/the-top-10-public-health-achievements-of-the-21st-century/

The Top 10 Public Health Achievements of the 21st Century

We take a look back at the top public health achievements that have improved lives across the globe over the past 25 years.

https://www.rsph.org.uk/insights/the-top-10-public-health-achievements-of-the-21st-century/

mathanxiety · 18/10/2025 03:33

ChessBess · 17/10/2025 10:25

What countries can you just up-sticks and move to just like that for the average family?

I can’t imagine there are many countries where as a British Citizen you can move to without any qualifications or some kind of expertise that the country needs or significant amounts of cash or will be a business owner etc… My point being, that’s not the average person.

Where do the average people go? The ones with average jobs or unskilled type jobs? It’s a genuine question, because I see this often on here and I was think that doesn’t apply to most people even if they wanted to move.

Again, correct me if I’m wrong but the types of countries that people would like to go to, such as Canada, Australia, USA that’s not an option. I can image the countries where they let anyone move there, probably aren’t desirable places to go for the average Brit so wouldn’t go even if they could.

I assume you can’t just move to anywhere in Europe these days as a family without having significant financial backing? Again correct me if I’m wrong as it something I’ve wondered about.

Ireland...

ExPatLifeIsGood · 18/10/2025 03:40

Moved to the US 9 years ago. Best decision I ever made. Would never return to live in the UK.

Bluecrystal2 · 18/10/2025 05:07

PurpleChrayn · 17/10/2025 10:31

Yes.

We’re moving to Israel where DH is from. Life has become pretty intolerable for Jews in the UK. Several incidents recently, involving our young children. Were sick of feeling unwelcome.

This makes me feel so ashamed. I'm not Jewish but spent a lot of time in Israel when young and absolutely loved it.

APTPT · 18/10/2025 05:24

Yes, we are leaving for good in three weeks. Just waiting for the dog to have final part of her vet treatment.

The problems are NOT the same everywhere. That's pure copium.

Blueuggboots · 18/10/2025 05:44

I would love to move to NZ but their cost of living is higher than ours and I don’t have the right qualifications to do my job there. I also have elderly parents who are not in good health so can’t leave them and I’m too old to score points on the entry system.
so I’m staying here. 😩