Brits Leaving UK In Droves.

[Lord Lucan]

Originally Posted by David Brent Latest statistics are showing that fed-up Brits are leaving the UK in droves. Figures released in London show that 500 Britons are leaving the country every day to live and work abroad. A large majority are moving to Australia. The Office Of National Statistics said that more than 380,000 Britons left the UK last year. One in five moved to Australia, followed by Spain, France, New Zealand and the US. Three years ago 300 Britons a week were applying for foreign visas. Now it's 4000 a week. Many cite crime, the weather, high taxation and the cost of living as reasons for leaving the UK. Most vow not to return. Dean Morgan, the director of workpermit.com, one of Britain's biggest private immigration firms, said yesterday that his staff were struggling to cope with the demands to leave. "People are leaving because of the perception of crime, the yob-culture, people do not want their kids to grow up here, the weather and the middle classes are being taxed into oblivion" he was quoted as saying. "Many older generation English people are saying that this is not the England they grew up in. The fabric has changed and they are sick of it" he added. Dave.

Six weeks ago a colleage of mine went to Perth to "have a look" because he (like many others) are sick of the situation here in the UK. His son went there two years ago and loves it, he is encouraging his dad to follow, which he did (for six weeks) he got back yesterday, he told me this about Australia... cost of living was high but the wages are high as well, housing is good, there is plenty of well paid jobs and the standard of living was better than the UK, so I asked him when he was selling up and moving, he said not a chance! he said it was OK for a holiday but he could never live there, to hot, to many bugs that bite, and the place has no character (his words) He prefers Shropshire drizzle to BBQ's on the beach and tbh I don't blame him.

[samkydd]

Originally Posted by Lord Lucan Six weeks ago a colleage of mine went to Perth to "have a look" because he (like many others) are sick of the situation here in the UK. His son went there two years ago and loves it, he is encouraging his dad to follow, which he did (for six weeks) he got back yesterday, he told me this about Australia... cost of living was high but the wages are high as well, housing is good, there is plenty of well paid jobs and the standard of living was better than the UK, so I asked him when he was selling up and moving, he said not a chance! he said it was OK for a holiday but he could never live there, to hot, to many bugs that bite, and the place has no character (his words) He prefers Shropshire drizzle to BBQ's on the beach and tbh I don't blame him.

A relative of mine went lock, stock and barrel to New Zealand and burnt his bridges. The money was not so good, some of the urban people were like the New Zealand equivilent of New York street gangs, and overall it was not as nice a place to live as he first thought.

There is no NHS either so when his partner became ill and needed an operation they had no health insurance, and so had no choice but to throw in the towel and come back to the UK!

Like Australia it's a bloomin' long way to go for a bit of sunshine and scenery, and I always think if it's that good why are so many of them living over here?

Despite the doom and gloom headlines in some newspapers there are many unspoilt parts of the UK which "tick all the boxes", so I don't quite understand why so many people rush off abroad. I know some people do because it's trendy and they want to impress their friends by going to live in some crumbling rat-infested chateau in France and keep chickens, drive a 2CV, make home made bread, struggle to learn French, and be bored witless within six months (my sister-in-law). Then after they realise that central France is like the continental version of Lincolnshire, they sell the place very cheaply to some grateful French person who loves the new £10,000 kitchen and bathroom, and scuttle back to the UK hoping to draw inspiration from yet another TV programme about moving house!

[ShirlGirl]

Originally Posted by Lord Lucan Six weeks ago a colleage of mine went to Perth to "have a look" because he (like many others) are sick of the situation here in the UK. His son went there two years ago and loves it, he is encouraging his dad to follow, which he did (for six weeks) he got back yesterday, he told me this about Australia... cost of living was high but the wages are high as well, housing is good, there is plenty of well paid jobs and the standard of living was better than the UK, so I asked him when he was selling up and moving, he said not a chance! he said it was OK for a holiday but he could never live there, to hot, to many bugs that bite, and the place has no character (his words) He prefers Shropshire drizzle to BBQ's on the beach and tbh I don't blame him.

