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ifølge norsk  artikel idag. Det  svenske ideologiproducerende  RFSL, (central aktør og medskaber af det statsautoriserede, socialdemokratiske HBT- knald – “My God, do  they think that´s erotic” -Bogarde i  Resnais “Providence”  falder én ind hvergang), har denne ubetalelige  kommentar:

Sören Juvas har själv ingen kännedom om att man skickar muslimska killar på avprogrammering.
– Men man får absolut inte göra detta till en muslimsk företeelse. De här tankarna finns hos många människor i Sverige, både muslimer och kristna extremister, säger RFLS-ordföranden.    Exspressen

Mer erotik, ikke “RFSL kravmärkt “

PICT0257.jpg

»Allmänheten får vänja sig vid beskjutning«

det samme kan man roligt bede københavnerne om efter denne  weekend:

När olika gäng gör upp om marknaden i Sverige riskerar allmänheten att hamna i korselden. Stig Kullberg vet hur det känns.

Våldsvågen rullar vidare i Göteborg og Ming, debatforummet Exilen, der har været lukket flere gange af svenske myndigheder,  men nu ligger  på US server. Deraf  navnet.Her skriver ind imellem folk, der i Danmark ville  selvskrevne  kronikører i de tre store omnibusaviser. Det siger, hvad der behøver siges  om svensk presse.

»I didn’t leave my country so much as my country had left me«

Why are so many Britons emigrating?

Britain is experiencing the greatest exodus of its own nationals since before the First World War while immigration has reached unprecedented levels, new figures from the Office of National Statistics have revealed.Hundreds of thousands of Britons are packing up for a new life abroad

Last year, 207,000 British citizens, or one every three minutes, left the country while 510,000 foreigners arrived to stay for a year or more.

Why do you think so many British people are emigrating? Is the quality of life in Britain deteriorating? Or is it rather the case that our aspirations have changed and it is now easier to settle abroad?

If you are an expat, is there anything that the Government could do that would convince you to come home?

Comments (733)

Immigration is NOT the reason that the UK is on a slide, it is because the indigenous population are simply not good enough. The Jade Goody generation is the future of the country; there is no respect, family structure, and education is a rarity.

It is the immigrants who are actually importing a culture of family, marriage and education!

Go to any medicine, law, top business school graduation and look at the number of second generation immigrants who are excelling.

Don’t blame immigrants for your own inadequacies.
Posted by Suneel on November 17, 2007 4:14 PM
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We decided to leave in 2002 and eventually landed in Canada on Nov 5th 2005 after a lengthy immigration process to ensure we would be contributors to our new host country. There is a lot to be said for that.

Why people leave is for many reasons and certainly the political domination on Nu-Labour and the EU had a big effect on my feeling of freedom. Pigeoning holed by my education and accent I wanted to ensure that my daughters had better opportunities.

We wanted a life with more time for living, not working to make ends meet. We earned a combined salary of close to 90,000GBP and had a very mediocre life in the SE, god knows we know everyone on our street were making ends meet. Thats not the sort of life we wanted.

We chose Atlantic Canada purely on its reputation for quality of life and in the last two years it has completely lived up to its reputation. Yes we still miss England and are not at all happy watching it from afar continuing on its steep decline.
In May 2008 there will be direct flights from Fredericton to London Gatwick, I predict the exodus of people will continue and gain strength. It takes so long to get to Canada purely because of the back log of applications!

To all who accuse us of money grabbing, weather hunting, anti immigrants, little Englanders, all I can say is I now pay my high rate tax to my my new country, I pay my council tax to my local authority, and I volunteer (something I had no time for in England) to help in the community and I do not live in a little expat enclave and have no intention of doing so.

Taxation is about the same as the UK so there is no financial wonderland here, cost of living isnt much different (apart from the low cost of housing). Funny how having a smaller mortgage payment makes you feel much more secure.

We keep intouch with the Uk by reading the Telegraph and looking at the BBC website and it often confirms that we made the right decision.

Posted by David Whelbourn (emigrated Nov 05) on November 17, 2007 4:05 PM
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Thank whichever God you believe in (if any) that at last the English are waking up to the fact that only a revolution will reverse the course that this – and previous Labour Governments – are determined to make us go down, to their own ends of course : viz: control of the indiginous educated population. Why do you think they (and it has to be said, the Tories, although this in knee jerk) disarmed the law-abiding sporting gun owner.
I was a Police Officer (and proud to say so) in the 1960’s and 1970’s) In those days, the mantra “The protection of life and property and the prevention and detection of crime” meant what it says….now, I have no respect for the law, or indeed the modern Police Officer, only sympathy.

I emigrated to Ian Smith’s Rhodesia in 1976, to live in a country which still embodied the civilised way of life and to combat Communist terrorism… transferred from Police there to the Army. Despite the war (and it was a war) these were the best years of my and my wife’s lives as well as our 2 children. Unfortuntately, again due to self-serving politicians, we came “second” and we had to leave.

It was a labour governmnt which had started to transform the British way of life in the 1970’s which determined I should emigrate (apart from an altruistic attitude which made we want to fight Mugabe’s terrorists, who were murdering innocents of all colours. Having returned to Uk after this war (for practical reasons) I established a successful business, only to find mysel, once NuLabour were elected, myself being Taxed, prohibited, taxed and prohibited again and again.
I now live in Greece, on a modest income, but I can live without fear or inteference from the Stasi ! Strange that another Labour Government forced me to leave ? Come the Revolution…I’ll go back for that!
Posted by Peter Jones on November 17, 2007 2:55 PM
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It never WAS about immigration.
It always has been and will continue to be…..the
WRONG SORT of immigration. Look at most of the
‘underclass’ and see if I’m wrong. Look at the
‘ghettos’ and see if I’m wrong.
Posted by Jim, long emmigrated to the West Country on November 17, 2007 2:50 PM
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I cam back to live in the UK six months ago after twenty years in New York City, and then Florida. God was a relief it is back to be here: the NHS is great, the food is great, cultural life is great, and even the telly is great.

And no I am not joking.

Violent crime here is massively lower than in the US. Religious maniacs do not dominate political discourse here. Ambulances here do not charge $400 even if you have insurance. Programmes such as Newsnight, Panorama or The Street are inconceivable on the US networks (which give 20 mins each hour to commercials). And frankly the weather is better here!

I got to know a lot of fine people in the US, but there is nowhere like home.

At the end of OZ, I clicked my red heels with pleasure.
Posted by Paul, Manchester on November 17, 2007 2:20 PM
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I am ashamed to be English. The comments about other countries and their peoples is living proof that the cause of any national failure truly lies with the English-man and woman. How stupid we have become. We’re an Island, we have no real natural resources, how on earth have we got by in the past? I now hope my own people do disappear from the face of the UK, the real cancer of this planet is us. Listen to other people and see them as Equals, they have learned much whilst you were sleeping.
Posted by Simon Hogg on November 17, 2007 2:09 PM
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Miranda, the sheer stupidity of your comment only accentuates the common perception of the indigenous Brit as a poorly informed, uneducated bigot.

If you can define democracy and then prove to me that it has actually ever worked in its purest form in Britain than I will eat my words. As for Indians pandering to British opinion regarding their reputation, I’m afraid the relationship dynamic is very different in 2007. We will determine what you can and cannot do, and we will determine it in your country whether you like it or not. The economical well-being of the country, it’s health service, and the emphasis on high moral values and standards are massively and disproportionately reliant on people from India. Write us off at your peril.
Posted by Jasdev Singh on November 17, 2007 1:52 PM
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Labour was peopled by trash which attracted trash. Now Britain and the British count the cost. Every society needs a highly principled and cultured elite. Labour got rid of it and started stealing. Being envious of the elite, that type always steals. Left wing journalism pandering to Labour for nearly 50 years has a lot to answer for the exodus of the decent ordinary Brit. But now….even it is frightened.
Posted by Once again on November 17, 2007 1:26 PM
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The quality of life in recent years has changed
for the worst for most people in the UK and you
can’t deny it. The 50s were an idyll living out in
the country as i did but the corporate
steamroller has squeezed out the soul of the
British now so they have become automatons,
believing, thinking, living and spending how they
have been told to. Just like the Americans. Greed
has motivated much of this change that I’ve seen
in 50 years. Where is the edge now? Where are
the people who live for a principle not just for
the latest 4×4 and the new IKEA interior for their
bathroom. I got out because I just couldn’t afford
to pay council tax which was keeping the council
workers’ pension fund topped up, not mine.
Sooner or later everyone will meet their crunch
point and have to decide whether a life in
Bulgaria is more possible than a non-life in dear
old Blighty.
Posted by Mike Martin on November 17, 2007 1:18 PM
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I left for a better quality of life and a higher income, in Lithuania (though my work is in other Eastern European countries). In the UK on a civil servant salary I was struggling to get buy, had lots of up to the limit credit cards and could not afford to go to concerts which I like to do. The health service was terrible and I knew that much of what came out of the government is just hot air.

For nearly 7 years I have lived abroad; when I am in Lithuania I go to concerts 5 times a week; the private health service is so cheap that I don’t even bother claiming expenses back from Bupa, most of the time. Paid off my debts in no time; bought some flats. My UK pension such as it is will continue to rise in any EU member state. The tax and social insurance systems are a bit complicated, and racism and homophobia are at high levels, but no-where is perfect.

My son left for Germany for a better quality of life, and he sure found it, even with a lower income.
Posted by beatevilnius on November 17, 2007 1:16 PM
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see above… we aren’t even allowed to show the Nativity story in it orginal form…

If we can’t shows our religion and values people will leave. There are other christian countries out there. “Britain” isn’t one of them
Posted by Cloe on November 17, 2007 12:44 PM
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1. Britain rapidly turning into a police state.

2. Populace more interested in reading celeb
mags and watching Soaps than the above.

3. Police more interested in targets ie speeding
motorists than catching real criminals

4. Labour govt making one feel a foreigner in his
own land,

5, Government lies, incompetence and
corruption

6, Unlimited immigration

7, High taxes

8. Endless property programmes on TV
Posted by Ex Pat on November 17, 2007 12:27 PM
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… because everything that made this country great, and a civilized example to the whole world, is being completely destroyed. White British are treated as second class citizens in their own country, whilst degenerates, low-lifes, parasites and criminals flood to these shores and are welcomed with open arms by self-serving cowards and fifth-columnists. I will definitely be voting for BNP. That we are expected to believe our lives are being ‘enriched by multiculturalism’ is an utter insult. See the victims of crime and people forced to live in fear to see how ‘enriched’ we are. It is an insult to everything this (once great now brought to its knees by political correctness, liars and cowards) country once stood for – our ancestors would never believe what has happened here. To think that people gave up their lives for this. Now we are on the brink of a new dark age, yet there is still no sensible debate on immigration, let alone the strong action which is absolutely imperative if we are to avert total disaster. Enoch was right and we all know it.
Posted by W Kurtz on November 17, 2007 12:24 PM
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Until we the British people can hold those politicians responsible for the deliberate destruction that continues day in day out without even a mandate on the most crucial demographic changes forced on us(mass immigration & the EU constitution) then people will show their disgust by leaving these shores not voting or disobeying those unjust alien laws.Hopefully a mass scale lynching of mob rule against those lying political elite will come to pass otherwise we are done for as a nation. We are sick to the back teeth of feeling powerless & justice only now awaits those traitors of the 3 main parties who resided in power treating us Brits as 2nd class citizen in our own lands.
Posted by Aiddy on November 17, 2007 12:15 PM
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I too feel the anger and bitterness expressed in many of these posts. We have been betrayed by the political establishment – I’m especially sickened by the Labour Govt. who systematically act against our interests.

But I don’t agree there is no hope. Be angry, but become active and find out what you can do to fight back.
Posted by Jack on November 17, 2007 12:11 PM
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We are being swamped, nay drowned by foreign cultures, foreign customs, foreign languages, foreign religions, human rights, political correctness, do-gooders etc.
We have a government, local included, which many believe favours the rights of Muslims, EU work-seekers, Iranians, Iraqis, Somalis (over 80% of Somalis are on benefits – story in national press recently) and many others above those of the indigenous population. Until very recently anyone who has raised the immigration issue has been labelled racist and hounded by the Guardianista and BBC wolf packs. All the media have been shamelessly lacking in investigating and revealing the facts regarding the number of aliens entering the country. Teachers and tutors have been afraid to speak out concerning the number of foreign pupils unable to speak the English language they have been expected to teach, and which is obviously detrimental to our own children. It is also true that medical professionals have experienced similar problems with the number of foreigners that have they have to cater for, again at a cost to the native population.
Bottler Brown, our Prime Minister, growls a lot but is effectively neutered by his subservience and slavishness to EU diktats. The leader of the opposition, ‘call me Dave’ shows signs of life but is so afraid of his party being labelled racist he fails to go for Brown’s jugular on immigration and other issues where he is vulnerable. Hopefully he will realise where the votes are and act accordingly.
The police post McPherson have been brutally emasculated, their wounds are still weeping and hurting; in short they are unable to carry out their true communal obligations for fear of being prosecuted themselves if they stray offline. The racial card is played against them continuously; unfortunately to great effect. I would prefer to have a few brutal coppers than the many brutal criminals spawned by our soft judicial system, the police might then at least be on equal terms with their adversaries.
Teachers are unable to educate because their authority in the classroom has been negated. Parents are either unwilling or unable to chastise wayward offspring, probably due to fear of prosecution if they are a little heavy-handed.
Children have no fear of authority – most of us are familiar with cases where juveniles have committed numerous offences in their locality before being brought to court, then the punishment handed out is an ASBO (which to many of the offenders is a must have badge of honour). The establishments, particularly the local councils then trumpet the success of a conviction which came too late, was much too lenient and in the eyes of most of the community holds them up to ridicule. The courts and police should be able to act and punish much sooner.
In conclusion the people who are leaving the country are not, as some would have us believe leaving for a sunnier climate, they are leaving because they are losing their historical rights, their culture, their way of life. They are disgusted. The Jerusalem that was builded here is being torn down brick by brick.
Posted by A L Ferris on November 17, 2007 11:47 AM
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It beggers belief to read some comments here from people who accuse Britain of being a racist, unfriendly bigoted country.
Just remember your words the next time there is a disaster in the world and the money starts to pour out from this terrible country!
I for one am glad that those who are the real bigots here have left our counrty.
Don’t ever come back!
Posted by Annie Burns on November 17, 2007 10:57 AM
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This system of government which treast the public like an alien race has turned it’s back to the public they are employed to serve and has turned their CCTV cameras on us. It’s about time we turned on them instead of impotently whinging.
Posted by PAUL on November 17, 2007 10:15 AM
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People still “vote” with their feet, it seems.
Posted by Lou Coatney (1st Alamein – game) on November 17, 2007 9:58 AM
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Why are all these people who have left the country still reading the Daily telegraph? Are they homesick?
Posted by David Hulse on November 17, 2007 9:54 AM
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Because the country I grew up in has gone forever. Why? I never wanted it to.
Mass immigration for the benefit of the super-rich, the concreting over of the countryside and an elitist political class who rule and supress the population, not represent them.
Posted by Nick on November 17, 2007 9:49 AM
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Since 2006 we have been living in a small town, north of Italy, and we are extremely happy: Good human warmth, good quality of life, reasonable prices, good wine, fresh fish and meat, plenty of all sorts of fruit that are not sold in England, excellent restaurants “avec une tres bonne cuisine”.
Why we left England for Italy?
It is maibly for the following reason:
1. We hated Blair who, in the end became a dictator. We welcomed his first election and thanked him for getting us rid of Margaret Thatcher and her dreadful era. But then he turned out to be worse.
2. The quality of living in England is very poor. Expensive and tastless food offered in restaurants. In Reading where we used to live, there was no fresh fish to be bought, even though England is an island.
3. I would not say racism because every one is racist in his or her own country.
4. Very high taxes.
5. Absence of human warmth.
6. Wichedness disguised as “sense of humour”, with people laughing at the misery of others.
7. Horrible weather: rain, fog, smog, humid air.
What we miss now?
– Only one thing: English fairness.
End
Posted by Ali Hamadi on November 17, 2007 9:45 AM
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Aged 52 now, I’ve lived in France for five years. I left England because it seemed the UK just didn’t have a middle-class with middle-class values any more. The UK seems so polarised: half the population have no home (high house prices, no job prospects) … whilst the other half have no conscience (imbalanced salaries in corporations, hooray lifestyles). Loking into the near future, I can even even imagine civil war in the UK as the tectonic plates of poverty and excess grind against each other.
Posted by Roger Day on November 17, 2007 9:38 AM
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You know I have never in my life voted for a labour party, in local government, or main government.I have allways viewed any labour candidate as a communist,and one that will take away your freedom.There is allways corruption in the political system,whether you be right wing, or on the left,but these champagne socialists are the most vile of all.lib/lab/con “vote for none of the above”,if you do, stop moaning,you only have yourself to blame.
Posted by peter on November 17, 2007 9:37 AM
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It is all about money…..
People will move where they can make more money or save more money.

today britain,tomo middle east…

day after north/south pole…

Posted by john on November 17, 2007 9:37 AM
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Just thinking about Britain makes my blood pressure rise. I left in the early 70s in search of better weather and adventure. Then, many British people thought they were the bees’ knees; far superior to the poor peasants across the Channel. Many of my peers had not the slightest interest in venturing abroad…but when they did, they often got the shock of their lives to discover vastly improved lifestyles and better standards of living.

During the 70s and 80s, I still considered the UK my home and returned often but I experienced so many frustrations over ridiculous rules and regulations, bad service, surliness, and hated the dumbed down culture so much my visits tapered off.

My last visit to Britain was in 2000 for a funeral and I was shocked to find the streets of London littered with drunks and druggies and sickened to encounter so much general rudeness and an absence of manners. I also discovered a rip-off society, and, worse, the inhabitants don’t seem to mind or are too apathetic to protest. Brits have lost their identity. They live as faceless numbers in their own land at the whims of bureaucracy, which goes out of its way to make life more difficult at every level.

