People leaving London and now the UK for good

[Musicaldilemma]

We are in Outer London. Ten sets of friends have moved out of London to other parts of the U.K. over the summer. Now many other families are in the process of emigrating to The Middle East, various part of Asia, 2 NZ families who have been here 20 years trying to go home and 3 Aussie families (1 parent Australian). It is definitely much more than usual. It seems everyone who is rich enough and able to is trying to leave the country for good. It got me thinking to when I was a young successful professional - I think I may have tried to leave too. I am worried we are going to end up with an unhealthy, elderly population with all the young, successful people propping the economy back gone. I think the latest rounds of news have broken quite a lot of people I know who have international options, it looks worse than immediately after Brexit. Is it just my friendship group and the people I know at work? (Lawyer?) Or are others observing this too?

I work in academia and can think of a few colleagues who have left Britain for good in the last few years. In their cases it was because of Brexit.

I don't know

Several contacts left London in the last few years to avoid living in rabbit hutch flats. I've got the same issue.

But that's in 40s/50s. I think London will continue to appeal to younger ones

And I welcome less overcrowding. I'm in a borough targeted for high density housing - not the affordable kind.

There are two 20+ storey blocks of flats meant to go up within walking distance. I now have some hope they won't go ahead.

Wages for vital jobs like cleaning and caring might go up?

My DC have dual nationality and we will be encouraging them to spread their wings far and wide.

Don't worry - Lots of young and highly educated families from Hong Kong are on their way here. It's all perspective, which way you move, where you feel you will be happier and healthier, and your children will grow up in a better environment.

At the school I work at we have had three applications for places for children from outside the UK in the last week. So not all one way traffic.

My experience is the other way around. Cousin who lived abroad 15 years ago now sold up and coming back shortly. His sister only went out there last year and has moved back already and a colleague is now desperate to come back from Spain. I don't know of anyone planning to move abroad. I think it may be people who work in particular fields who are more likely to emigrate for work.

I’m married to an Australian, we are tentatively looking at visa options for me. DH has been here 20 years & we have never wanted to live there up to now. DH & DD both have Aus & British passports.
DD will finish year 11 this summer & then we will make a decision based on the covid situation.

Now many other families are in the process of emigrating

Their loss, surely

You make it sound like a biblical exodus when it's anything but

If I had the opportunity to leave I’d be out like a shot. Felt like this ever since the brexit vote came in to be honest, the government response to COVID has just made it even clearer. Several friends with family abroad have already left.

@AvonCallingBarksdale

My DC have dual nationality and we will be encouraging them to spread their wings far and wide.

My 2 eldest Ds's were born in New Zealand and whilst they don't currently have Nz passports, I'm hoping they may be able to get them. Will certainly encourage them to look into it.

I’m out too! Paying this crazy London rent and being trapped in my box of a flat and all the stuff that made London worth living in being shut - can’t see the point! Also brexit is part of it! Husband and I will be moving back to home country fairly soon - and I can’t bloody wait 🤭🎉🎉🎉

3 other friends doing the same

But i think it’s always been kinda like this right? People come to London for a bit then leave in a few years ?

I'd love to leave the UK but I don't think any other countries will want me 😁

I haven't noticed anyone leaving in my area, but we are very lucky that we haven't been overrun with covid here. Life was quiet and full of walks before covid so not much has changed. I am noticing a lot of movement into the area though. House prices here are going through the roof!

Are already encouraging our dual national kids to get an education that other countries desire.

We are trying to make sure our private pension income is enough to retire elsewhere. Just wish we had taken the leap before our middle aged lives had trapped us here!

Yes I think many young will travel and make their lives elsewhere. Polish neighbors moved back last year.

Why wouldn't you?

For me this is Brexit linked, not Covid, apart from the fact that Covid has meant many have delayed their plans. I know a few people who now need/want to come back from Spain, for eg. And a lot of Europeans in my city want to go back.

We're well overpopulated anyway I suppose, but a lot of the people leaving will be skilled workers who paid taxes.

I know a few young professionals who have left due to Brexit. I know quite a few older ones (myself included) who would love to go, but have decided to stay because they don't want to uproot their children, leave their elderly parents etc.

It's mostly high earning people in their twenties or early thirties who are going in my experience. Can't say I blame them.

People get a weird and spooky kick out of being pessimistic and bashing the UK, everything British and their own people on MN

I don't get it. They should be ashamed

@trulydelicious

Now many other families are in the process of emigrating

Their loss, surely

You make it sound like a biblical exodus when it's anything but

It certainly doesn't have to be a bad thing.

I wish everyone luck, I understand if people want to go but it might well make life much more pleasant for those of us still here

It's a tiny number, in proportion, who have left.

@trulydelicious

People get a weird and spooky kick out of being pessimistic and bashing the UK, everything British and their own people on MN

I don't get it. They should be ashamed

As OP posted here, I imagine she was thinking more about people who have left to get more space after lockdown hit so badly.

People get a weird and spooky kick out of being pessimistic and bashing the UK, everything British and their own people on MN

What? How odd to think that people get a kick out of it. Most people I know are really sad about what has happened to our country.

When I say that I know young professionals who are leaving, I'm not being pessimistic, I'm stating facts.

We've had quite a few people leave work during the past year to move back to be nearer their families abroad. I think it's quite natural that you'd do that when travel is restricted.

I would absolutely go if I could. NZ for me please! Unfortunately while I would probably qualify for a visa I don’t think DH would. I also know of several people leaving, or who are already there (Aus/NZ mainly) and are now not coming back.

Ithink it’s a case of people are re-evaluating their lives. Lockdown has given people a ‘pause’ button - either not having to commute, appreciating gardens and outside space, missing families etc. Therefore people are using this opportunity to make major changes to their lives such as returning to countries or towns where their families are, or to the countryside etc

@LunaHeather

I imagine she was thinking more about people who have left to get more space after lockdown hit so badly

Wait until the usual UK bashers see the thread and jump in full force to rip the country apart with their hurtful comments

Yes, on our road 2 nurses have gone back home to Africa and a SA family has moved to NZ. Bit further, a Polish old colleague has gone back. We're not London but there has been a fair amount of people moving to cheaper places in the last year or 2, and people from London moving here.