It's very much harder for older people to uproot themselves from the familiar and start anew in another country. Maybe if your friend was younger, he might look at it in a different way – in the same way as his son does. People who emigrate to Australia - or wherever - do so for one main reason: they believe they can make a "better" life for themselves and/or provide a "better" future for their children. Older people who emigrate for the sole purpose of being nearer to their children and grandchildren are very often discontented and homesick, and can find plenty of faults with their new life and environment when they are in that mindset. Emigrating is a huge step to take and there is so much to consider, so many pros and cons.

True, our summers get very hot and humid and we do have to put up with pesky insects that bite. I’m an Aussie and I hate all that myself! As for "no character" - it's just very different here. Our history is not much more than 200 years old, and our culture is still being formed - changing all the time with people from so many different countries bringing aspects of their own culture with them. That can be a negative in some ways, but I won't go into that! Mostly it's a good thing.

When you enter Australia, you certainly don’t get a sense of walking into history as you do when you enter Britain and European countries. You don’t get a sense of the past at all. I think you get a sense of the present and of the future. Does that make it characterless?

What do others think it is that defines a country’s character? Any ideas?

[ShirlGirl]

Originally Posted by samkydd A relative of mine went lock, stock and barrel to New Zealand and burnt his bridges. The money was not so good, some of the urban people were like the New Zealand equivilent of New York street gangs, and overall it was not as nice a place to live as he first thought. There is no NHS either so when his partner became ill and needed an operation they had no health insurance, and so had no choice but to throw in the towel and come back to the UK! Like Australia it's a bloomin' long way to go for a bit of sunshine and scenery, and I always think if it's that good why are so many of them living over here?

When people decide to emigrate to Australia or New Zealand, I’m sure they consider more important things than sunshine and scenery.

Before moving to another country lock, stock and barrel, it would make sense to research the place thoroughly first, and weigh up the pros and cons before making such a big decision. If at all possible, visit there and have a look around before burning your bridges.

NZ is full of English-born Kiwis who absolutely love living there and are very happy there. They vastly outnumber those who return to the UK. Neither NZ or Australia is Utopia, and often those who give up and go home are those who didn’t do their homework properly and had unrealistic expectations, or... dare I say it!... whingers who find plenty to complain and grumble about no matter where they live.

As for why many from southern shores are living in the UK, you’d have to survey them to find out. The fact that they are over there and not here is not necessarily a bad reflection on their home country. There would be quite a variety of personal reasons and it's unlikely you would find a common thread of discontent with the living conditions and general state of affairs at home. Several people I know who are expats in London and Edinburgh have nothing against Australia, but find they are better off in the UK for career reasons.

Expats do tend to trickle home eventually – I did, myself, after 6 years.

[Dame Starry]

Originally Posted by samkydd Like Australia it's a bloomin' long way to go for a bit of sunshine and scenery, and I always think if it's that good why are so many of them living over here?

Actually, the climate in NZ is more-or-less the same as it is here, but the seasons are the opposite way around - they have Christmas in the summer.
Shortly before she passed away, my late aunt told me that that was precisely the reason why she chose to emigrate there in the late 50s on a £10 passage.

There was a programme on C5 a couple of years ago about the problems with gangs in Porirua, a suburb of Wellington - that was where my aunt had lived.

I think the problem's global now.

DS x.

[penfold]

Originally Posted by samkydd Either way it's fraud and the taxpayer in whatever country it occurs in are the victims because when they need treatment it may no longer be available! Anyone found out should be prosecuted as with any fraudster!

Originally Posted by samkydd A relative of mine went lock, stock and barrel to New Zealand and burnt his bridges. The money was not so good, some of the urban people were like the New Zealand equivilent of New York street gangs, and overall it was not as nice a place to live as he first thought. There is no NHS either so when his partner became ill and needed an operation they had no health insurance, and so had no choice but to throw in the towel and come back to the UK!

So then Sam, did you grass up your relative's partner for fraud?

[samkydd]

Originally Posted by penfold So then Sam, did you grass up your relative's partner for fraud?

Well he was still a British citizen and when he returned home he went straight back to work and paid his dues every week.

[ShirlGirl]

Originally Posted by samkydd There is no NHS either so when his partner became ill and needed an operation they had no health insurance, and so had no choice but to throw in the towel and come back to the UK!