Britain’s downfall as a great nation has been an ongoing process since the 50s it seems to me. Then, we had values and ethics. Now as a people we don’t. Britain today is populated not only by the saddest youth in Europe but also the sickest, the fattest and the most inebriated. A new report shows that 15 percent of children under 13 have taken drugs and over 50 percent are users of alcohol.

There is something wrong at the core of the society, which cannot be blamed on immigration or the government – convenient scapegoats.

Something is rotten in Albion. I for one won’t be going back. There is nothing I miss.
Posted by Linda S. Heard (Cairo) on November 17, 2007 9:03 AM
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Much is made of the big four for emigration, but more expats are finding Malaysia the ideal answer. English is better spoken than in England, the temperature are high all year and the taxes are low or non existant. We retired here 11 years ago and have helped many of our friends follow our footsteps to a healthy happy retirement where any pension goes much much further than in the UK. Golf today (Saturday) was only GBP5 per round. If you really want to consider leaving the UK, then do please consider Malaysia.
Posted by Robert Holland on November 17, 2007 8:53 AM
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Surely the question is answered by the headlines
about “Fortress Britain” which appeared in the press
a couple of days ago.

What next, an exit visa?
Posted by Simon Whyld on November 17, 2007 8:46 AM
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I bet most of the migrating Brits are English. What else can we expect after a decade and more of New Labour Anglophobia and misrule by a minority from north of the border?!
Posted by Rupert on November 17, 2007 8:31 AM
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I take it that folks don’t think too much of NuLabour or the LibDims. sorry – slip of the keyboard.

Remember – VOTE UKIP next time and every time.
Posted by TESS NASH on November 17, 2007 8:27 AM
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Would the Editor please consider printing out these comments and sending them to Downing Street?

653 (at time of writing) can’t ALL be wrong.

IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS WILLING TO LISTEN TO US?
Posted by jakman on November 17, 2007 7:14 AM
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I left, with sadness, in 1981 and have no regrets. I’m not bothered about being rich or famous but I wanted to make a contribution to education. I achieved my life’s dreams in New Zealand and still try in UK and USA (but am hopeful of Ukraine). I’ve never received a satisfactory response from UK administrators or politicians in 40 years of writing and that really says it all. Tragic really and said with sadness and not any satisfaction.
Posted by Dr David Mollet on November 17, 2007 6:20 AM
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I have been reading all these articles about why people are leaving the U.K.and one of the main issues sem to be P.C.One letter said you couldn’t say Christmas tree ,it had to be Holiday tree.For goodness sake ,who said you CAN”T say Christmas trees.Just say it,you cannot be jailed or fined ,just say it.Why do you Brits seem to comply so easily with everything that is thrown at you? Have you all stopped thinking for yourselves!From one who emigrated years ago.
Posted by G.Parker on November 17, 2007 6:14 AM
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Why I left Britain – to get away from miserable moaners. Reading this blog it was the right decison. For some odd reasons Brits think only Britain has problems. They really do have to get out more and when out open their eyes. The grass really is the same shade of green everywhere else.
Posted by Ian on November 17, 2007 5:35 AM
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We left the UK for California in 1998. Best move we ever made – Would I ever come back? Not a chance!!!
Posted by J.B. on November 17, 2007 5:09 AM
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I have lived in Australia for the past nine years
and although I do miss the UK I could never have
the quality of life I have here for myself or my
children. As an Environmental Scientist I earn
double what I would earn in the UK and can
afford to send my children to private schools and
give them the outdoor healthy lifestyle they
deserve. Britain is dirty, expensive and does not
provide the infrastructure or services expected in
today’s first world nations.
Posted by Henrietta Jukes on November 17, 2007 4:59 AM
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As an American preparing to visit Britain, I
assumed that British were highly cultured
(probably because my only interaction with
British culture was reading canonical English
literature.)

When I got here, I was shocked: dirty cities,
uncouth people, huge swathes of third-world
areas, popular culture even dumber than our
own, shoddy little houses, high prices.

You’re right to be leaving!

(But note: America is in the incipient stages of
similar problems, especially in big cities like New
York. If you come, prepare to emigrate to some
other place soon…)
Posted by Scott Bruce on November 17, 2007 4:21 AM
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Whilst I agree with much of what has been said here about the decline and deliberate destruction of Britain, I will not be emigrating. I believe that Britain has not quite passed the point of no return and refuse to concede defeat to Eurofanatic, megalomaniac Nulabour and its politically correct, left-liberal lunatic cohorts.
Posted by Keith Lonsdale on November 17, 2007 4:07 AM
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I left England for Australia in the 1960’s and didn’t go back for a visit for 30 years. I was appalled at the state of the place. Filthy cities covered in graffiti, grasping hands held out for money for everything and expensive as well. England still has some of the best country scenery in the world, but the rest is just the filthiest place and the world’s largest carpark.
Posted by Len on November 17, 2007 3:46 AM
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The common comments from expatriate ‘Poms’ like myself when returning to New Zealand from a visit to the Uk, include: We forgot how narrow the roads are, how small the houses are, how social classes are still dividing the population,how expensive normal household shopping is, what problems there are in getting specialist medical attention and so on. For my part, I noticed that there was a “What can my country do for me, attitude, rather than what can I do for my country”. North America, Australia and New Zealand have attracted those from the UK who sought to better themselves over the past couple of hundred years or so. In the main they succeeded and those who are brave enough to follow their lead today and tomorrow, will regret that they did not make the move years earlier.
Posted by robin wilkins on November 17, 2007 2:23 AM
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To: David West 1:27 PM
Sorry, it is too late. We are helpless, hopeless and defeated. The past ten years have done for us.

Posted by Jan on November 17, 2007 2:00 AM
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I find it amusing that many Brits emigrate
because they don’t like the large numbers of
immigrants flooding the country and changing
the culture. They happily go off to their new land
and do the same thing themselves.

Unfortunately, British attitudes towards
immigrants have ensured that newcomers
(especially visible ones) are pressured to form
their own enclaves / ghettos in order to survive.

Of course, British weather doesn’t help.
Posted by Charles Murray on November 17, 2007 1:51 AM
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Sure, people leave Britain for better weather elsewhere and all sorts of other reasons.

But the real crises facing Britain today is the new fascist police state ushered in by Blair and continued by Brown and their friends in Nulab.

Those who emigrate to the US are fools because it’s American policies under Bush which is driving much of this new fascism, although the British Govt is careful to hide that.

One look down the list of 3,000 new anti-liberty laws passed under Blair and already planned by Brown tells you everything you need to know about the new fascist gameplan.

-detention without charge
-RIPA
-CCA
-SOCA
-terror laws giving police extraordinary powers.
-shoot to kill policing
-it goes on and on
Posted by Freedom and Liberty on November 17, 2007 1:44 AM
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I left the UK, with my family, in 1973.
We left because of a stupid government (Labour), and the obvious lack of a good future for our children. (Sound currently familiar )?
Did I have any regrets ?
A few. Our children grew up without really knowing their grandparents.
But on the flip side they have had a better life in a far better country than the one we left.

Unfortunately Canada too is getting to be a P/C apologists place.

Posted by DOMINIC on November 17, 2007 1:19 AM
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I have lived in Mexico since 1995; I am married to a Mexican and work as a freelance translator and am about to be granted permanent residence.
People ask me if I will retuun to the U.K., to which I answer “no”. Why not?
It’s very simple: I couldn’t get a job (I am 45) and I wouldn’t enjoy the standard of living I have here.

Posted by Neil Forrest on November 17, 2007 12:34 AM
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I emigrated to Michigan in January 1975.I was 22. The first year was difficult. But hindsight almost 33 years later and living in Central Florida, I believe the decision was a good one. My odyssey continues……………….
Posted by Mike Sproston on November 17, 2007 12:02 AM
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It will catch up with the ones who are fleeing sooner rather than later , in fact its playing right into the money mens hands, aka the chosen.
The new world order is upon us , we are all to blame . When it finally goes bang , they will wait until the dust has settled and then re-appear from under the stone, unblemished and unnoticed. Wake up, while we argue amongst ourselves they are plotting their next money making scam.
Question everything .
Posted by Enlightment on November 17, 2007 12:01 AM
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We saw the writing on the wall about 50 years ago. It still took us 3 years to make up our minds about leaving England.
But leave we did, 47 years ago, and it was the wisest thing we ever did.
I still read the Telegraph every day, and still do the crossword, as I did 50 years ago. But now I have usually finished it by the time people in UK are just getting up to face another day in what used to be England.

Posted by Will Howard on November 16, 2007 11:58 PM
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We’ve had enough… we leave in January. We’re hard working, educated, economically active and law abiding. We can see no future here for my wife and I or our daughter.
Posted by Willy on November 16, 2007 11:07 PM
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In January my daughter, son-in-law, and their two beautiful young children, together with myself, are leaving Britain for good, and we cant wait! We are sick of living in a totalitarian state where every aspect of life is ruled and controlled by PC obsessed politicians, and councils, spy cameras everywhere, drunken drug fuelled louts ruling the filthy litter filled streets, rip offs, scams and high prices. Good riddance Britain – Serbia here we come!
Posted by George Fisher on November 16, 2007 11:07 PM
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Because Britain is the international socialist’s laboratory for their social experiment aimed at creating a society based on debt and permanent eimmigration, which has done away with traditional moral concepts and national cultural traditions, leading to an anonymous, materialistic, criminalized society held together by a soft police state. This is not an exaggeration, this is modern Britain. Why is there no political party that represents those who want to “conserve” what was good about Britain. Why do we only have politicians who are in favour of a permament process of reform, which is nothing more than a rehash of the Trotzkyites’ permanent revolution.
Posted by Huw on November 16, 2007 10:51 PM
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I love this country far too much to leave it. It’s my home, and the history of this country is the history of my family going back hundreds of years. I’ll not abandon it, nor will I give it up to others without a fight, just as my forefathers fought those who would invade and destroy it.

Posted by Mike on November 16, 2007 10:49 PM
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I’ve lived here in Canada for nearly 40 years. Last month I visited family in the UK, and saw a disabled teenager crawling on all fours in the dirt across a railway footbridge at night because there was no other access. It would be sad in a third world country. In Britain it’s shocking.
Posted by Juliet Gill on November 16, 2007 10:47 PM
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I suspect that the state of our country seems to be much worse if we read ‘Your View’, or similar columns of postings in other papers.
If I were to sit in front of my computer all day, reading this nonsense, rather than getting out and seeing the country as it really is, I might despair. As it is, I conclude that the ‘posters’ to this column are people that always take delight in running our country down – misanthropists, fools and short-sighted, narrow-minded bigots.The British nations are what they always were, and won’t change very much, whoever comes or goes.
Posted by Priscus on November 16, 2007 10:42 PM
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What a diverse reaction! It’s great that everyone can speak out and say why they left England. Many years ago I left and settled in the USA and would never live in the UK again as I wouldn’t be able to afford it. However, when I see what has happened to a great culture my heart bleeds.
Posted by Joanne on November 16, 2007 10:35 PM
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Seems more like we started going downhill when we lost the jewel in the crown and all the money that was bringing in.
Posted by Kris on November 16, 2007 10:33 PM
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Carling 7:09 – IIRC, David Llewellyn pontificates from China.

I wish people would stop using the term “political correctness”. No one can decide what is politically correct except you. Second, it is a socialist construct. It’s a fluffy way of saying “thought Fascism”.
Posted by Verity on November 16, 2007 10:32 PM
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“I feel that I no longer belong in this country because I happen to be a white,christian,heterosexual male with a grammar school education.
Posted by Ian T on November 15, 2007 8:54 PM”

Does anyone else think that this comment is just so sad? Why do people like this feel victimised when they have probably held the country together. If you are not dysfunctional, on state benefit or a criminal, it would seem Britain has nothing to offer. I can’t disagree with this man’s comments because my own experience of British society has reduced me to feeling desperation but we need to stop this rot before there is real trouble. This Government which has presided over the total division of the country has to go.

Posted by judy on November 16, 2007 10:07 PM
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Why Britons emigrate? Its easy because our Government doesn’t care about it’s citizens.
If I could go I would but I’m too old.
Why go? Just read last Sunday’s Telegraph about the East Coast villages being abondoned to the sea.
Where I live they have changed the policy from ‘Hold the Line’ to ‘No Intervention’and at one stroke robbed us of our futures, homes and in many cases our life savings.

Posted by Chris Hogg on November 16, 2007 9:39 PM
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Some comments say good riddance to those of us who have left. Well ok, but I was born 51 years ago in yorkshire and spent all my adult life in business. A rough calculation shows that I paid approx £32million in tax and employed 1700 people in my business years. I took not 1 penny from the state and when I took my private pension pot out of the country to retire abroad Gordon Klepto Brown took 55% of the POT in tax.
Democracy is now dead in England: FACT

Posted by Robert Hare on November 16, 2007 9:37 PM
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I moved to Canada in the 80’s basically due to the lack of opportunity in my home town, it was Canada or London…phew looks like I made the right choice. I was given a chance to prove myself after barely scraping through School. I siezed on to it and kinda living the Dream… Britain has ceased to become a place of opportunity, I Love Britain my home, my birthplace and now a nice place to visit, I have created a life I dreamed of in Britain, pity I had to do so far away. Problem is lack of opportunity, hope or a glimmer of hope that the future is brighter… people only leave if they see no end to the decline or there is a thread of hope for the future… You either make decisions for yourself or someone will make them for you.
Posted by MEL on November 16, 2007 9:18 PM
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Unfortunately what Jasdev Singh said was largely true.

Hereabouts weekend nights are like Dodge City without Errol Flynn but even worse. Elsewhere we’ve had this discussion but still Brits cannot face the truth about the appalling behaviour and violence of a section of the British populace who want to fight somebody or vandalise when they’ve had too much to drink.

Meanwhile it cannot be denied that Britain as a whole has been deliberately subjected to class warfare and social engineering by the British Labour Party.

A few years ago I was having a lively discussion with a Labour activist. When she started to lose the argument and could not justify her reasoning or opinions it turned nasty. Suddenly she triumphantly announced “We are in the business of social engineering and neutralising people like you”, before marching off. This is a verbatim quote and I will never forget it.

Of course, being fair I am bound to observe that this is what happens when you treat a significant proportion of the indigenous population like dog…. for hundreds of years. It is revenge writ large.

Britain’s decay is partly down to hubris, although the overwhelming malignancy of New Labour disguised as moral superiority and compassion this last decade or more has refined the process and exponentially increased the social damage.
Posted by Paul (1) on November 16, 2007 9:10 PM
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What percentage of people have a proper job as opposed to some low paid service job like making sandwiches for TESCO at midnight. Or Cadburys chocolate soon to be transferred to Poland? The Britsh worker….an extinct species? Only 7 million adults not working mostly on incapacity benefit. Harold Wilson come back…..but forget the pipe!
Posted by muggeridge on November 16, 2007 9:05 PM
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I agree with almost all the comments made so far. I now live in France, but on a recent visit to England I received a £60 penalty for buying my parking ticket from the wrong ticket machine. It was only 15 yards away, but I should have bought it from a machine 50 yards away. This attitude is typical of life in England these days. Vive la France, where you can park (almost) anywhere you like – for nothing.
Posted by Roger on November 16, 2007 8:58 PM
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Could I please point out that two people hear share the same name but that’s all we have in common.
Posted by David Llewellyn on November 16, 2007 8:56 PM
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After 4 years away from the UK, most of which
has been in New Zealand, we won’t be returning
unless a number of highly unlikely conditions are
fulfilled, which include withdrawal from the EU
and the removal of devolution in the regions of
Scotland and Wales.

Frankly, I don’t much care – I only miss a few
things (country pubs, decent beer, competent
drivers!) and technology makes keeping in touch
with friends so easy now.

We live in a glorious country that is slowly
getting better all the time – we can achieve a
standard of living that we could not dream of in
the UK!

Keep your dump – Labour have destroyed the
country my grandfather died fighting for and I
grew up loving dearly.

England is still available – if you have a couple of
million quid to spend on housing etc.
Posted by Ex Pat Bill on November 16, 2007 8:43 PM
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two words Gordon Brown. Nough said. I’m off too. Cant stand the transport chaos,pc stuff etc. taxes for bins!!! Cameras everywher.the Uk has gone mad
Posted by c.turner on November 16, 2007 8:40 PM
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I’m on a Rocky Mtn High in Colorado. Clean air, elk, coyote, fox, bobcat, skiing, 300 days of sunshine. Beautiful view from the house, low cost of living, clean streets, good schools, get good medical care, through work. Spoiled! UK seems crowded, dirty, controlled by government, and you have all that rain! Never coming back to UK to live.
Posted by Anon on November 16, 2007 8:39 PM
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Hey! Come and join us. The grass really is greener.
Posted by John, a Brit. in Virginia, U.S.A. on November 16, 2007 8:38 PM
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My daughter and I were thinking of moveing to London from the U.S. when she got her PhD, but after reading all of these comments, I think we’ll stay put.
Posted by Karen on November 16, 2007 8:34 PM
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wow just read the above comments. We are leaving because we want to get away from a country that has sold itself out to the highest bidder. Its interesting that loads of comments focus on the countries loss of identity. Id love to know when it ever had one .
Posted by mark on November 16, 2007 8:23 PM
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Interesting how many conflate England with Britain. Despite the earlier comment about Coronation Street, one may watch it on the telly here in Canada [so there is one less reason to remain in Britain] No country is perfect, including my own, but we do enjoy a generally higher standard of living with much less crime and class consciousness. {those are two things I notice when I visit Britain; apart from the filth} I know 4 people that have left G.B., well, England, in the past year, and they are quite glad to leave. Good luck with your future.
Posted by Michael from Canada on November 16, 2007 8:19 PM
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I remember with great saddness in 1997 when Blair got voted in. Everyone thought it was great except me and my husband. We started to plan our escape financially and in 2002 we were in a position to make the leap. By that time people were say why, its not bad? My family said move back ‘up north’ its better here.

