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Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

Moving to England

108 replies

Iwouldratherbesailing · 12/04/2021 15:41

We are seriously contemplating moving to England due to the on going threat of Scotland gaining independence. We are not English, but both work in finance / economics and are well aware of the economic devastation that independence will wreak. We have worked hard for every penny we have earned but stand to lose the lot should we have a GBP mortgage to pay with devalued Scottish wages / overly inflated higher rate taxes. Has anyone else made active plans to move? My employer will be pulling out of Scotland should independence happen, but I would be allowed to work remotely here. It’s just the ongoing level of stress that I find hard to handle. If only I could be as naive to the damage as an SNP voter.

OP posts:
Grumpycatsmum · 12/04/2021 21:36

Oh god. Just stopped worrying about Brexit impacts ( as it's done now) and covid (vulnerable family members now vaccinated) and now have to worry about another sodding referendum. Scots economy is pretty fucked at the moment. Can only imagine referendum uncertainty will make it worse.
Might lie in darkened room with large gin and tonic.

RaspberryCoulis · 13/04/2021 08:33

DH is English and it's something we've talked about too. We're already being hammered with higher tax. Quite fancy Northumberland.

forfucksakenett · 13/04/2021 08:55

@StarryEyeSurprise it's a biscuit. People post them when they think the OP, or whoever, is a bit of a ... not sure how to phrase it. It means did ye aye/ Hmm/ ffs / go away / ... delete as appropriate.

Not sure if you were actually asking. Apologies if not lol.

forfucksakenett · 13/04/2021 08:57

I too would be interested to know who you work for OP. I have friends in finance across a couple of banks. Neither of whom suggested they would be 'leaving' due to independence.

StarryEyeSurprise · 13/04/2021 09:04

[quote forfucksakenett]@StarryEyeSurprise it's a biscuit. People post them when they think the OP, or whoever, is a bit of a ... not sure how to phrase it. It means did ye aye/ Hmm/ ffs / go away / ... delete as appropriate.

Not sure if you were actually asking. Apologies if not lol. [/quote]
No it was genuine - I'd never heard of it before. It looks like a yellow flower to me. 😂 Thanks, every day is a school day!

emmathedilemma · 13/04/2021 09:27

I am English and my family are all still there (plus a lot of friends). I don't want to move back as I have a nice lifestyle up here and it would take a lot to get me to move but the Covid restrictions and being unable to travel have really made me think twice about being so far away, add another "once in a lifetime" referendum to this and I'm just about done with Queen Nicola.

forfucksakenett · 13/04/2021 09:32

It would be a shame if people felt that they needed to move but I do understand it. If I lived in England I would probably feel compelled to move. Not because England isn't lovely but because the Tories are repugnant and aren't going anywhere soon.

Babdoc · 13/04/2021 09:44

I have friends who have already moved out of Scotland due to the risk of independence. And not just English ones - they include born and bred Scots who can trace their roots back many generations here.
I wish they had stayed - we already have a shortage of taxpayers to fund SNP extravagance, and an over large public sector that we cannot afford without the Barnet subsidy from England.
I have adult children living in Edinburgh, so am reluctant to leave, but even I have been scrolling property websites for homes in Northumberland, if the nightmare of independence ever happened.
I suspect many higher rate taxpayers will feel the same as I do. We already pay over £1000 more per year here than in England, and it can only get worse in a financially struggling independent banana republic.

Timeandtune · 13/04/2021 10:06

We are not motivated by financial concerns. We have always been modest earners but happy to ( more than) pay our way.
I don’t like the notion of nationalism and never have . The current level of toxicity in Scottish public life makes me genuinely fearful for the future . Scotland is heading towards totalitarianism.

emmathedilemma · 13/04/2021 10:15

I was also horrified to discover I pay an additional £1000 in tax compared to if I lived in England @Babdoc! That's a lot of free eye tests and prescriptions!

WaxOnFeckOff · 13/04/2021 10:17

As there would need to be an addition layer of financial regulation (as per the white paper), I suspect that most financial companies will want their head offices registered elsewhere. However it would depend on the nature of that financial regulation and whether it would require addition costs that would determine whether they want to keep staff in Scotland.

Most likely for regulatory purposes, Scotland would end up being the equivalent of other countries which are used for off-shoring like India, Poland etc. If the company already has offshore activities it might mean very little change.

However it might mean that local regulations need to apply so that may mean it is easier and cheaper to move the jobs elsewhere. Bit of a finger in the air really at the moment.