It seems New Zealand does have a government funded health service.

Publicly Funded Health Services - Eligibility

[samkydd]

Originally Posted by ShirlGirl It seems New Zealand does have a government funded health service. Publicly Funded Health Services - Eligibility

Oh well perhaps my relative was just lying then!

[amina]

Originally Posted by David Brent Latest statistics are showing that fed-up Brits are leaving the UK in droves. Figures released in London show that 500 Britons are leaving the country every day to live and work abroad. A large majority are moving to Australia. The Office Of National Statistics said that more than 380,000 Britons left the UK last year. One in five moved to Australia, followed by Spain, France, New Zealand and the US. Three years ago 300 Britons a week were applying for foreign visas. Now it's 4000 a week. Many cite crime, the weather, high taxation and the cost of living as reasons for leaving the UK. Most vow not to return. Dean Morgan, the director of workpermit.com, one of Britain's biggest private immigration firms, said yesterday that his staff were struggling to cope with the demands to leave. "People are leaving because of the perception of crime, the yob-culture, people do not want their kids to grow up here, the weather and the middle classes are being taxed into oblivion" he was quoted as saying. "Many older generation English people are saying that this is not the England they grew up in. The fabric has changed and they are sick of it" he added. Dave.

You know everyone it seems is always going on about people coming into this country and how they want to leave, but has anyone asked the question do the Spanish or anyone else really want us? The image painted of us abroad isn't very pretty. It seems like one rule for them and one for us, we don't want you in our country but every other country wants us. Funny hey.
All I hear these days is people carrying on about the Polish, however you know it seems that there are a fair few Australians and Americans here and I have never heard anyone complain about them. Why are one group singled out over another.

[DB7]

Today's multicultural pc-gone-mad story.
Apology over 'offensive' puppy police advert after Muslim complaints - Telegraph

[batman]

I liked this reply that was emailed to the Telegraph ....

Posted by Adnan Bahsoon on July 02, 2008 10:52 AM
I am a practicing Muslim and not effected by the " Modernisation" attitudes, behaviour and the British culture.
Why ( so called Musilms)and their Councillor Mohamad Asif in Dundee complain about Semi Naked Pictures of men and women, showing their breasts and bulges, is this not against our religion?? Have they ever complained or did anything about ( the so called Muslims) selling lottery in their shops and refuses to " put the post card up" in their shops, beside i am 100% sure that they are selling alcohol in their shops.
I do URGE the press and Media not to write about MUSLIMS, but to name and shame the area of those MUSLIMS complaining, as i am and 100000000 of muslims in Britain do not share their views and i personally will take this as an INSULT to Islam.
STOP complaining about dogs, cats and pigs GOD said that these are HARAM to eat, live with as a pet but NOT to TOUCH, not to have PICTURES of them.
Grow up YOU ARE INSULTING and AN INSULT to ISLAM and NO they should not apologise.

[Dame Starry]

I have worked with many Muslims in my lifetime - and I have never met one who was insulted by anything; they were fun to work with and had a terrific sense of humour.

DS x.

[Marky B]

Originally Posted by Dame Starry I have worked with many Muslims in my lifetime - and I have never met one who was insulted by anything; they were fun to work with and had a terrific sense of humour. DS x.

You are in no doubt right there,DS,and Bat's relating that e-mail from the Daily Telegraph is probably the best representation of Muslims in this country. However,last year,a young Muslim girl in traditional dress sat next to me on a train,and she wasn't shy of using the "F" word whilst talking on her mobile,causing a lot of heads turning to our seat in disgust. Nor was she apologetic about her constant farting,and she was very ignorant when I said "Excuse me" when the train arrived at Billingham Grand Central Station.

However,all things being equal,that could have been a person of any religion.
Ta Ta
Marky B

[Marky B]

Originally Posted by Dame Starry I have worked with many Muslims in my lifetime - and I have never met one who was insulted by anything; they were fun to work with and had a terrific sense of humour. DS x.

There was a young,female,Muslim comedian a few years ago who thought burkas were great,as she could use her granny's bus pass.
Ta Ta
Marky B