But we were determined and have just been sworn in as Canadian citizens. We have two teenage boys who are learning and doing well in school. They do not need a cell/mobile when they are out and about as they are always safe. The weather can be cold, but the streets and air are clean, the standard of living is great and we have time and money to do what we want. It has taken us 5 years to get to this level but can the goverment do to make us come back….. nothing.
Posted by Helen Parnell on November 16, 2007 8:15 PM
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I think the word ‘chaotic’ best sums up the UK these days. We constantly seem to be lurching from one crisis to another, washing our dirty laudry in as public a way as possible, humiliating ourselves at every opportunity. No wonder people here are so unhappy and angry; it’s as though they have constant screaming going on in their ear all day every day. Our media are hysterical, irresponsible, and interested mostly in the ugly side of life. They delight in reporting any poll where Britons come out worst, and help instill what a poster referred to earlier as ‘insecurity and an apologist mindset’. To be British today is to belong to a low status group. There is also the constant, almost daily, reminder that serious illness, such as cancer, is lurking just round the corner, that violence of some kind is never too far away, that our children aren’t safe anywhere. Contentment doesn’t come easily in such a pressure-cooker. Coupled with high taxation, poor public services, the cult of celebrity and the general distrust of any kind of excellence, no wonder people are fleeing.
Posted by Alice on November 16, 2007 8:08 PM
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There is something inherently wrong in the UK. Lady Macbeth could probably put her finger on it. Every day the press lambastes foreigners and builds on the pre-WW1 hatred of e.g France and Germany whilst at the same time agreeing that cheap foreign labour is necessary to keep the economy growing. Otherwise foreign affairs are a taboo area e.g. Zimbabwe with most people uncomfortable with the Iraq debacle. At the same time talk of war against Iran will not go away but no one will admit as to why a Middle Eastern country is being targetted when there are many other examples of nuclear power being seen as the answer, including the line being propogated by Government sources stressing Britain’s dependence on Arab sources for oil and Russia for gas. Britons are also told that they are better off that others – 4th largest economy etc. – but the fact is that most are miserable, secretly angry that newcomers are getting council homes whilst their own children either do not want or cannot afford children.
Posted by Ralph on November 16, 2007 8:01 PM
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“Judging by the views espoused here, everyone in Spain, the USA, Australia and New Zealand must be quaking in their boots as they await the cavalcade of racist bigoted Brits ready to drop onto their shores looking for a time and place when they thought GB was a great country.”
Posted by Álvaro on November 16, 2007 1:02 PM

Au Contraire, Álvaro. I see well-education, English-speakers (sort of) of an independent bent who aren’t going to add to the welfare rolls. I could care less how much they smoke or drink as long as they obey the laws and leave me alone. There is room enough for all of us to be happy in this great Nation.
Posted by Fernandez in USA on November 16, 2007 7:48 PM
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I wonder if a single person who has contributed to these comments today has any intention of visiting a Christian church over the weekend.

This country was Catholic from its inception and Anglican from thereon.

All the laws and customs of the country were explicitly or implicitly built on the basis of Christian wisdom and the Judeo Christian tradition. That is the real basis of English liberty. Magna Carta was sponsored and backed by the Pope.

A people who betray their own heritage are a people who lay themselves open to enemies.

And now the enemies, once distant, once mocked, are our own government.

Posted by Alexander Stilwell on November 16, 2007 7:47 PM
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The SS Great Britain is sinking. It has been topedoed by politicians who have allowed uncontrolled immigration, political correctness, loss of free speach, rampant crime, cushy prison conditions, EU domination developing from a simple economic idea, sticking our nose into the problems of other countries, the Geneva convention re: asylum, drug and alcohol misuse, and on and on it goes. A total lack of backbone. I am now too old to leave so I shall go down with the ship.
Posted by Bob Lewis on November 16, 2007 7:42 PM
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Unfortunately there is NO party who
has the guts to bring in the tough measures needed to preserve a fast vanishing way of life. That is why people are frustrated it is irrelevant who is in power.

Posted by r brady on November 16, 2007 7:42 PM
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We left to provide a better life for ourselves and our children.

When the idle have all the rights and the taxpayers have all the burden there will never be a good outcome.

Posted by Ex Pat Englishwoman on November 16, 2007 7:42 PM
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I left the Uk in 1990, I am always homesick but when I go back and see how expensive and changed the UK has become I am thankful to return to Florida.
I am amazed that ANY uk govt. allows large scale immigration to an already crowded island.
Posted by Paul callow on November 16, 2007 7:25 PM
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The comments of Jasdev Singh and Minerva (!) in Germany ooze spite and racism, without making any worthwhile point. They really shouldn’t bother.
Posted by St G on November 16, 2007 7:21 PM
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Have lived in Spain many years.
Reason why I dont live in England ?
Weather,uncontrolled immigration,overcrowded,crime levels,attitude towards children,The pc brigade, and the Health and safety brigade..Im sure there are more reasons but would say thats enough for now…
Posted by Mike Jones on November 16, 2007 7:16 PM
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Because it probably really is better to be a foreigner in a foreign country than a foreigner in ones own.

The problem is, where to go? I know exactly where I want to live – England. Problem is, I can’t seem to find it.
Posted by Highlander on November 16, 2007 7:12 PM
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Who in their right mind would want to live in the same country as Abu Hamza and David Llewellyn.
Posted by carling on November 16, 2007 7:09 PM
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Emigration and immigration has long been part of the UK political survival plan: convicts to Oz for example, while in the late 19th early 20th century Eastern Europeans, many of whom were Jews escaping the pogroms or the Communists in Russia, formed an army of immigrants living in the East End.

I live in Switzerland, since 1999. Best thing I ever did. England’s infrastructure- hospitals, airports and railways- are in terminal decline.

Airport security is a joke when you can get off a ferry at Dover and noone checks anything.

The trains in use in many parts of the UK have not seen the light of day in France or Germany since the 1960s.

All the rubbish about terrorism is so amusing. The IRA managed to get London cleaner with their habit of leaving bombs in bins. Result: London was much cleaner during their bombing campaigns of the early 1990s than I ever saw it before.

High taxation and not a lot to show for it: welcome to Britain plc!…
Posted by Dave Smith on November 16, 2007 6:56 PM
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I left because the country which our fathers and grandfathers fought and diesd for has been given away to dross. We are now populated by work shy thugs, we have lost our sense of identity and rights. The sensibilities of the people who live off us take precedence over our historic customs and culture. We have imported a terrorist threat. The country is vastly overpopulated and the cretinous politicians continue to talk about the need for and benefits of immigration. The people who made the country great: the Brits, are leaving, the country will now go down the tube as the immigrants make it the same as the hell holes which they left
Posted by Ged Sanders on November 16, 2007 6:54 PM
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Loss of democracy.
Government by deceit.
Institutional incompetence throughout the state sector.
Invasion by immigration.
Collapse of policing, judicial, educational, and behavioural standards.
Reduction of freedom of speech.
Slide towards totalitarianism.
Defence of oneself or one’s property effectively disallowed.
Taxation allied with waste.
Rampant hospital infections.
I must be mad to remain here, and most of the lunatic asylums have been closed.
Posted by Dave Durrant on November 16, 2007 6:50 PM
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“Reform” Blair cried again and again ! What was not given was the true meaning of the word.

Labour have indeed reformed Britain, into its own image ! Politics driven by: Envy, jealousy, insecurity, dishonesty, hypocrisy; the politics of new labour. And they expect those of us who worked to fund them. That is why we leave.
Posted by Hedley Piper on November 16, 2007 6:50 PM
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What England needs is a para military force that will protect the law abiding citizens of this country. The government , police and courts have failed us all. We need a a group that will dish out proper justice to these criminal thugs that plague us, we need a group that will stand up and fight this government and the nut cases. This is how the IRA got started and I see the same thing happening in England soon.
Posted by Paul on November 16, 2007 6:38 PM
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Ten reasons to leave Britain

1. New Labour (Or should we say de-labour – dont care that our manufacturing base is destroyed)
2. David Cameron (Conns get shut please, now)
3. Stab in the back Lib Dems
4. Alex Samond, sorry you really get on my nerves, and I was born in Alloa!
5. Arrogant Neo Nazi councils – Bin monitoring, CCTV obsessed, speed bump lovers – who hate the people they serve.
6. Anti Motorist Police, who dont give a fig about real criminals (Cash for Honours comes to mind)
7. Health and Safety KJB/ PC groupees
8. “Dont do this” pressure groups (Smoke/drink/eat/Breathe do anything brigade)
9. 4×4 drivers (sorry most of you lot I would not drive a pram) apart from people who live and work in the countryside who really need them!
10. London (what a complete dirty overpopulated tip)! Olympics now that is a real joke!

Notice that I did not mention
immigration, (Dont forget that the English are basically German Immigrants let in by the Romano-British (Welsh) to do jobs they would not do themselves, a bit like today really)

the problem with this land is it is ruled by uttler self seeking morons of what ever colour (Red/Blue/mellow yellow)

And as for contacting you MP/Councillor routine, Tried it on several times, and what is the result, I will let you fill in the blanks here.

Voting for either Curly, Larry or Mo is a complete waste of time. Because there would be no change in policy.
(Sorry showing my age – the three stooges)

While I can understand why people are leaving. I will not, I would not give the useless idiots that shove themselves to the top of the pile the satisfaction.

Take them on. Give em hell, and tell them were to stuff the EU. These idiots work for us, not the other way round. Have real democracy, not this sham of it.

Me, I am off to Helms Deep, and I am sharpening my Battle Axe.
Posted by Angry of Nantwich on November 16, 2007 6:37 PM
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Elwood P Dowd on November 15, 2007 8:41 PM

Wake up, lad!

Dreadful weather.
Yob culture.
Everything dumbed down.
Rising crime.
Roads almost at a standstill.
Dreadful, tastless (and expensive) food.
Laughably high house prices.
Ever-rising taxes (stealth or otherwise).
Bins only emptied every fortnight (a joke, surely?)

If the above are what you are looking for, then Britain is indeed “one of the most pleasant countries in the world” to live in.

Or, perhaps, you live in your own deluded and ignorant socialist world where none of the above actually exist and anybody who proclaims the absence of clothes on the Emperor can be dubbed a ‘typical Telegraph reader’.

Pathetically sad – I feel sorry for you.
Posted by Jon Leigh (safely tucked away in beautiful rural France) on November 16, 2007 6:35 PM
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Whilst my partner and me are planning to move to a ‘quieter’ part of the UK, five of my family and friends have moved overseas. They would want me to put it as bluntly as they would – the reason ? – mass uncontrolled immigration underpinned by a McCarthy like form of political correctness (thank you Trevor Phillips amongst others)and a massive social experiment in happy clappy multiculturalism (thank you again Trevor Phillips). The insidious effects can be seen in the relentless disintegration of the customs and traditions of our wonderful country and the end result will be the loss of our national identity. A greater crime is hard to imagine.
Posted by Tommy Fergusson on November 16, 2007 6:31 PM
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I posted a comment this morning that does not appear – regretfully.
However I heartily concur with another writer that the key factor in not wishing to stay in UK ( Which was one of the best spots in the world) is THE QUALITY OF LIFE in all its facets. These good things I have found living in a small town (5k pop) in the north of Italy for the last 30 years (with frequent visits to UK)
Posted by Nick White on November 16, 2007 6:29 PM
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There is a common thread running through all of these responses. The most frequestly mentioned appears to me to be the excessive immigration. I believe that most of the indigenous population would be quite happy to continue the trend of earlier years: ie a reasonable flow of immigrants whose impact on our traditonal lives is negligible. The current excess threatens our traditions, culture and heritage.
The next most mentioned problems seem to me to be a summary of the evils of socialism: multiculturalism, political correctness, high taxation, excessive control of personal liberties.
Two or three people have suggested that we write to our MPs in the same ways in which we have responded to this forum. I have to say that I have already done that and, needless to say, have received the usual evasive reply that says nothing.
The three political parties are never going to do anything to deal with the criticisms expressed on this website, partly because they don’t believe that we are representative of the electorate. I don’t know if we are but I do know that something like 4 million people have not voted in recent elections and there has to be a reason why.
Personally I will continue to vote for UKIP if there is a candidate and hope that increasing numbers will join me since they are the party that has vowed to take us out of the EU which is, in great part, responsible for what is happening in our country today.
Posted by Henry Kaye on November 16, 2007 6:25 PM
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The only country in Western Europe classed as having ‘uncontrolled, endemic surveillance’, the same category as North Korea and China.

The Englishman’s home is no longer his castle. An increasing number of ‘officials’ who can demand entry to your home. Bailiffs can now smash their way in.

Summary justice and the insidious rise of the on the spot fine. The army of council officials looking to pounce on the tiniest misdemeanour.

Political correctness – New Labour’s coup d’etat of the mind.

The rise of arbitrary justice where laws can be made up on the spot and the burden of proof reduced to the level of gossip and hearsay.

The banning culture and nanny statism.

The death of common sense, fair play, level headedness, honour and principle in politics. The rise of reckless, knee jerk, sledgehammer policy making and the contempt for our unwritten constitution and parliamentary process displayed by New Labour.

Posted by David on November 16, 2007 6:08 PM
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Some of these comments seem to miss the main point – why did my wife and I move to Montpellier? Answer 300 days of sun shine a year, good (and inexpensive) wine, far less congestion, sun, the challenge of a new language, sun, easy access to Spain , Italy, Switzerland, Austria, sun, … why can’t expats admit that they’re just selfish.

PS. please don’t come to Montpellier – it’ll become too crowded! And it’s awful really
Posted by Andrew Roberts on November 16, 2007 6:06 PM
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When politicans start standing up for Brits, and by that I mean people of all races who are lawful taxpayers, than we can move ahead. Close the doors, get to grips with who´s there, respect the lifelong taxpayer from all backgrounds, and lock up or deport those who came here to commit crimes be that criminally or just living off the state. We can´t turn back the clock but we can change things in trying to stop the wave by ending its source… unlimited entry to the UK! Until then, I´ll sty in Spain.
Posted by Charlie Doormat on November 16, 2007 5:54 PM
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Posted by Disappointed on November 16, 2007 1:33 PM

You could find racism in an empty room. So sad.
Posted by John in Monaco on November 16, 2007 5:51 PM
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An amazing collection of comments. Every MP in the land should be locked in a room for a day with nothing but these to read.

What worries me most is that, having let off steam, we will DO precisely nothing about it.
Posted by Paul on November 16, 2007 5:49 PM
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I am 44 now and I used to be a happy person 20 or so years ago. Now I am almost too frightened to go out now. I plan any venture outside my front door to the last detail and I basically trust no one. Why? well do you really need to ask why. As for moving abroad it is sound idea that any one should consider.
Posted by David on November 16, 2007 5:48 PM
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I left the UK about 5 years ago where I felt I was getting poorly paid, over taxed and unable to afford the crazy house prices. Living in the USA has its ups and downs (better pay, way worse politics) and I always think about moving home, but I just can’t see it happening while I’m still working. Maybe when I retire.

One example of why I’m in Houston is property prices, go look at w w w . h a r . c o m and go find a home similar to the value of your UK house. It’ll piss you off.

Posted by Marcus on November 16, 2007 5:47 PM
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The political/media liberal elite in Britain is utterly contemptuous of ordinary Britons. They don’t give a damn about our opinions. I’d like my children to leave this country because it is descending into a hell-hole, but I want to remain – I want to be here when we string up the traitors in Parliament.
Posted by stephen on November 16, 2007 5:44 PM
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I’ll tell you what, I read these forums regularly, and it’s not often that they are as well ‘subscribed to’ as this one.

I am concerned; are you Mr Brown?
Posted by Jack B on November 16, 2007 5:43 PM
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The country has become governed by P.C.over the last many years. Bigots stae that it has all happened during the last ten years… which is nonsense.
Previous governments have failed to underscore the British values and now the mixyure of conflicting pressures has resulted in an international ‘hotchpotch’ that satisfies almost nobody.
The constraints of a relatively small area means that the pressures of population ; the limits of development imposed by the better-off and a deeply ingrained class system will result in a steady increase in the number wanting to leave the country.
I regret that it will be an irreversible process.
Posted by Michael Moorhopuse on November 16, 2007 5:38 PM
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I think too many of these comments are blaming the government – be it Labour or Conservative – and are not apportioning enough blame to the British themselves.

For too long, since the start of the Thatcher era, the focus in Britain has been on earning a quick buck. This has led to a culture that is entirely money-focused – how many parties do you go to where the conversation centres around 1) what is your job 2) how much money do you earn 3) how much is your house worth?

I left the UK in 2002, fed up with the attitude that employers adopted to their employees i.e. get as much out of them for as little as possible, and with the ‘chav’ culture that was dominating the media and every day life. Despite having a good job in the City with a relatively good income, I gave all this up (including the large mortgage weighing me down on my small London flat) to move to Poland where my life – and lifestyle – have improved considerably. The cost of living here, for example, is a third of that in the UK.

I think it is now time for the British to take charge of their own destiny. The average-jo voter should concentrate on electing only those politicians who are prepared to return Britain back to its original roots, and to focus themselves on making it a better place to live in e.g. getting education back to the three ‘r’s, zero-tolerance for drunken yobs threating everyone after a Friday night’s binge, ensuring employers do not adopt the American ‘hire and fire policy’ etc.

Unfortunately, it is too late to turn back the immigration clock. With regard to Eastern and other Europeans living and working in Britain, I am all for this as they share the same traditions and values as the British (religion, festivals etc.) I think policy needs to be re-thought towards those minorities who do not come from this same socio-cultural background – for example, financial measures could be put in place to encourage some of them to return to their homelands rather than being a burden on the welfare state.

Multiculturalism only seems to work in a country like the USA which has always been built on a strong immigration flow into the country. Britain has a much too valuable historical heritage and social identity to be simply swept aside simply to further political correctness.