I love Scotland and I'm okay to pay more tax, but I'm not willing to live with the level of control over my everyday life that seems to be required, so I'm another considering moving to the other side of the Border. We would be closer to some family and no further from others.

StarryEyeSurprise · 13/04/2021 11:53

@Babdoc

I have friends who have already moved out of Scotland due to the risk of independence. And not just English ones - they include born and bred Scots who can trace their roots back many generations here. I wish they had stayed - we already have a shortage of taxpayers to fund SNP extravagance, and an over large public sector that we cannot afford without the Barnet subsidy from England. I have adult children living in Edinburgh, so am reluctant to leave, but even I have been scrolling property websites for homes in Northumberland, if the nightmare of independence ever happened. I suspect many higher rate taxpayers will feel the same as I do. We already pay over £1000 more per year here than in England, and it can only get worse in a financially struggling independent banana republic.
Most people ( 55 per cent ) pay less tax in Scotland than they would if they lived in the rest of the UK.

You must earn around £45-£50k a year? If it bothers you that much, paying an extra around £100 a month in tax for free education, prescriptions ( now at nearly £10 per item) and the rest, that's your ball.

Oh and Scotland is not subsidised . I know you won't believe it but Westminster have confirmed this. It's just not true.

RedactedTaeFeck · 13/04/2021 12:08

I'd be interested in seeing that confirmation from Westminster Starry, do you have a link?

Also, the point at which you are paying extra tax in Scotland is a lot lower than £45k, even on £33k as per this example, you are paying more.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-51407239

I believe all children receive free education.

RedactedTaeFeck · 13/04/2021 12:09

Well, not all receive a free education because obvs a lot of parents pay for private but they are entitled to one.

StarryEyeSurprise · 13/04/2021 12:16

Babdoc said she pays £1k a year more in tax than she would if she lived in England. I believe that for this to be the case , one must be earning around £45,000 plus.

Higher education is not free in England.

If you google- there was a petition relating to Scotland being subsidised. Westminster said this cannot be discussed in the HOC as it is not true.

RedactedTaeFeck · 13/04/2021 12:31

Sorry, I missed where the poster had mentioned a specific amount.

Higher education is not as simple a story as that. The scheme has all sorts of disadvantages as well as advantages.

Ah, so no actual link then? I'll take that that with all the authority it deserves.

forfucksakenett · 13/04/2021 12:47

Of course it's not true. Why would they subsidise us?

Higher earners do pay more tax in Scotland. There's a council tax freeze though that saves us a significant amount and according to the ferret balances it out for most people or thereabouts.

forfucksakenett · 13/04/2021 12:49

@RedactedTaeFeck It's easily googleable - I just found it in two seconds.

I can't provide a link because I'm useless at that although Im sure it's mega simple. If you can't find it I'll do screenshots.

user1471519931 · 13/04/2021 12:54

Why not move to Ireland? Same language, part of the EU, in 5 years you could apply for citizenship, regain your European citizenship with freedom of movement and all the other benefits...

user1471519931 · 13/04/2021 12:56

Jeezo, the hysteria on this thread is quite something.

happygolurkey · 13/04/2021 13:03

it's a biscuit StarryEyedSurprise not a flower. And on Mumsnet's handy hints reference guide (see below the thread) it gives the definition of it as 'no comment'. Used, I think, when people spot the rather predictable agenda behind an opening question.

There've been a couple of times in other threads where people have posted icons that I think were aimed at me - but it all went over my head as I couldn't make out what they actually were Smile. Mind you, my eyesight is shocking

happygolurkey · 13/04/2021 13:07
  • or perhaps more the predictable direction the thread's likely to go in rather than 'agenda'
user1487194234 · 13/04/2021 13:12

My DH and I are both higher rate tax payers and pay a fair bit extra tax than we would in England. I am ok about that but am concerned that the tax burden on private business would increase substantially
Am more concerned about the control freakery of the SG as evidenced over the last year

forfucksakenett · 13/04/2021 14:06

@user1487194234 what control freakery would that be?

StarryEyeSurprise · 13/04/2021 15:42

@happygolurkey

it's a biscuit StarryEyedSurprise not a flower. And on Mumsnet's handy hints reference guide (see below the thread) it gives the definition of it as 'no comment'. Used, I think, when people spot the rather predictable agenda behind an opening question.

There've been a couple of times in other threads where people have posted icons that I think were aimed at me - but it all went over my head as I couldn't make out what they actually were Smile. Mind you, my eyesight is shocking

Thanks, I must have a look at the 'handy hints' so I can get clued up on MN!