If I see some of these ideas being put into practice, perhaps I will return with my family one day but it currently seems to be a long way off.
Posted by IvanK on November 16, 2007 5:38 PM
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Immigration, Immigration, Immigration.
Blair has turned this once green and pleasant land into a vile wasteland were the only people who feel at home are liars, robbers, murderers and those who would sell out their grandmothers. There is no pride, hope and shared vision, I despair. Eventually the people will say enough but it is already to late, nothing that is done now can save Britain. They do say that everybody knew that war was coming in 1938 and 1939 but no one wanted to beleive it. I will leave you to contemplate on where Blair has led us.
Posted by JohnW on November 16, 2007 5:36 PM
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I can’t believe that anyone would ask this question! Why would anyone NOT emigrate? The reason being….. a better life stupid!
Posted by judy on November 16, 2007 5:34 PM
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Its very simple, the standard of living elsewhere
is perceived as higher. I live in the US but have
returned to the UK on two occasions, only to
leave within a year. That said, I am already
aching to return. We may have some social
problems and the lunatic fringe may be fully
empowered but, things aren’t really any different
in the rest of the westernized world, its just a
different set of compromises you have to accept.
The only people who will be truly happy
elsewhere are those who are prepared to forget
that they are English, and you don’t really need
those people anyway. Be proud, be pro-active in
your community and write and write again to
your MP, things will change, and the nation will
emerge, different but better.
Posted by Justin on November 16, 2007 5:33 PM
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Am I right in thinking that students don’t have to pay back their student loans if they are no longer in this country? If that is the case, it’s hardly surprising that some of our most educated people are upping sticks and leaving – and not coming back.
Posted by Marianne on November 16, 2007 5:26 PM
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It’s white flight, stupid
Posted by Robbo on November 16, 2007 5:25 PM
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If it were down to me, I would leave tomorrow. However, my wife can’t bear to be separated from her family and doesn’t like hot weather. What can you do?

I do find it funny, though, that so many people who claim to dislike immigration into Britain, are willing to be foreigners themselves in France or Spain. I wonder if they are learning French or Spanish so that they can better integrate into their new homes. If not, then they ae hypocrites exploiting their hosts.
Posted by Adrian Gilbert on November 16, 2007 5:24 PM
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The answer is really very simple. Most people leave because they can afford to. Previously only wealthy people could. Now because most of the middle aged and slightly older can reap the benefit of huge equity in their properties they can leave. A couple in their late 50’s who bought a property in the early 70’s have probably seen a rise of approx 300 000 in the value of their house. This ‘lottery win’ is unprecedented and will not be repeated. One of the reasons their properties have risen in value is because of the immigration the complain about, but this immigration has enriched them! Ironic is it not.
Most of them will find that actually the UK is not as bad as the press would have us believe. 24 hour TV news etc, is making people depressed. Get out and contribute to society and you will discover that the country is really a very nice place full of good people.
Posted by paddy brown on November 16, 2007 5:23 PM
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…..and Zak 12:51 is unfortunately spot on.
Posted by Antony Graham on November 16, 2007 5:23 PM
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It is obvious why Brits leave in droves. It is the unfettered immigration, and the appalling social policy that rewards the leech, the lout and the ne’er do well. I could go on.

One little item conveniently not covered in the report is the comparison of the percentage of professionals and those with “higher education” who have left or are leaving and the same percentages amongst those coming in. I would hazard a guess there is a substantial net loss of “brain power” and a net gain in those reliant on the state. THAT is the agenda of the left, encourage reliance on the state in order to swell the bureaucracy and control the population.

Sadly I predict it will blow up in everyone’s face..riots and civil disturbances cannot be too far away. With a diluted police force, a dysfunctional judiciary and an under funded military there can only be one result, total social choas.

No matter what political party is in power there just isn’t the intestinal fortitude to resolve the problems. Please prove me wrong
Posted by John Wordsworth on November 16, 2007 5:16 PM
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Well, leave if you like, but you’re insane if you think America is an improvement! Our inner cities are unliveable, our culture is in the gutter, political correctness permeates EVERYTHING, our government cares more about bombing Arabs than securing its own borders, record numbers of third world immigrants are transforming the demographic structure of the country against the people’s will… I could go on, but our problems are legion, and they aren’t getting any better. Move here, and your children and grandchildren, if they have any sense, will just be trying to move out.

Also, in response to everyone saying, “Good riddance to the racists,” when people bring up England’s demographic transformation… Get a grip. I have friends of every color of the rainbow, but I still recognize that it’s just human nature to prefer – generally speaking – your own kind. Research shows (google Putnam diversity) that the ethnically diverse a community is, the less trust and sense of civic involvement the members of that community have. (This is true for all groups, not just evil whites.) You people who throw that word “racist” around are waaaaay too eager to condemn people for merely being human. Get off it.
Posted by Marc on November 16, 2007 5:14 PM
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So many have no trust in a utopistic socialistic future. Stop them
and make the UK British again.
Posted by S af Ugglas on November 16, 2007 5:12 PM
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It is so so sad-this country could have been a fantastic place to live…all that coal,all that oil,all that inventive genius….if only the population had been kept to a sensible level…if only the politicians we have had,had of been more interested,and honourable-instead of stuffing their bank accounts,and pensions,and running around with their trousers round their ankles after girls (and moreoften boys) ….alas the game is well and truly up,and all that is left is for the re-assessment of Britain as a third world country.Disagree….those of you posting here who’m think that all will be well…er how exactly ? unless manufacturing takes off again at pay levels that can compete with ChinaIndia etc the populace is stuffed.Me-I’m taking myself off to Greece with my cash,where if I’m going to be poor,at least I can eat cheaply,swim in the sea,and run a little car for a reasonable sum..or failing that buy a donkey.
Posted by Antony Graham on November 16, 2007 5:11 PM
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I am immigrating to Cornwall. We are going to seek independence from the union.We will be out of the reach of McBroon and the red army,I wish.
Posted by banachech on November 16, 2007 5:10 PM
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Happy Sam 2.23pm Well being a departed so called “Foreign Hater”.I have shown this thread to my French neighbours,well they happily dont agree with your opinion of my kind.Sam you do not care for hard working tax paying Brits, who have had enough of PC mad Britain.Well you have got the better of the deal with the foreigners you prefer,Abdul Hamza,Chimbonda,the returning taliban from Guantanamo Bay.The Sudanese child rapist who cannot be deported due it infringing his human rights.Have a nice time and you wonder why ordinary people wish to get out.Bon Chance as you will need it.
Posted by carling on November 16, 2007 5:05 PM
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From reading quickly down this thread, the posters are are little doubt as to why Britons are decamping in their thousands, nay millions.

Quite simply put, it is New Labour, or more correctly Neo Communism.

The New communism is, Cultural Marxism, Political Correctness, Multiculturalism, Mass immigration, War on Terror laws(anti white) Anti Race hate Laws (anti white) Anti free speech laws (anti white) A loathing of ones own being, a loathing of tradition, a loathing of ones history, a loathing of ones culture, a loathing of Christianity, in other words a relentless, systematic onslaught of Englishness and its values.

The New Communism is enshrined in law(s)Human rights, anti discrimination, anti white, anti nation state – in short anti English.

The most important (and indispensable) tool of Cultural Marxism is the media, especially television (BBC) Mindless pap to soporific-ise the masses) To keep the people distracted by dreadfull alarmism, every news bulletin is disaster, crime, rape, stabbings, muggings, sex trafficking, obesity, bird flue, foot and mouth, and on and on and on, all deliberate to destabilise and confuse the masses.

Do you recognise any of the above – this is New Labour, the New Communism for the New World Order. Globalisation.

All politicians of all colours are signed up to this venture.
Posted by Winston on November 16, 2007 5:03 PM
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In answer to your question is there anything that the government could do to encourage me to go back to the UK ?

No.

I left just over 10 years ago for the US, I have never regretted that decision. It’s a simple quality of life issue.

The US is a great place but it’s no otherwordly paradise, it too has its issues, but life is better in the US than it is in the UK on so many levels.

I took US citizenship about four years ago and now when I travel in and out of the UK I use my US passport and am a foreigner and proud of it.

It makes me smile when I check in through the immigration line and the officer sees that I was born in the UK. Frequently it seems that the officer checking my papers wasn’t born in the UK themselves or if they were I get the weary comment “Lucky You”
Posted by pablo an ex pat on November 16, 2007 5:01 PM
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Jasdev Singh 8.36am What a rant! If you hate English people so much why are you here? By the way hating other people because of their race is known as ‘racism’ and it is against the law – and yes that applies to you too. You do nothing to enhance the reputation of Indians in Britain with your comments.

Why bring your vast talents to this country when India in her poverty and corruptin is surely crying out for your skills and energy. And as others have pointed out, now you’ve learnt about ‘democracy’ from us(the good and the bad), you have a lot to give your own country.
Posted by Miranda on November 16, 2007 5:00 PM
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WAKE UP ENGLAND
Posted by phil seaton on November 16, 2007 4:59 PM
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Just read the News Home page on this website and the answer is there. It has some connection with New Labour but the alternatives are not any more attractive. My main concern is the spiralling crime and anti-social behaviour rate. I mean the real rate, not the official rate. Offenders have nothing to fear. There is little chance of them being caught and if they are, nothing then happens to make them fear getting caught again. Town centres are like Wild West towns after about 10pm at weekends.
Posted by Sue on November 16, 2007 4:59 PM
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“We need firm leadership from an individual who demands and deserves respect”- Hamish, Glasgow

There is something deeply, deeply un-English in the tone of this statement and what it is implying.

Contrast the above with the hundreds of statements below bemoaning uniformed thugs, speed cameras, intrusive police, etc. I think this is at the crux of what England and Englishness is really about.
Posted by Charlie Chater on November 16, 2007 4:58 PM
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My wife and I left the UK 11 years ago, originally for just two years, but we decided to stay. We live in the rural Midwest of the USA.

Reflecting on why we chose to stay away, we had concluded that the UK is cramped, dirty, and ridiculously expensive (even then.) We thought about the cars and bicycles we had had stolen, the sneering envy of the have-nots, the general oafishness of adults, the lack of respect from children, cynical attitudes at work and in the media, and of not feeling safe walking down the street – even in villages. The cost of housing, vehicles and alone consumed so much net income, that scope for downtime fun was pretty limited. The weather didn’t even compensate for the negatives. “Grey, damp, miserable and costly” – that could be the slogan for the UK Experience.

It saddens me to say that leaving the UK was the best thing we ever did. In America, professional incomes are high, the cost of living is low and, in anticipation of anti-US flaming, despite what anyone may think of any particular incumbents, it is a very free country and politically structured to be that way. Sure, there are problems here too, as there are anywhere, but the vast majority of the people are content, law abiding and socially engaging. For us at least, attractions back to the UK are few – even the Premiere league is on TV here, while the Archers are available on line!
Posted by Edward on November 16, 2007 4:57 PM
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I work in health care, and allow me to say to you how pitiful it is to meet people from your country, the majority who are elderly, as they come through the doors of the hospital I work in. I chat with them and ask where they came from and why they emigrated here at such an age. They usually have a relative living here already, so at least they are not completely alone. But their reasons are mostly the same: They cannot take it anymore, living on the street where they are the only white people, always feeling as though they are walking on egg shells should they say the wrong thing, Mosques springing up with little thought to what they want in their neighbourhood and God forbid they complain. Most of their friends have passed on and if they are widows or widowers, they are completely isolated from the world they were once so proud to call their corner of the globe. Their belief is that accommodating new immigrants, with an emphasis on Muslims, is the new mantra of the politically correct squad, as they are tossed aside like yesterdays newspapers. I hasten to add that they come not only from the UK, but from Holland, Belgium and France, all more or less singing the same song. This is how you treat the elderly who in some cases went out and fought for the preservation of freedom in your land? This is nothing more or less than a national disgrace. You have shamed your country by the treatment of these people, and for that I do not thank you.
Posted by M. C. on November 16, 2007 4:56 PM
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The last few British governments have sold our national soul. If we rejoice in our culture , then we are racists , if we are racists then our views wont count anyway. I wish I could afford to leave , to go anywhere else and to be able to shrug off this multiculural nightmare . Unfortunately I’m white , hard working , hetrosexual and fair minded . The very last thing that Britanistan needs.
If there are any truly honest politicians left then please present a Bill to parliament which will help to fund INDIGENOUS British people to be able to move from this liberalistic hell which has been created to a.
Posted by Paul Knowles on November 16, 2007 4:49 PM
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If reading such comprehensive comments, better than any report could have marshalled (thanks to The Telegraph), still can’t help the government to adjust the situation for people not to leave the country for such reasons, then there must be even more obtuse fellows in there than we suspect. If it happens to be their deliberate policy, then our suspicion is more than fully confirmed. We can expect more of it if we still have them after the next IQ tests. So beware.
Posted by Jean de St. Pierre on November 16, 2007 4:49 PM
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Why do you people in Britain moan about conditions there. You are wholly responsiblee for them.
You have a democracy but you have not voted out the politicians who have cretaed this mess and elected others who would change things.

Even now there is no real opposition from the general public about what is happening. All the newspapers write the same stuff with no camapign to change things.

You are too content with your big screen TV’s ” footie” ( oh how I hate that childish word), fancy cars with personalised number plates bought at great expense, six weeks paid holidays and all the ” bread and circuses” trappings successive governments have given you to keep you quiet.

I was going to say ” Please wake up and do something about it”.

But is is far too late now.

I am so glad I don’t live there now.
Posted by Mike Eastoe on November 16, 2007 4:46 PM
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I’m a long-term expat, having lived in Canada, Egypt, Bermuda, the Bahamas, France and Germany over the past 20 years. I’m currently living and working in the UK while my husband works in the Caribbean, a situation which is not ideal but becoming more typical in the world today – those of you who have worked overseas will recognize that. I think we have to face the fact that people are beginning to move around much more from one country to another both to work and retire, taking the good along with the bad of each country they live in. Nowhere is perfect, and often the illusion of other countries seeming “better” than ours is due to simply being unfamiliar with that country or not understanding the language.
Posted by D. Grosvenor on November 16, 2007 4:44 PM
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English socialism, or Ingsoc as George Orwell put it.
Posted by Melanie on November 16, 2007 4:43 PM
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Alas, what the statistics fail to highlight is the fact that the majority of those leaving are educated, wealth creating middle class and they are being replaced with unskilled poorly educated labourers.

We are in effect witnessing a de-skilling of the UK economy. Unfortunately, this will have serious longer term implications for the country.
Posted by John Grogan on November 16, 2007 4:43 PM
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It is simple – Britain is not Britain any more. The rot set in during the post-war years with the increase in left-leaning politics and the developing dependency culture. The underlying sense of self-loathing propagated by the liberal left movement has really come to the fore with this insidious government. I have lived outside the UK for 11 years in various countries and I am still staggered that UK Governments have been able to put non-taxpaying foreigners pitching up on its shores ahead of its own people – at massive expense to each and every taxpayer – and continue to get away with it. This really does not happen anywhere else, and especially not in the vibrant new economies, who make sure that immigration is all about what you can give, not what you can take. The UK is overpriced, uncompetitive (the City of London is a risky bet if that is all you have in terms of foreign earnings generation), overtaxed, inefficient and run by the most naive and deceitful bunch of politicians anywhere outside of the US.
Unfortunately, other than leave or take to the streets I’m not sure what people will be able to do to turn this around.
Posted by Ali on November 16, 2007 4:40 PM
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The “real” British people have got to wake up, smell the coffee and start voting BNP. I can then look forward to the Labour Party being banned and its membership from top to bottom charged with treason.
Posted by Jimbo on November 16, 2007 4:34 PM
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Lots of the complaints about the UK on here seem generic: ‘Immigrants, law and order, political-correctness etc’. This is just lifted from sensationalist press. Seriously, if many of you emigrating didn’t read the papers would you have noticed a real change in British life over the last fews years? I know that I certainly haven’t. We have no more or less problems with crime or political correctness than any other country in the Western world. In fact, we have considerably less than some. We just seem to whinge about it constantly in the press, while other countries have more of a sane perspective on things. I find it ironic that people moving away because of immigration are travelling to countries like the US (whose problems with illegals make ours seem miniscule). The vast majority of immigrants to the UK are hard working and decent. The fact that at the last census Britain was 92.5% white does make some claims about the death of British culture seem very silly indeed. I’m proud of my country. I’ll always stay here. I was taught to try and give something back to my country. Some emigrating seem so self-centred that the UK is probably better off without them.
Posted by Stevey on November 16, 2007 4:33 PM
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For reasons that have been more than adquately covered already. One thing is for sure though – the wrong country lost the war!
Posted by Brian (UK) on November 16, 2007 4:32 PM
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I left the UK in 1979 and have no intention of returning. There’s a number of writers complaining about Blair, Brown and Nu-Labour, let me tell you, the skids were in place long before they floated to the top and I suspect most of you are too young to remember the Good Old Tories days when they were in full cry.
That said, every time I returned to the UK I could see the slow creeping rot, and don’t blame the immigrants, I never mixed nor dealt with them in sufficient number to form an opinion. The problem was the continual money grabbing attitude by the Brit. population whose mentality seems to be, give me your money, oh you want something in return for it, impossible.
I would also not worry too much about the numbers that are currently leaving the UK because past experience has shown me the majority will return, if they can afford it that is. I see it here continually,”they don’t do it like this and that in England”. The bubble soon bursts because the other people don’t want to listen to the continual whinging and the only people they can socialize with are their same complaining expats. Next thing is a continual moan how bad the place is and they are off back to the UK, normally 3 years does it.
Don’t keep blaming the politicians & immigrants, have a good look at yourselves and get up on your hind legs and do something about it.
Posted by Tom on November 16, 2007 4:29 PM
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Why? Because, for the price of a garden shed in the UK, (Home counties at least), it is possible to buy a real house and garden in France.
Money goes further…!
Posted by tp on November 16, 2007 4:28 PM
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Why we’re either leaving or have already left? Easy, the answer is in the article itself – ” The biggest influx was from the New Commonwealth – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – with more than 200,000 migrants”. Need I say more?
Posted by Mark (London) on November 16, 2007 4:25 PM
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It’s very simple – RIP OFF BRITAIN

I have now lived and worked in Korea for 5 years.
Tonight I have been out for dinner with 3 other
people, we had dinner, a lot of beer and the total
bill came to £20.00 – that’s 4 people dinner and
about 20 pints of beer £20.00

Let’s move on to tax. I earn about £2,000 per
month – I pay 20% plus around £60.00 per
month in health insurance. I eat my lunch and
dinner out every day (£5.00 – YES £5.00 for
lunch AND dinner) and my combined domestic
bills per month – less than £50 per month (that’s
gas, electric, telephone, water and broadband
internet)

Korea is the 11th largest economy in the world,
there is little or no crime in Seoul – you can leave
your car anywhere and never worry about it
going or a radio being stolen.

Terror threat (and how much is that costing the
British tax payer?) all I can say is “what threat?”

I rest my case
Posted by Carl Pullein on November 16, 2007 4:25 PM
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There is something abou these moving stories of honest God-fearing hardworking white Britons having to leave their mother country which puzzles me.

They are leaving because they – mainly – can’t stand foreigners coming in…..

Maybe I am naive, but if you don’t like foreigners, what sense is there in going to live abroad?
Posted by Ganpat Ram on November 16, 2007 4:22 PM
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I am 60 years of age and have seen this Country absolutely destroyed by this rotten Labour Government. When I think back to when I was a kid and compare England then to what it is today; it’s frightening. My grand-children are the only reason that I don’t leave but what on earth will it be like for them in 20 years time? Everone that voted Labour should feel deeply ashamed.
Posted by Derek on November 16, 2007 4:15 PM
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My husband was made redundant at 57, after 25 years in RAF then going on to be a computer engineer.
Chances of a job – nil. We now live in Cyprus – 4 bed house £160,00, council tax £66 per year – that includes bins emptied 3 times a week. Water and electricity for 1 year £250. Eating out with drinks for 2 – £20. Sun most of the year. Sun all day today about 25 in the shade. Still in teeshirt and shorts and that includes evening. No heating required yet. Water heated by sun. Shall I go on.. better not.

Now why did we leave Uk?
Posted by Pat Boden on November 16, 2007 4:15 PM
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The question has been asked but will the true British people answer it as they should do as which the socialist/liberals and Conmen fear which is by voting in the ONLY true British Party which will take this country and give it a good shake to loosen up those whi will not work and those who should never be here to represent the dangers they do represent.

Join with me and the BNP and get our country back.I look forwards to seeing our BBC back in the hands of true Britons reading the news and not the collection of foreigners that do the job now.

When a football manager sees the end of England as a team because over 60% of players are foreigners that is the way this country is heading for unless we the people say no and go.

Remember foreigners come here for what they do not have as do our people.They are leaving in despair whilst the arrivals are coming knowing they will be welcomed.Patriots leaving whilst socialists arrive.

Vote BNP or never be free.
Posted by David Albion on November 16, 2007 4:14 PM
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207,000 Indigenous Brits leaving? Thats not enough, make it a few million and i’ll be much happier. Britain never was great, only in the eyes of the uneducated jingoistic few. The nation became wealthy on the back of exploitation and slavery of others, and the chickens are continuing to come home to roost on that count. The level of intolerance in Britain has always been high, and I have found very few balanced-view writers who have ever written anything other than that. So if you want to leave the country so us immigrants and son’s of immigrants can make our own fortunes through real hard work and fair play, then please go, and take the other uneducated fools with you, you won’t be pushed in trying to find them (1am on Saturday morning – outside most nightclubs or urinating in bins behind supermarket car-parks).
Posted by Jasdev Singh on November 16, 2007 8:36 AM

Racist, bigoted?

Yes!
Posted by David Llewellyn on November 16, 2007 4:14 PM
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Should our 5 word national motto be “Last one out, lights off”?
Posted by Hamish, Glasgow on November 16, 2007 3:07 PM

All the more appropriate because grammatically it is not great.
Posted by P Edant on November 16, 2007 4:11 PM
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People want to escape a country where it is easier to be white British abroad than it is here.

We have a Government that hates the majority of the population, people who live in England. To them we are mushrooms, to be kept in the dark and fed s***!!

We are to be used and abused, bled dry, controlled and subjugated, lied to and told to except our fate and be grateful for it. All the the while watching our society and history sacrificed to this so called ‘multicultural society’.

I never thought I would say this, but if I had the chance I would be out of here as fast I could.

At least other European states are prepared to defend their history, citizens and culture.
Posted by David Llewellyn on November 16, 2007 4:11 PM
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It saddens me to see my three children considering living abroad as I will not get to see them often. But I do want to live in France – not quitting Europe but certainly getting away from mass immigration into England from countries that have no historic connection.
Posted by Jay on November 16, 2007 4:07 PM
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Blair sold us down the river years ago, now we are PC a obsessed country overrun with immigrants from everywhere,No wonder the fortunate ones are getting out and the rest of us are drinking ourselves to death.

Posted by bas watts on November 16, 2007 4:01 PM
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I am of Indian origin and lived in the UK for some years and now live in Canada.

I find the Canadians so much friendlier to coloured folk than Britons. I wonder why?

I felt very much an outsider in the UK, but feel thoroughly at home in Canada.

The Canadinas I live with now are all of British origin, yet are incomparably more friendly and extrovert than white Britons in the UK.

Is this an effect of climate? Is UK weather really so bad it makes the natives grouchy?

What worries me about the white British exodus to places like Canada is that it will fill Canada up with people no friendlier than those in the UK. That is scary.
Posted by Ganpat Ram on November 16, 2007 3:58 PM
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Why did we leave the UK? There inspite of 2 good jobs we were almost broke. Here we have a beautiful house, with some land, the local schools are good, we manage on 1 income. Everyone joins in with community events and age doesn’t seem to matter. I’m not bored already of Christmas and don’t feel bullied into spending on consumer items I don’t really need. The weather is better and the pace of life more relaxed, the shops shut on Sundays and bank-holidays and there no panic buying. I don’t worry about our son visiting his friends on his bike and the school /youth sports facilities are brilliant. Although we live in a tiny village we have hi speed internet, much faster than in the UK, so I can work from home, no more 2 hour each way for a 45 mile commute on that car park of the M25. and so on……Every day we still pinch ourselves that we’re really here.
Posted by Lizi on November 16, 2007 3:58 PM
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Britain has become social anarchy centre post WW2 thanks to the Labour Party and the welfare state.

Everybody posting on here is wasting their time. Even the politics of our ruling government are irrelevant, because all the administrative bodies, quangos, institutions, academia, the judiciary/legal profession, the police et al are infested with socialist philosophies.

Nearly 18 years of Conservative rule failed to dislodge these parasites and their pernicious influences. They are immune to public opprobrium, unaccountable and worse still paid for by the hapless taxpayers.

Many I suspect are probably state employees and/or welfare state dependents or one of the many who benefit from the status quo via legislation and government contracts(lawyers, accountants, IT companies, consultants, assorted advisors, administrators, all the usual non-productive professions etc.) We already know that ‘consultants’ cost HMG (aka the British taxpayer) an alleged £60+ billion sterling per annum.

Britain has been rotted from the inside out, like rust in an old car. It is a disaster that will get worse.

The constant and increasing surveillance, the horrible paranoia and suspicion (try smiling innocently at a young child, especially a girl, even in a harmless arena such as a supermarket and note the responses from women), the punitive taxation, crumbling infrastructure, lawlessness and worse are all pervasive and destroy our quality of life.

Then there is the abuse of taxpayer’s money by HMG via the welfare state and every single public body in the land. It is not just simple benefits either. How many council taxpayers realise that much rented property is funded by their money to house those who contribute little or nothing to the pot? Never mind whether they are illegal immigrants or not.

Local housing associations are often acting in loco parentis for the benefits system. Some are thinly disguised property companies who own tens of thousands of dwellings. Their executive staff are in my personal experience of one such made up of former local government ‘officers’ and staff. It is institutionalised corruption of the most insidious kind in my opinion.

There are, regardless of race, colour or creed, far, far too many people in Britain. Official population figures are I believe pure fiction and way below the true level (it was officially quoted as exceeding 50 million in early 1962 by the DT).

Instead of creating wealth and driving prices down by competition (the usual result of high density populations with a surplus of consumers in small spaces) we have the opposite here. Britain is an inverted reality where everything costs too much and the income of the average punter is too low.

Personally I believe that many more would have left long ago if they weren’t so poorly educated and deep in debt.

What passes as prosperity for the masses here is actually the ability (and frequently necessity) to borrow heavily for anything that otherwise could not be afforded, de facto trapped by their own ignorance and poor circumstances.

Britain for so many is a country where what you cannot do or are not allowed to do takes precedence over what you could or should do.

Stay and you are increasingly risking your entire life, economically and literally. If the criminals don’t get you then incompetent governance, uber taxation, financial maladministration or a simple trip to your local NHS hospital could finish you off, no problem.

If you are young or can afford to go then do so before it is too late.
Posted by Paul (1) on November 16, 2007 3:56 PM
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I left England in 1998. Having had 40 years experience in Estate Agency. I am now in business in France. I ask my clients why are you coming to France.
Generally the response is the same.
Fed up with UK :-Bad Weather.Holiganism.
Deteriation of Quality of life. Overcrowding.Overall Cost of living.Failing Medical & transport facilities etc etc etc etc.
A majority of Brits in this area (Dordogne /Lot )Say they would never return because we do not suffer the above mentioned “Quality” of life here in France.(In spite of some of rubbish journalists write)
Posted by David Weston on November 16, 2007 3:55 PM
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I feel incredibly sad when I read the comments. To me it seems the British are some years ahead of what’s coming to Germany and other European countries. Here in Germany people are leaving for similar reasons. Getting a low pay for skilled and hard work while millions of immigrants – mostly muslims – demand respect and higher benefits for just doing nothing doesn’t seem desirable. And if you look at the Barcelona Objectives that will enable 20 million more muslims from North Africa to flood Europe I have advised my daughters to leave for good.
Posted by Georg on November 16, 2007 3:50 PM
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Ok I just spent most of the afternoon reading all these negative comments about how bad Britain is so now I will add something positive. Doh!
Posted by Cromwell on November 16, 2007 3:46 PM
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Should our 5 word national motto be “Last one
out, lights off”?
Posted by Hamish, Glasgow on November 16,
2007 3:07 PM
As ever a surprise that such people have noticed
the lights are on.

And to those who object to queueing for tickets
out of my country I make my standing offer to do
so on their behalf, in the hail if necessary, at
very reasonable rates, parties catered for at a
small discount.

Better for the most part to have folk who do like
it here.
Posted by Quietzapple on November 16, 2007 3:45 PM
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To Jasdev Singh: Thankyou, that is what I wanted. Of course my mind is Anglo-centric. I am from Yorkshire, actually, so I know a fair bit about Bradford and Leeds. I never met an Indian OR Pakistani there who was not polite, decent and educated. Which is more than I can say for some Brits. I wanted to convey the sentiment that history works this way, peoples migrate, countries change, we must accept it. Please take care of that green and pleasant land.
My granddad built railways in India, maybe you could get your revenge by building some in England…
Posted by Minerva in Germany on November 16, 2007 3:45 PM
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Let me see: Well, there’s the weather. I grew up in Scotland where the weather really is depressing. So I suppose that living in a warmer, drier climate is attractive.

Then there’s jobs and rewards. Too much clubbiness and “who’s yer faither?” in Scotland for me – still. My fortunes would still be hostage to my accent and heritage.

Oh, there’s the service thing. Y’know, I actually live in a country where – if I go into a shop to spend money they act as if they’re pleased to see me? And no, I don’t care if it’s just an act.

Infrastructure’s a good one too. They actually build things where I live. No, I don’t mean things like a teflon-covered dome (the local universtiy built one of those for itelf – so’s it’s sportsmen could practice out of the heat). I mean roads and bridges and actual ways for me to go about my private business more easily. What a concept!

Ah, healthcare – let’s not forget about healthcare. Contrary to what you may have heard, when I go to visit my doctor (on a day and at a time of my choosing) I don’t have to clamber over piles of indigent sickies to get in the door. The doctor’s a nice, unfrazzled person too. Likes to chat and spend a bit of time.

People were a factor too. Whining, pessimistic, unmotivated, dependent-culture cattle. Oh yes, we have them here too but they’re not on the city council and they’re not paid to hang out in the bars and restaurants I frequent.

One last thing – me. I appear to have had the whatever-it-takes to get up off my bum and actually do something about it besides only writing to the Telegraph.
Posted by John Blackley on November 16, 2007 3:44 PM
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http://www.newparty.co.uk/
Posted by RichC on November 16, 2007 3:43 PM
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My wife and I left Britain nearly 6 years ago and we now live in South Africa.

In answer to the questions:

1. I emmigrated because:
a. Better standard of living;
b. Sick of PC Nazism;
c. Tired of being taxed to the eyeballs to fund Item b;
d. Cost of living (and of property) is ludicrous.

2. I am not now have personal experience of whether the quality of life has deteriorated as I very rarely go back to the UK, but it certainly sounds as though it is;

3. In Europe it is easier to be an expat, but nowadays it is most assuredly not the case in South Africa. So for me, no I am not an emigrant because it is now easier to be one.

4. To entice me back a UK Government would have to:

a. Impose swingeing tax cuts in all areas so that they are back to the levels of the late ’80s.
b. Dismantle all the wasteful quangos, committees etc that pander to left wing PC desires.
c. Revoke the draconian laws, rules, regulations and procedures that are imposed in the name of safety/environment/etc but are in fact money spinning machines or vote-making devices.
d. Either disband the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies, or disallow the vote of non-English MPs in English matters in Parliament.
e. Sack Ian Blair, not because of the Jean Charles de Menezez shooting, but he is a self serving hypocrite who is willing to put political correctness ahead of efficient policing.
f. Increase the pay of a private soldier (or sailor or airman) to twice that of an MP – or reduce MP’s salaries (including allowances) to half that of a soldier’s.

Plenty of other things, but I am winding myself up now!
Posted by C Harris on November 16, 2007 3:42 PM
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I left to study in France and have no intention of ever going back to the UK. Whilst immigration can be a very good thing and my parents emigrated to the UK from South Africa in the 70s, I do not think that the present rate can be sustained. The net effect has been a sapping of the Judaeo-Christian culture that has dominated public life in the British Isles for at least 1600 years.

Of course, many mistakes were made in the past with the Empire, but the rampant political correctness that is so prevalent across Britain is threatening to pull the country apart. Add to this widespread political apathy, strained resources and institutions and the government’s increasingly Orwellian attempts to curb civil liberties then you have all the preconditions in place for a national collapse.

The possible secession of Scotland in the relatively near future is of no great importance to this process. What is serious, however, is the loss of ideology and meaning prompted by the wholesale rejection of Christian norms. There is no point in blaming this on any one group such as gays, Muslims, metroliberals, etc; what matters is to acknowledge the existence of this progressive disintegration and to return to the best of pre-twentieth century values. British society desperately needs a consensus of beliefs whilst allowing dissent over non-essentials.

There are many excellent reasons to leave the UK right now but those left behind should at least make an effort to defend what is positive in the indigenous culture of over a millenia. Failure to do so is cultural suicide.
Posted by Lastsocialist on November 16, 2007 3:42 PM
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Too much immigration from people who come from countries that have no identity with Western values, British culture or respect for our freedoms and history. Why should we feel like foreigners in our own country? A police state full of controlling corrupt and incompetent politicians who cannot manage their way out of a paper bag let alone run a democratic country in the 21st century. It is all sad it makes me want to weep most days.
Posted by Lisa on November 16, 2007 3:42 PM
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My wife and I left Britain nearly 6 years ago and we now live in South Africa.

In answer to the questions:

1. I emmigrated because:
a. Better standard of living;
b. Sick of PC Nazism;
c. Tired of being taxed to the eyeballs to fund Item b;
d. Cost of living (and of property) is ludicrous.

2. I am not now have personal experience of whether the quality of life has deteriorated as I very rarely go back to the UK, but it certainly sounds as though it is;

3. In Europe it is easier to be an expat, but nowadays it is most assuredly not the case in South Africa. So for me, no I am not an emigrant because it is now easier to be one.

4. To entice me back a UK Government would have to:

a. Impose swingeing tax cuts in all areas so that they are back to the levels of the late ’80s.
b. Dismantle all the wasteful quangos, committees etc that pander to left wing PC desires.
c. Revoke the draconian laws, rules, regulations and procedures that are imposed in the name of safety/environment/etc but are in fact money spinning machines or vote-making devices.
d. Either disband the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies, or disallow the vote of non-English MPs in English matters in Parliament.
e. Sack Ian Blair, not because of the Jean Charles de Menezez shooting, but he is a self serving hypocrite who is willing to put political correctness ahead of efficient policing.
f. Increase the pay of a private soldier (or sailor or airman) to twice that of an MP – or reduce MP’s salaries (including allowances) to half that of a soldier’s.

Plenty of other things, but I am winding myself up now!
Posted by C Harris on November 16, 2007 3:42 PM
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Well there is a great amount of unhappiness and disgust over the way England (in particular)is today. I would agree that the three major issues in order of relevance are (a) A botched immigration sevice who, with the conivance of successive socialist governments, have stood back and done nothing to control the worlds riff raff from mostly non EU countries from pouring in. (b) The most highly taxed contry in the probably, the universe! (c) the Socialist nanny state which has just about screwed up every one in that country.
OK solutions? (1)Get Tony Blair,put him on trial, string him up for TREASON. (2) Arrest Brown put him on trial and condem him to cleaning out public bogs in some immigrant infested area of London for the rest of his life.(3) As neither the Tory’s or Liberals have the B**ls to clear the decks of the massive load of illegal immigrants and their families in the country, vote in the BNP.
Anyway, as so many have already mentioned, there will indeed be trouble. A blood bath is on the cards.What is dificult to determine, is, who will win it. If the English loose, then it is Sharia law for them. There will then be time to reflect as they bow their heads in the local mosque every Friday,how they fiddled while Rome burnt!
Actually, Bearing in mind the chronic state of affairs in England now,one should not be surprised that many have chosen to leave. What a sad epitaph for a once great country
Posted by Foreviltoprevale on November 16, 2007 3:41 PM
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whats going to happen to your queen and her family, if no one is around to pay taxes to fund their lifestyle??
after reading all comments, i deem america in the same boat, just more spacious to hide in. i live in a small lakeside community in eastern oklahoma. repossesions of cars and homes are gaining speed. foreclosures are at a high. my home is paid for, there is some crime around, but few or no foreigners. i live well here, and see an end to all of life as we know it, especially if BUSH drops bunker buster bombs on iran. www3 will essentially affect life as we know it. i’m 71 now, so if the grim reaper shows up, i won’t miis the demise of my beloved country i’v been fortunate to live in.
GOD bless the true brittish, and lead them to safety.
Posted by kj henriksen on November 16, 2007 3:40 PM
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People are emigrating because they are fed up with this governments, anti-indigenous and pro EU and-immigrant policies. If I were younger I would be amongst them.
Posted by John Worrall on November 16, 2007 3:38 PM
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This sums it up for me as it represents every public funded body, process and service

A Macro and Micro managed society by ineffective and unaccountable public servants obsessed with banal Political Correctness.

Posted by Angus Long on November 16, 2007 3:38 PM
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Anne Dennington 2-37pm
you are so right, I got out 3 years ago, I too foresaw what the end result of this social engineering programme of Nulabour will be.
There is going to be bloodshed on the streets of the UK in the not too distant future, and it is very sad.
Posted by mike williams in Bangkok on November 16, 2007 3:38 PM
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I live abroad in Switzerland, a country with a low rate of income tax, and enormously expensive health care. But I don’t mind paying my mandatory health insurance, because I get good treatment, when I want it delivered by highly qualified and motivated medical staff. What do you get in the UK for free? A 3 week wait to see your GP, who probably speaks English as a second language. Oh you need a hospital appointment, sorry, that will be 1 month, or perhaps 2 months.. no wait, it’s going to be 3 months before yet another foreign doctor will be able to see you. This is only a symptom of the underlying cancer that is attacking the UK’s infra structure. It simply isn’t able to cope with the influx of non contributing immigrants. But of course none of the Blair/Brown/Cameron types will do anything to stop it because all they are interested in is themselves and power. So what happens, those who can move out and watch HMS Britannia slow sink beneath the waves of unskilled, unqualifed and unwelcomed immigration. If you stay, you deserve all you get..
Posted by Christopher Walker on November 16, 2007 3:36 PM
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I was born in Canada; have lived in Australia and spent a lot of time in New Zealand. I came here several years ago. Most of family came form teh UK – Scotland, N. Ireland and Cornwall. I was able to come back based on this family connection. The problems discussed here are unfortunately the same all over the world. The British culture and way of life is under fire across the Commonwealth. Too much immigration, too much insensitivity to the local culture and so on. The trouble is all governments think about these days is the economy. They do not worry about the affects of migration or any policy for that matter on the native populice.
Posted by Duncan Ferguson on November 16, 2007 3:35 PM
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We were seconded to Britain for 2 years in 1959-1960. We got the shock of our lives. The place was filthy, sloppy and cold, the people unwashed and accustomed to low standards, no one complained about anything. There was a dumbed down acceptance of everything due to the war and widespread poverty. Immigrants were already starting to arrive, they were not wanted even then. The population proceeded to get thoroughly dumbed down by left wing journalism and laws, telling the Brits not to be racist or they’d go to jail, and TV Kitchen sink dramas clogged up their brains. Occasionaly there would be a glimmer of what once had been but the war broke the Brits in every way possible. Present immigrants are vultures picking at a carcass of what was once one of the great civilizations of this world. Only the rubbish immigrant will stay, because his life before immigration was even worse than that described above. But eventually even he will realize the game is up. The indigenous, in the name of multi-culturism, were sucked to the bone so they drank themselves to death – a sorry spectacle indeed.
Posted by Once again on November 16, 2007 3:34 PM
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Is it not time to stop all of the PC pandering, and falsehoods that go with it, and simply state the truth? Hundreds of thousands of native British citizens are leaving their home country because they will not allow their lives, and the lives of loved ones to be destroyed by the invading army of third world immigrints that are having such a devastating and negative impact on what was once, but no more, the greatest country on the face of the earth. The UK is being sacrificed on the altar of political correctness, and multicultural pandering by cowardly politicians who see only immediate possible votes, but are blind to the future.
Posted by daniel Hemmerich on November 16, 2007 3:34 PM
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It is not immigrants who are eroding all the traditions that made this country great – it is the current (and previous Blairite)government. All our freedoms are being removed from us one by one, everything we do is spied on, we are taxed until the pips squeak, yet the education provided for our children is woefully inadequate and hamstrung by political interference. We have smart new hospitals, but people have to go to court to gain access to life saving treatments. The attitude towards British agriculture almost amounts to persecution of a minority by the government, and has caused terrible damage to traditional rural communities. I could go on and on…

10 years ago I could never have imagined wanting to live in any other country, but with each passing year I find myself contemplating a life abroad with greater seriousness. If the ID database ever comes to pass, that may well be the catalyst to make me follow in the footsteps of my uncle and become a French citizen.
Posted by Rebecca on November 16, 2007 3:21 PM
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There are so many reasons you’ve got to break it
down a bit.

Retirees see warmer weather as the major
motivation, their retirement as an extended
holiday (as they’re entitled to) and buy a place in
Spain, not too far from their family in GB.

Britons who move to Asia, Africa, Latin America
seem at pains to prove how fantastically broad-
minded they are – they engage so damn fully
with their chosen locale that their main pleasure
is scorning other English people who move
abroad but don’t change their name, turn
Buddhist and become ‘at-one’ with a third-world
culture, discarding any notion they might be
English, after a week. If they saw you helpless
and stranded, the only other Western face within
a thousand miles, they’d ignore you and go back
to eating beetles with chopsticks. These people
move abroad because they hate other English
people. Especially the kind of English person
who moves abroad.

The Britons who move to E.Europe/Germany/
Russia are universal with their praise of the
hard-working, brilliant, intelligent, clever,
friendly, fantastic, amazing peoples they find
there. Like the group of Britons above, they live
to contrast the brilliance of the people in their
new habitat with the inadequacy of the people
they dislike – indigenous English.

Britons who move to France like the tranquil
aspect that they associate with England pre-’97,
or certainly of 20,30 years ago. A gentler pace
of life and an appreciation of simple rural-esque
pleasures. People who move to the 5,6,7,8eme
arrondissements in Paris are just damn lucky
bastards who appreciate living in the most
beautiful city on Earth.

Britons who move to Aus & NZ are looking for a
“better quality of life” as vague as that sounds,
for their children as well as themselves. They
like ‘England’ as an ideal, but hate the way it has
become & are pessimistic about its future.
They’ve chosen to move to a Western, nominally
Christian, Anglo-Saxon culture which resembles
England/GB to a fair degree but is its own
country and proud of it. Aus has neither the
insecurity or the apologist mindset of GB and
Britons who are sick of apologizing for
everything rightly see it as a place where they
and their children won’t have to. Good choice,
people.

Britons who move to Canada are those who
couldn’t get into the USA.

The British media seems determined that every
Briton who moved abroad did so only for reasons
of employment, house prices and other purely
mercenary economic considerations. The truth is
many did so not only because they were
searching for a way out, a life change and, to
some degree, an escape from a sense of despair
and disillusionment with life in modern Britain.

The far more interesting question is why in poll
after poll 70-90% (presumably all the indigenous
Britons, specifically Englishmen/women) express
a strong desire to emigrate given the
opportunity.

Many of those reasons are same old, same old,
but the top ones are really the ones that are
unprintable – even here in the only newspaper
which does its best not to edit readers’
comments.

People like to feel comfortable in their own
homes, communities, town and countries.

We all know it was better for our day-to-day
contentment when differences existed between
countries, not within them.

Is England still England if all the English people
have left?
Posted by xxxCORRECTxxx on November 16, 2007 3:20 PM
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One thing I have noticed increasingly over time is the sheer visual ugliness and mental stress of making any trip across urban England. The streets are literally crammed full of ugly metal railings, brightly-coloured, illuminous bus and cycle lanes, yellow bollards, tatty forests of poles and traffic lights, speeding cameras and bumps, traffic islands, security and closed-circuit television masts hoisted above the street on lamp-posts, and so on.

The sense is immediately one of extreme claustrophobia and degradation, as well as the sense that you have no freedom to plan your own journey. We have beome so used to these things, to management and bureaucratic control, that we do not even notice them.

The best thing everyone can do is to support the ‘Naked Streets’ idea and make the streets pleasant and, most importantly, open and free again.
Posted by Charlie Chater on November 16, 2007 3:19 PM
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A recurrent whinge is”the destruction of our
culture.” My culture is alive and well, thanks.

What aspect is dead? Right wing hang glidng? Nigga
bashing?

Do the Lib Dems have a project to subsidise the PC
aspects under threat?
Posted by Quietzapple on November 16, 2007 3:15 PM
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The Home Office publication “Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey into Citizenship” says it all. I left England in 1998 and only return to visit family and watch the occasional rugby football match live. For the rest, live horses wouldn´t drag me back.
Posted by T.W. (Spain) on November 16, 2007 3:13 PM
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To Jasdev Singh:
England had an empire because it was great; it was not great because it had an empire. You need to understand we colonised your ancestors out of pity, not for economic advantage. By and large your sort always were a drain on us. We see this phenomenon continuing today with all of the handouts you are showered with by our traitorous elite.And as for your help in the second world war, let’s not mention how many of you fought on the Japanese side – shhhhhh.

As far as indigenous people not leaving in high enough numbers goes: if emigration did really take off then the country would eventually be populated by a residue of newcomers. Then it would be just like….let me look into my crystal ball….what you came from! A dusty,culturally backward bolthole that you would be desperate to leave from.You would have to be a good chap and promise not to follow us!

Posted by Derek Vickers on November 16, 2007 3:12 PM
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A really beautiful country with huge potential that has been ruined by horrendously poor management. They are going because it is painful to witness and they feel they no longer belong.

Our children are growing up in a violent society with an absence of morals and a poor education. We too plan to go soon, good UK police officers are in demand in other parts of the world. Hopefully somewhere else the criminal justice system will work and the job will feel worthwhile.
Posted by Helen on November 16, 2007 3:12 PM
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“However, the Spanish and French complain about this massive influx
of around one million wealthy Brits, mainly English, who have bought up land and properties and retreated into their own enclaves, do not take part in the local community and refuse to learn the language! Sound familiar?”

Posted by Mr. Lachie Todd on November 16, 2007 9:20 AM
I hear very little complaint about wealthy immigrants who come to this country with sufficient resources of their own to buy their own homes, thus injecting a large amount of money into the local economy, so no, it doesn’t really sound familiar.

Posted by Matt, London on November 16, 2007 3:11 PM
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If the posts by the majority of ex pats on this thread are any indication of the sort of people who are leaving the country then surely the only reaction can be good riddance. Maybe those of us who think that this is a great country that is finally starting to improve after years of neglect can bond together with the new arrivals to create a happy, vibrant and successful place without the constant whining of the “I’m British so everyone owes me” brigade that have decided to inflict themselves on other poor countries (where, I suspect they mostly live in little British enclaves, don’t learn the local language and spend their time reading the British press and complaining about “foreigners taking over our country”).
Posted by Natasha on November 16, 2007 3:08 PM
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damn if you all complain about taxes, incompetent politicians and above all immigrants why do you all want to go to France ??
When i read all your comments i feel like in a french newspaper
Posted by xavier on November 16, 2007 3:08 PM
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Should our 5 word national motto be “Last one out, lights off”?
Posted by Hamish, Glasgow on November 16, 2007 3:07 PM
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I hope both Labour and the Conservatives
get a copy of these comments. They’ll
ignore them of course but at their own
peril.
Posted by Kate on November 16, 2007 3:07 PM
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Is Britain worse than the mess Britain is helping to make in Iraq and may make in Iran in the near future?
If not, thank your lucky stars because that is what you deserve for allowing Blair and maybe Brown to help destroy those countries.
Posted by Tim on November 16, 2007 3:00 PM
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Sad isn’t it when your parents turn round to you and say they are glad they are on their way out……… thanks Labour, you really have destroyed a once beautiful Country.
Posted by Karen on November 16, 2007 2:59 PM
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E Craig 2:36 – You have written nonsense on stilts. We have 150 years of proven reserves. This comes from actual oil and gas publications, not lefty moonbats with an anti-progress/anti-capitalism One Worlder agenda.

We will have switched away from petroleum and Riyadh will have been covered by the shifting sands of the Sahara long before that day.
Posted by Verity on November 16, 2007 2:58 PM
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E. Craig “Now that no-one can grow their own food .. ”

Why not ?
Posted by Stan on November 16, 2007 2:56 PM
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Should you head for the continent – you better make sure you don’t rely on taking the trains as two major countries there suffer from endless strikes. However- be warned if you take the car because speed cameras are not painted in orange and warning signs are not put up as this is regared as counterproductive. As for useless governments: The German MPs have just granted themselves ample pay rises and decided to establish new quangos worth 6 Mio Euro a year in personel costs alone. The French are too busy striking whilst they voted for a President who wants to be chum with Bush (Putin got him drunk on their first date) and in Spain you must count yourself lucky if the council doesn’t decide to pull your house down because it was built (not by you) illegaly. As for the US: I hope you are not trying to make a living in the property markets in the West of the financial markets in the East and I hope you prepared to put on a few stone.
It is not really that much better in other places in the world but when your mindset is stuck between Eastenders and The Daily Mail I can see why some would come to think it’s rubbish here.
Posted by Puni on November 16, 2007 2:52 PM
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One of the reasons driving people abroad is unfettered immigration. The UK, or more to the point England, as that is where most immigrants settle, is a small country, with limited resources and a worn out infrastructure. I know of many newly retired people who had much to offer but are being driven out as they see their quality of life deteriorate. There is evidence that newly qualified people – engineers, doctors and other professionals are also leaving. The people that this country needs are throwing in the towel and getting out. They take with them their skills and their assets. You cannot balance the equation of this coming in with those leaving- as the Government’s tame think tank (IPPR) proposes. This ‘revolving door’ is nothing to celebrate. – It is another part of Blairs legacy – as he signed up to the Social Chapter and human rights legislation in 1997 without thinking through the consequences.
Tim Black

Posted by T M J Black on November 16, 2007 2:51 PM
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I was born in England, I am an English Woman, and I USED to love England. England is my home, and I always said that I would never leave. Now? first opportunity I get, I’m off.

I hate this country. I feel like a foreigner in my own country. I am sick of some patronising moron in government apologising on my behalf for something that happened in the past. That’s why it’s called history.
I cannot have a cigarette with my vodka and tonic because I am considered to be a social pariah. A packet of cigarettes in Lanzarote costs 80p, here it’s £4.80. People are taxed to the hilt. Alcohol is going to be the next thing.

We are now even subsidising Scotland! what happended to the United Kingdom?

Our heritage is being taken away from us, but if we complain, we are accused of being racist. We bend over backwards to accomodate everybody in this country, bar the one’s that matter – the indigenous population and the people that pay all the taxes.

I forsee a return of the riots that dogged the 80’s, and I cannot say I am surprised. Neither should anybody else be.
Posted by Anne Dennington on November 16, 2007 2:37 PM
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Globally, capitalism is straining, oil is running out and the powers that be are attempting to make as much money and retain as much control as they can before it all implodes. Now that no-one can grow their own food and farming has been crippled, the price of food is escalating. Interesting isn’t it? Now that we all live in the suburbs and have to commute to work, taxes on cars, petrol and travel are set to soar. Notice a pattern? Could it be that banks and international economic interests, not national governements, are really in control? The UK is a small part of all of this but here the average person feels truly impotent as there is no real policy difference between the two political parties and the frantic pace of change is bewildering. (No democracy=no vote on the EU treaty) Also, free services and unfettered immigration is THE lethal combination in the UK. But they know what they’re doing. It’s not incompetence. Capitalism demands new workers who can then get into debt and owe banks more. (Look at the Mexicans in the USA) It also helps to keep the appearance of inflation low when in fact we all know the reverse is true. The indigenous peoples, however, still have a nostalgic feeling of loyalty to the ‘old country’ and its institutions – but as these services (NHS etc) become worse due to too much demand via immigration, this feeling will die and capitalism will privatise these services our families and ourlabour have been bank rolling for generations. Then we will have to pay all over again. WAKE UP. The nation-state as we knew it is over. Buy land, grow your own food, eschew banks and paper currencies, learn how to survive without petrol (we’re going to have to soon)refuse to pay more taxes/work in pointless jobs. It doesn’t matter where in the world you do this. But do it soon. Land/housing is cheaper almost anywhere in the world than in the UK. This is why the people who can afford to leave are doing so. The people who are being left behind (the ones who don’t have their ideologocal blinkers on and work for that state in one of its many guises)are getting angrier and angrier and more and more violent/despairing/disruptive and who can blame them. Perhaps it’s time to put that anger to good use and do something about it all.
Posted by E Craig on November 16, 2007 2:36 PM
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I and my family, born and bred many generations, quite like it here. I don’t mind immigrants, this country has depended upon them for centuries. Immigration should be managed and illegality stamped out but otherwise fine.

Perhaps people leave because of the way the country is run and is perceived to be run. Our ‘free press’ abuse the principle by printing inflammatory articles that have no relationship to reality and blatent lies for which they are never censured. A shame and a great diservice to all of us and the country. Free speach is not meant to mean the right to abuse, bully, cheat and lie.

The Police appear ineffectual, probably because they spend all their time thinking up better ways to catch people speeding. and the Goverment seem to spend huge sums of money invading countries unilatererally that most of us would rather they didn’t. They then seem to spend the rest of their time making things up to justify what they’ve done, thus demonstrating their complete lack of moral fibre in the process.

Hey Ho, I could go on with all the bad things, but mostly this country is still fairly civilised and we like it here, there are a lot worse places. My now grown up children, all have jobs and all their friends that I have met over the years are just great. They seem just like we were as youngsters, full of fun, enjoying life and getting wiser as they get older. Of course there are plenty of yobs, but I don’t think it is a particularly recent phenomenon.

Other countries are no doubt nice place to live as well, I’ve visited plenty, and generally have a lovely time, but talk to the locals and you’ll find they have as many moans about their country as we do about ours, go figure.
Posted by Roger Lane on November 16, 2007 2:34 PM
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Well, there’s a question! I intend to leave the UK
for Australia after I finish my degree next year. I
study languages, (fat lot of good they’ll do out
there!) As fate would have it, I met an Australian
lad who has won me over. The reason I’m going
over there is to settle down with him (whom I
met in the UK, who also wants to go back home).
I gather that most graduates (particularly
language students) take a good year, if not two
to find their feet. So, in my case, why not start
completely anew? Kind of simple as that really.
Posted by RC on November 16, 2007 2:31 PM
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“This country is being relentlessly destroyed by white Anglo-Saxon British people who hate their own country and all it stands for.”

This is so incorrect as to be almost laughable. Take a look at the make up of the present cabinet. How many Anglo-Saxons present among the Scots, Kelly’s and Millibands (?) ?

In fact one could argue that we Angs have been under the yoke since 1066. Normans,Plantagenets (French), Tudors (Welsh), Stuarts (Scots), House of Orange (Dutch) and then the Germans !

If ever there was a persecuted people it is us, the descendants of the serfs.

One thing that may drive me abroad in future is the curtailment of free speech ( “Hate speech” anyone) and the attack on our native sense of humour by the sour faced fanatics of various dogmas and religions.

( See what I mean, I had to censor that sentence myself, I am afraid to say what I mean !)

Lucky for me I read the biographies of the cabinet on the government website. Our sense of the absurd seems, thankfully, intact.

Can you imagine Fawlty Towers being made today, the howls of outrage of “racism” from the Spanish and Germans would drown out any laughter.
Posted by AndrewG on November 16, 2007 2:31 PM
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A few thoughts:

The spreading lunacy of the PC brigade, supported by their brethern in the Health and Safety mob

Ever increasing intrusion by a Government that wants to send inspectors into our homes to tax us for our bothering to take care of where we live and enjoying the rewards of our hard work, that spends money on CCTV and cameras that might see criminals, but which often seem to be used to catch something easier like a motorist doing 34 mph in a 30 mph zone. Can’t ask a pointless CSO to plod the streets and challenge drug dealers and teenage mobs that kick people to death – might cause a Health & Safety issue for the police and infringe the mob’s human right to get drunk, commit acts of vandalism and murder people.

Because of anti-terror laws that are poorly thought out and hand propaganda to the ‘enemy’.

The spread of housing on greenfield sites that increases flooding, is poorly linked to sustainable transport planning, that is built without sufficient extra schooling and leisure facilties (so we get more teenagers hanging around because once their Play Station bores them there is nothing to do – according to them).

An education system which seems to be increasingly designed to refuse to acknowledge that: teachers cannot manage class sizes over 25 or so effectively; that some people are brighter than others and not everyone is suited to (or capable of)University; that making it easier to get an A**** merely leads to people who look good no paper but a re pointless in the office (I’ve met Business Studies 2:2 graduates who cannot add 2 numbers in a spreadsheet). That people some with llearning would do better in theor own classes.

It would be nice be in a country whose Government realises that if it wants to push its armed forces into war-zones – yes Gordon, it is a real fight out there and not painting schools with a pop-gun over your shoulder – then years of cutting the budgets, calling them ‘chinless wonders’, shutting the hospitals and allowing the MOD to waste millions on over running projects AND then tolerating local mayors who refuse a battalion the right to parade with their weapons in case it encourages gun crime makes me sick.
Posted by M Hunt on November 16, 2007 2:28 PM
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Britain isn’t Britain anymore, taxed to the hilt, expensive and too many people.

Land at Heathrow – definitely not England, drive around Heathrow, definitely not England, visit any City, definitely not England.
Posted by Karen on November 16, 2007 2:27 PM
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at 59, I shall be off to France as soon as practicable. However, I find it much more of an inditement that most of my 24 year old daughter’s friends are off to Australia as soon as they can organise it, post-university…with their professional qualifications. None of them has acquired a historical perspective at school, few appreciate old european buildings for example, fewer speak a foreign language and most of them have been nurtured on overheated, overstrong grapejuice from down under.
Posted by francophile on November 16, 2007 2:26 PM
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Many Britons are leaving because his country is rapidly becoming an over-taxed police state.

Personally, I shall go the same way as soon as possible. Labour (new or otherwise) has made this country an unpleasant place to live.
Posted by Michael Peel on November 16, 2007 2:26 PM
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I can tell you exactly why so many Brits are leaving the UK.
Three years ago my wife and I ,both retired, bought a property in South Africa with the idea of spending most of our time there.
We have now been granted permanent retirement visas. It has proved to be the best decision we have ever made.
Basically we had both become fed up with rip off Britain, where everything costs twice as much as it does in South Africa.
We had become fed up with the general rudeness of anybody supposed to be giving a service in this country. Hardly surprising when the population of the country is increasing so much year on year.[Something equivalent to the city of Bristol I understand].Such is the overcrowding and congestion, we are beginning to behave like rats in a cage. In contrast we have met nothing but courtesy and friendliness from all South Africans.
Finally, to put the icing on the cake, the British winter coincides with the South African summer. Also,South Africans drive on the left and speak English .What more could one ask ?
Posted by Peter T Hill on November 16, 2007 2:26 PM
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Since Labour came into power they have systematically eaten into people’s freedoms, those that used to make the country great.

The politicians seem intent that the population needs nannying on every single thing relating to their lives.

There is now such apathy with the government that no one can see the point in voting as there is no real difference between the parties. We are seeing ever increasing costs of living not to mention the taxes that constantly rise with no obvious benefit.

There are also the things the population are not told about that effect the country long term and the avg person does not consider which effect people’s choice to emigrate.

The UK is extremely vulnerable regarding its energy sources and living space.
This will have a dramatic effect on the country in the next twenty years and the government will never tell the people what these effects might be as they would cause mass panic.

Once oil prices reach the $200 dollar a barrel mark which it will, this with have a huge effect on the British population. Almost every aspect of our lives uses oil, be it the food we eat, the cars we drive, the way we heat our houses to the medicines we treat illnesses with they are all reliant on oil. When the price gets to this level the majority of the population will not be able to get these currently taken for granted things. It will have a massive effect on the stability of the country.

All the worlds’ countries will be affected by this, but the small more highly populated ones such as the UK will be the worst effected as they lack the space with which to grow alternate fuels and food which are currently imported from abroad.

The UK will become ever more dependent on other countries such as Russia for its energy and this will have nothing but a negative impact on the country.

I think that we will see increase upon increase in emigration as this picture develops.

I am 26 and do not wish to have a family in the UK, I feel that life 20 to 30 years from now will be worse then present in the UK and in order to avoid this leave while you still can.

Posted by T Harrison on November 16, 2007 2:25 PM
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Oh my goodness. Having just read some of the posts on this board i now want to leave so as not to live in the same country as people who “think” (and i use this word reluctantly so as to preserve general meaning of the sentance) this way.

I am, however, loving the, oft-repeated, idea that people are going abroad to get away from foreigners.

I previously thought that politicians were a sort unto themselves and used to wonder where they were created but now, having merely read the thoughts a few people (whom i imagine are generally considered as “educated”), it is clear that they are not an exception.
Posted by Happy Sam on November 16, 2007 2:23 PM
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Minerva in Germany. I’m not Pakistani, I’m Indian. I like your way of putting across your Anglo-centric, completely inaccurate and unproven take on British influence around the world.

Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, Birmingham. Have you looked into how the governments of old funded the development of those “great” cities? Their (and Britain’s) decline are good indicators of what happens when you are no longer able to control segments of the global economy.

As I previously mentioned, get rid of the indigenous and we’ll do the business instead. There’s a place in Britain where this is already happening, it’s the capital city of England, where the Asian’s are proving that “British jobs for British workers” doesn’t necessarily get the job done.
Posted by Jasdev Singh on November 16, 2007 2:12 PM
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Because England is a grubby little pee-stained vomitorium.
Posted by Happy Jack on November 16, 2007 2:11 PM
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If you run the country not as a home for a nation but as an airport for anybody, then you realise that your nationhood counts for squat and there are better run countries elsewhere.
Posted by Peter Franks on November 16, 2007 2:08 PM
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@WildManOfBoreneo

What do I think? I think you are as mad as a bag of
cats!
Still, as a moment of humour amongst all this vile
posting, it comes as a light relief!
Posted by GlobalCitizen on November 16, 2007 2:05 PM
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Would I ever return to the UK? The answer has to be NO, NO, NO and NO.
My wife is Thai and I emigrated here 3 years ago, the first year was very difficult trying to adapt to a different way of life but now I can speak Thai reasonably the way of life is so superior to that of the UK.
The people are very friendly, loving, caring and totally non-aggressive. Buddhism teaches them to always take the middle path.
Respect for people is taught from the day they are born, so you are always treated with respect by all age groups.
There are no laws for ageism, sexism, racism or religious bigotry because none of these things exist here.
When I get up in the morning I automatically put shorts and a tee shirt on, we have sun 350 days of the year and the temp never drops below 18c, it is now 9pm and it is 29c.
I fill up my pickup with diesel at 35p a litre, I pay no council tax, my electricity bill is £30 a month and we run air conditioning, my water bill is £2 a month. I can go out for a meal for 3 and get change from a fiver.
I am 1 hours flight away from some of the best beaches in the world and the Andaman sea.
I live 20kms from the centre of Bangkok and its takes me just 30 minutes by skytrain to get there, and 15 minutes of that is the taxi ride from our house to the station.
I am able to express myself freely provided I do it with respect.
But its the little things I really noticed, my daughter was in a swimming competition at school, and my wife said ‘bring the camera’ and my immediate reaction was to say, ‘I can’t take a camera to a school’ it is silly little things that make you understand how much you were being controlled in the UK.
Posted by mike williams in Bangkok on November 16, 2007 2:02 PM
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Yes, quite obviously the quality of life in Britain is deteriorating. The place seems so much more crowded for a start. The government’s own figures reveal that part of this change is due to the astonishing rate of immigration which they’ve engineered, and the scale of this inflow means that new arrivals feel little pressure to integrate with the indigenous population and culture. Worse still, some recent settlers are openly hostile to the life that they find here. Our political class seems determined to appease these people, rather than drive them out. Why? How on earth did we reach the point where our political establishment cares more for the feelings of violent religious bigots with no history on these islands, than for the people who have been here for centuries and have made Britain the tolerant nation that it is? ‘Multiculturalism’ & ‘Political Correctness’ are just the prongs of a left wing mindset that might be summarised as Cultural Marxism. Both are now deeply entrenched in the U.K.

On top of that, people are spreading out more in their daily lives, getting into their cars, driving further, and more often. The countryside is becoming ever more urbanised and the character of our land is being changed.

This would all be easier to accept if you knew that our MPs understood our misgivings. But most of them couldn’t give a monkey’s. Last night I heard Harriet Harman, The Leader Of The House (of Commons) on Radio 4’s ‘The Day In Westminster’ as she fielded questions from opposition MPs. Her lame, stilted, and dreary delivery of evasive answers, embarrassing attempts at humour, and all-round mediocrity, made me cringe. And this is what passes for a front-rank politician in Britain today! We really do need to wake up and bundle these parasites out of power. They couldn’t give a stuff about Britain’s future, just so long as they are still able to squat at the top of the pile, crowing like dung-hill roosters.
Posted by T. Hopkins on November 16, 2007 2:01 PM
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Because PC reigns, Christmas is no longer white, Gordon Brown is Prime Minister, Alistair Darling is Chancellor, David Miliband is Foreign Secretary, Jacqui Smith is …. etc. etc. etc. and no end in sight?
Posted by Dave Reynolds on November 16, 2007 1:59 PM
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I left the UK as Britain is no longer Britain. The area in London where my grandparents lived is now an immigrants ghetto. The politicians of both parties have abrogated their responsibilties. Surely there must be some control over unfettered immigration?
Posted by Grant on November 16, 2007 1:54 PM
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Why?

Because the grass really is greener!
Posted by Simon Gould on November 16, 2007 1:49 PM
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I’ve just been doing some sums. With some allowance for inflation, I have paid almost £1,000,000 in income tax during my working life.

That’s right, a million pounds. On income tax alone, never mind council tax, NI, VAT and the other indirect taxes which account for at least two-thirds of everything we spend.

I have always paid my way. Educated the children privately. Swept the street and mown the grass outside because the council won’t. Done voluntary work. Never been in debt to anyone, apart from the mortgage. Never claimed a penny from the state. Never called the fire brigade, social services or immigrant translation service.

Meanwhile, I’ve asked for very little. Seen the GP a number of times, been to hospital for a couple of minor ops. Had the bins emptied. Used the roads. Peed in a public urinal.

And what do I get in return?
– A country I barely recognise, infested by home-grown oiks, aliens and scroungers.
– Banned from enjoying a pint and a cigarette in the village pub (which is about to close).
– A feeling of utter helplessness in the face of a control-mad, we-know-best government.
– Dread of how my grandchildren will turn out growing up in a broken society.
– Made to feel deeply guilty for something I cannot help: being born white and British.

And despite a reasonably prosperous life, serious worries about the financial future as I head for retirement.

Thank you Tony. Thank you Gordon.
Posted by Paul on November 16, 2007 1:40 PM
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I left 40 years ago, I hate to say it but it’s just gone down hill, take a look at the latest Skin head ad, that enought to keep anybody with sence away.
Posted by bernard michael (florida) on November 16, 2007 1:35 PM
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I sincerely hope there are MPs reading these comments..I was staggered at how many like minded people commented on this story. People are leaving the UK because they need ‘HOPE’ – one thing that’s sadly lacking here now. Ten years ago I walked happily in our local town pushing a pram…I would not want to do that with my grandchildren – surely that says it all.
Posted by Carol on November 16, 2007 1:34 PM
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I suspected I knew why so many Brits are leaving the UK and, reading these comments, I was saddened to see my suspicions confirmed. Good old fashioned racism, though with the exception of one man who said he’d only come back if the BNP gained power, no one has been honest enough to say it.
Posted by Disappointed on November 16, 2007 1:33 PM
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Well, for all its difficulties and eccentricities, I still think this is a great country to live in. And I still have a vote every so often, which I use.

For me, the glass is always full – not half-full and not half-empty either – full.

People here might think I am bonkers, but the United Kingdom is the best place in the world, and I wouldn’t wish to live anywhere else.
Posted by Helena on November 16, 2007 1:31 PM
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two words explains all …. “FAILED SOCIALISM”
Posted by Adrian on November 16, 2007 1:30 PM
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Britain only exists in other countries. I find British
people who left the UK 20 years ago or even 10
years ago are still polite, amusing and pleasant
company. A trip back to Britain confronts one with
rudeness on an industrial scale, apart from the
Poles who seem very nice and polite. Life’s better
away from all that now. Britain’s dead. It might as
well bury itself in the EU and finish the job.
Posted by Tapestry on November 16, 2007 1:29 PM
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I would have thought that the answer to your question was blindingly obvious! Over the last decade the imbeciles in government have done just about everything possible to belittle and destroy British culture, history, achievement and traditional way of life and have openned the flood gates of immigration and then given preference to the ‘newcomers’ way of life above that of the indigenous population. Add to that their destruction of the NHS, which they have flooded with managers and pen-pushers, while letting patient care decline. The destrution of education were school leavers have ‘dozens’ of A* grades, but many can’t read, write or do simple arithmetic, discipline is almost non-existant and truancy levels are at record heights. The decline in law and order and justice, were guilty criminals’ sentences are reduced because they have failed to provide sufficient prison space, gun and knife crime are soaring amongst the young, a blind eye is given to drug abuse, drunkeness, assault and theft.
Crime figures are “crashing”, only because people have given up calling the police, who either don’t bother to turn up or are too busy filling in politically correct forms or fulfilling targets! The ‘human rights’ of criminals take precedence over those of their victims in every circumstance thanks to ‘their understanding’ of EU legislation that ‘they’ accepted.
Great Britain was once the envy of the world, but thanks to Blair and new labour it has become the laughing-stock. We are over taxed, over governed and racing towards a dictatorial police state, where everyone is equal, but some (the political classes and cronies) are more ‘equal’ than others. Action is urgently required before it’s too late!
Posted by David West on November 16, 2007 1:27 PM
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So many people whinge but do nothing. As well as whinging here, write to your MP.

link

You may get a bland party response, but if everybody who whinged wrote, it might change things.
Posted by roger on November 16, 2007 1:26 PM
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Simply too much brown balls darling!
Posted by Jim Golightly on November 16, 2007 1:25 PM
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Blair & Brown are slowly taking away everything you worked for soon there will be nothing left. As a large Tax contribuitor and English born and bred i would rather give my money to the French Government now than the british. At least the French have still got the Bo****cks to get of there backsides and protest.So its of to France for a better/different less stressful life, who cares its not England.
Posted by phil on November 16, 2007 1:24 PM
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I emigrated to Colombia ten years ago and have not looked back.

I do enjoy going back to Britain to catch up with family and friends, visit my Alma Mater, stock up on teabags and drive the A68, but have absolutely no plans to return to live there.

Despite its problems, Colombia is a genuinely fine place to live: the people are by and large very decent and incredibly polite, food is fresh and delicious (the thought of a tetrapak of “fresh” orange juice in the UK makes me chuckle) and the cost of living like a king is incredibly low.

If I wasn’t here, I would probably try Argentina.
Posted by SJK on November 16, 2007 1:24 PM
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Clevers 11:51 writes: “I am always amused by the irony of people complaining about immigrants who then become immigrants by moving to another country.”

Really? Always? Around 200,000 of us left last year. So were you “amused” 200,000 times? You must be a lot of fun on a date.

Most of us who have left are professional people who will be gainfully employed in the new countries to which we have been admitted. (There are real immigration procedures in other countries. You don’t just pitch up at the airport. The only one I know of with a ‘come one, come all’ open door policy is Britain, so of course, you get the rejects that weren’t acceptable to the US, Oz, Canada, etc.) The quality of immigrants coming to Britain don’t have the same earning capacity, and vast tranches of them don’t earn anything at all and live on taxpayer charity. Trust me, this doesn’t happen overseas. If you’re unemployed, you have no call on taxpayer dollars.

The other slice of British emigrants are retirees who contribute to the local economies of their new countries with their pensions and savings.

To those who say the government is inept or short-sighted, no it’s not. This was deliberate. The socialist plan was always to destroy the United Kingdom as an independent country by gnawing away at the roots of our national identity.
Posted by Verity on November 16, 2007 1:23 PM
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who can believe this labour gov when it comes to revealing figures on immigration and migration,to and from britain,this labour gov tell us nothing but lies,they tell us what we want to hear,people leaving britain are mostly pensioners or the rich,and the figure is no were near what this gov tell us,this gov tell us only 190.000 imigrants came into britain last year,we now know its more like 500.000,and many more immigrants are on their way,brown says british jobs for british workers,more spin from brown,its against european law,and he says we must train are own people to do these jobs,were is brown going to get the money from,he his closing down all sorts public services such nhs wards etc,britain will end up a ruined economy like sweden,because off brown signing upto all these european laws,this country cannot go on paying out for benefits to everyone who wants to come to britain from abroad,its only a matter off time before britain ends up in recession,and its only a matter off time before the people of britain will see the true figure of unemployment in britain,not false figures that this labour gov tells us.
Posted by thomas on November 16, 2007 1:22 PM
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If people are treated brutally and insultingly by their own government, and impoverished into the bargain, then they will certainly want to leave.

Just ask anyone who fled west from the former USSR.

There are two possible solutions to this problem: A) a sea change in the government’s behavior, or B) build a wall and make emigration a punishable offense, a la the USSR.

Which solution would you consider more likely under the Mugabe regime… erm, sorry, I mean Labour?
Posted by Deputycleric on November 16, 2007 1:19 PM
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I would ask Demosthenes just who he expects me to vote for? I cannot for the life of me see any political party these days that will actually do what is expected of them, i.e. serve the British (should that be English??) people by doing what they want.
Like Sid Jacques, I would be packing my bags too if I was younger.
Posted by Graham White on November 16, 2007 1:19 PM
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I really wish I could emigrate from this god forsaken Country – if I get the opportunity I shall leave and hope to persuade my husband to come with me.

The effect of this corrupt government on the UK pushing its marxist agenda has destroyed it.

From political correctness, spin & lies to law and order (or lack of). I now fear literally for my life living here in the UK because it is not secure here anymore (eg. Jean De Menzes/ David Kelly). Anyone can be killed or driven to suicide because of this corrupt gov. and we are no longer a free people.

No one in authority is made accountable – just spiv lawyers to lie their way out.

Unlimited immigration, terrorists running amok with no hope of them being dealt with lest we hurt their feelings.

Bullies being appeased, when instead they should be exported.

Spiv lawyers who are earning fortunes from traitors’ deeds.

They have won!
I hold this Labour government responsible for the ill-feeling which is now apparent here and the social chaos which this gov. has deliberately caused.

This gov. has trashed our Country – what’s worse is that THEY GOT AWAY WITH IT!
Posted by claire on November 16, 2007 1:15 PM
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I love this country. The Yorkshire Dales, the beauty of the Lake District, the mountains and glens of Scotland, sombre Welsh valleys with cloud covered hills, wet slate roofs, the rolling Devon countryside giving way to the rugged majestic Cornish coast line. The seasons that bring the changing landscape. The rich history that no other nation on earth can compete with. Its composers, its poets, its writers, and its scientists. Yet in this great historical tapestry of grandeur and achievement there is now tear. A tiny hole appeared roughly ten years ago and now it’s getting bigger. Welcome to Britain under New Labour and the rest of the political pygmies. A bunch of liars, hypocrites, charlatans and snake oil salesmen, no loyalty, no sense of country, no beliefs, no convictions, and perhaps the worst of all, no honour. So I understand all the sentiments of those who wish to leave, but it it isn’t over until the fat lady sings. I have hope, life is a pendulum, it swings one way and then the other. There is a lot of anger out there already, and as the economy dips, it will concentrate the minds of those who don’t usually care about politics, then that anger will grow, then things will start to change. So just hang with it, it will be a rough and bumpy ride, but good things come too those who wait.
Posted by Neil Thomson on November 16, 2007 1:14 PM
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You ask why we have left? – because the lunatics have taken over the asylum! The decent, law abiding, reasonably moral citzens with standards have been shoved aside; on one hand by a thin layer of oafs and layabouts who sponge off the system and on the other by an ever-increasing layer of overpaid politicians and ‘whizz kids’ without scrouples and totally insensitive to the complaints of the majority but with an increasingly disproportionate say on what goes (everything!). And again: you ask; ‘why did we leave’. I say ‘get a life’ I thought I had contributed to one in the UK but when I became a pensioner I discovered I was expected to lay down, shut up and hopefully die without making a fuss!
As they used to say up north “Aye that’ll be right!”.
Jim Currie – Portugal.
Posted by JIm Currie on November 16, 2007 1:11 PM
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So … people leave the country for a better life, and this is a bad thing. Other people come to this country for a better life, and this is also a bad thing.
Stop moaning, given a chance, people will move.

I would have thought that a lot of old people going abroad to clog up their health services, and a lot of young people coming here to work, would be good for our economy.

And Jerry (12.00pm). There’s plenty of beautiful women here now – they’re mostly eastern european immigrants!
Posted by Andrew Dale on November 16, 2007 1:09 PM
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And what’s worse, is that can all look forward to many years of Mid-Winter Festivity lights; this is political correctness gone mad!!
Posted by Mohammad Al-Sheikh Hussain on November 16, 2007 1:05 PM
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Judging by the views espoused here, everyone in Spain, the USA, Australia and New Zealand must be quaking in their boots as they await the cavalcade of racist bigoted Brits ready to drop onto their shores looking for a time and place when they thought GB was a great country.
I can assure you the feeling is mutual. We in Spain have to endure the hordes of uneducated, uncouth, all day breakfast eating, chip scoffing, lager drinking, unsophisticated sun burnt , loud mouthed tattooed people also known as the Brits who frequent our shores and sadly make their homes here usually in the Southern Costa’s, who add NOTHING to our society or culture. You see, I bet these jaundiced Brits don’t like a taste of their own medicine.

Posted by Álvaro on November 16, 2007 1:02 PM
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Why are so many Britons emigrating?
Thought I had switch on the TV for a mo. You know, the dumb *ssed questions they ask that involves phoning an 09 number at a £1/min. Now let me see. Where are you likely to find ice?
a) In hot oven?
b)In the middle of the scorching sahara?
c)In the ice-box of your fridge?

All I know is that the answer is not in England’s once green and pleasant land.
Posted by John MacKinnon on November 16, 2007 1:02 PM
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The country is very overcrowded with no let up on immigration. We are losing British culture here but it still exists in Australia, Canada and New Zealand so they are the logical places to go for the indigenous whites. They are certainly not wanted here, judging from Labours policies, but are very welcome in the colonies.

So why not. Those who can do it will be able to escape a multicultural society where you have to fight to survive provided you are not stabbed and mugged in London or your train gets blown up on the way there.

I think they call it White flight.
Posted by Tony on November 16, 2007 1:02 PM
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I emigrated to Germany almost five years ago and it was the best move I ever made! Germany reminds me of the UK when I was a lad. Family is important, social behaviour and responsibility is also high on the agenda. There is respect for police and authority in general. Our local paper lists all ‘crimes’ once a month. This reporting geographically covers one small town and some 10/12 villages. In all my time here the worse reported incident was of vandalism when two windows got smashed in the town! The perpetrator was caught and punished. Cars and houses are routinely left unlocked. One can walk anywhere and feel safe, day and night. What do I miss about the UK? The Daily Telegraph (hard copy of course) and Tesco! Sad but true. Would I ever relocate back to the UK? Never in a million years!
Posted by Kevin on November 16, 2007 12:58 PM
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People are sick of this country because the Dimbleby Question Time brigade have been allowed to take over.
Posted by Ron on November 16, 2007 12:56 PM
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In the course of today more than twice the number of people who have posted here will have left England for good. And probably 5 times as many will have arrived by the weekend, seeking Eldorado. And if the State tit suckers who call those who are leaving racists would close their mouths and open their minds for once, they might ask themselves the question; “When all these people have gone, who will pay my State Salary and State Pension?”
Posted by P Watson on November 16, 2007 12:56 PM
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Those ‘inteligensia’ that claim we are the biggots and racists are exactly those who live in 7 bedroom houses with gates, get black cabs to work and have not been updated on britain since they got their first political or city bonuses…It is us, the middle and lower classes who experience being the only englishman on a train carriage to work, who struggle to hear an english word on the bus to town. It is US who need interpreters to read the foriegn shop signs that have been forced over the local butchers, bakers and grocers that were there since we were born and only now since new labour have come into power are out of business…coincedence…no F#*£~? way
Posted by Thomas F on November 16, 2007 12:55 PM
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Because New Labour has sounded the death knell for all the decent things we held sacred in this country for centuries. But beware Gutless Gordon. For it will be for you that the bells will eventually toll…………….
Posted by Paulnocturne on November 16, 2007 12:54 PM
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Am I the only one who declined to continue living in England because I couldn’t stand the weather?

Simon, Tobago
Posted by Simon parkinson on November 16, 2007 12:54 PM
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When will people realise that limiting imigration is not racist. Its to ensure the existing and well established society is not undermined and to protect that society from workers willing to work in poor conditions for little money for unscrupulous employers.
Our economy has been kept going by cheap imported labour over the past 2-3 years however this is unsustainable and when the established society is undermined there will be a backlash – whatever the colour of the cheap labour!!
Posted by Dave J on November 16, 2007 12:53 PM
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Every other country in the world has pride in
itself and its values – Britain has abandoned all
of these since the end of World War II when a
bunch of spoilt little Marxists entered your
universities and started brainwashing your young
with their intellectually vain ideas.

The last 10 years has seen this effects of this
accelerate. Trouble is Britain has been too drunk
on the good times of credit and booze to notice.
It’s fast waking up to the nightmare it has
unleashed on itself while the rest of the world
just looks on in astonishment that you’ve let
such a thing happen.

People in mud huts have more pride for their
territory than the British. What are you playing
at? How on earth have Muslim ‘sensitivities’
come to represent the only thing that matters in
your country?

I’ve yet to see what exactly is ‘sensitive’ towards
British culture in sayings like: ‘Make war on the
unbelievers and on the hypocrites and deal
rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home: an
evil fate.’

How do you ‘tolerate’ intolerance? Do you not
have any ‘sensitivities’ about your values?

And as for your BBC – no other normal Western
country would put up with this sort of poll taxed
state propaganda machine. Its news service is
the sort of thing you’d associate with the Soviet
Union.
Posted by Zak on November 16, 2007 12:51 PM
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May I comment that Britain has got very very beautiful countrysides…. I am from a fairly rich and clean country in the Far East and have been living in the UK for a few years now for my husband (he is English). Like any country you will expect to find nice and also very rude people. Objective as I try to be, I find that perhaps in Britain there is a significant percentage of unfriendly people. This the the effect full uncontrolled democracy that has been taken for granted. People seems to abuse their freedom of speech. People are mostly pc in a very hurtful manner or plain rude. I love the Far East…where I come from and will return once my husband is done with his chores here in Britain. Btw, I never used the NHS and always return to my country for its superb healthcare services. I also shop a lot and pay plenty of VAT…thus supporting the British economy and welfare services in a way. Don’t worry, I am exiting very soon and will urge any well behaved and contributing fellow Asian to pack their bags whenever I have the chance 🙂
Posted by Cyn on November 16, 2007 12:50 PM
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Take your pick:
# High taxes
# Corrupt/dishonest government
# Multiculturalism (failure of)
# High crime rate
# Poor health care
# Poor education
# Nanny state/lack of personal responsibility/moral decline
Oh and the poor weather.

Posted by rich on November 16, 2007 12:49 PM
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I left the UK in ’93, mainly because the Tories won again. I now live in Europe, and although enjoy going back to the UK to visit family and friends, I can’t imagine living there again. Why not? Essentially because of the attitude of the Brits (summed up nicely by the comments below): (1) always complaining (2) hatred of foreigners/immigrants (and good lord – how ironic: ‘I left the UK because of the immigrants.’ Hahahaha) (3) no concept of quality of life (‘let’s go there for a cup of coffee, it’s 5p cheaper than this cafe’)(4) dumb, ignorant narrow-minded people, with a dumb, ignorant, narrow-minded media to feed them, (5) awful weather (6)the little England anti-EU wasn’t-it-better-when-we-had-an-empire mentality (7) an alcohol-fuelled violent and aggressive streak in far too many British people (8) the attitude of ‘things were so much better in the past, it’s all gone to hell now’, ie no positive thinking!
Posted by Matthew on November 16, 2007 12:49 PM
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We were expatriated to the USA some 27 years ago by the company that I worked for. I am now retired and we visit the UK to see family and friends. I would like to live permanently in the UK if was still Britain. Unfortunately from what we see when we return it isn’t.
This is not am unrealistic view as we also visit France, Switzerland and Italy most years as well. They are still French, Swiss and Italian.
Posted by John on November 16, 2007 12:45 PM
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Is it not a bit odd that this question is being asked by the DT, as though the Government of the day could not give a hoot?

Why has no-one asked Ministers if they are proud of their record of making Britons want to quit the country to be replaced by foreigners?

What Minister could possibly spin it as a good story? They might bang on about the EU enabling choice of location, but its like telling someone who had a lovely house that the RAF have created development opportunities in Cologne.
Posted by Dim on November 16, 2007 12:44 PM
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Peter W is right.

In two words why people leave :-

NEW Labour.

I am heartily sick and tired of organisations including our Government and the BBC pandering to the Muslims, we are a Christian country if they don’t like it leave.

This government has declared war on the English person who is literate, lae abiding and wants to works in favour of the illegal immigrant,the drunkards and the wasters who want benefits.

No wonder people are leaving.

I personally look forward to the time when Labour Politicians are are at the very least imprisoned and stripped of the luxury pensions for what they have done to destroy this country.
Posted by Jim W on November 16, 2007 12:43 PM
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All of the year off students that I have encountered have gone to Australia or New Zealand -the Antipodean adventure! This must represent a significant input into the statistics.
Posted by Malachy on November 16, 2007 12:43 PM
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Britain has fragmented along religious lines. In London we have public pamphlets (appearing everywhere) claiming that the govt.have decided (under pressure from the muslim community) to stop teaching the Holocaust in all schools. This is a fraudulent allegation. Apparently someone doesnt like muslims. So much for harmony and understanding.
Posted by jack daniels on November 16, 2007 12:43 PM
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There are many reasons. Most of them are caused by multi-culture ideas, inefficient governemnt who puts the needs of non-British citizens above its own citizens (look at the last immigrant workers fiasco – these were british citizens jobs). Political correctness is killing this country. Ethnic quotas that re being imposed on local governments, companies etc.. because of that many jobs are being filled by unskilled ethnic workers cause they can’t compete. Those skilled British Citizens are being left out of these jobs.

Too many terrorists and supporters of terrorist live in this country and the government cannot even deport them.

You cannot criticize any ethnics cause you will be labeled a racist.

those other religions demand rights and given to them not even accorded to
other religions (I can’t do that cause of my religion, won’t do this cause of my religion, I will sue you cause of my religion, I will take over this country cause of my religion. I will teach my children to hate you cause of my religion. I am really fed up of this ****). you cannot wear your religious symbol cause it offends my religion etc. etc. etc. .etc.

on the other side of the coin, average British youth is becoming lazy and wants things for nothing. They opt to study easy subject rather than technical or needed skills (government here is a culprit as well as it does encourages this to fulfill statistics). They are willing to go work abroad but not move to another city to work. I recently wanted to change department at my work, but could not for 9 months cause no British skills, and no one is willing to move to this city to work. SO the company ended up hiring someone from abroad and arrange work permit etc.).

Rising crimes specially by young ones. Cannot defend yourself cause you will be sued by a thief who was trying to rob you and most you are most likely to be jailed. Lenient sentences for offenders. as good British citizen who paid his taxes all his life, try to forget to pay once and see what happens to you. You will immediately get a court warning. Yet tens of thousands cheat the councils, especially if they are ethnic minority and the do nothing about it. why, cause they don’t want to offend the ethnic minorities.

This country is doing downhill, unless we a get a leader with balls.
Posted by redjupiter on November 16, 2007 12:42 PM
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We are spied on everywhere by over four million CCTV cameras and if the government gets its ID cards then Orwell’s 1984 will seem like a walk in the park.
I too would be off were it not for my daughters and grandchildren still being here. Spain would be first choice as it seems to be for so many people. (And yes, I do speak the language!)
Posted by Sam Samuells on November 16, 2007 12:40 PM
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Team Telegraph,

Not surpise on why they too jump ship.
When the immigrants jump ship from their home-land.
They brought along the dead Mummy with them.
On reaching the new home-land.
The dead Mummy were scaring the hell and living daylights out of the misery of the host with cheap-skates ghostly kitchen’s ghost stories and ghostly modern history of failures and horrors of the past from the graveyards of different ghostly ancestor’s culture and custom in messing up someone else home-land.
With the host getting kick on the butts as casualty of the dead Mummy in not worshiping God.
Luke 6.39-40,41-45,46-49
Ever wonder how the dead Mummy were breaking every rules of our creator’s universal constituition and universal laws when the host do not even dare to kick the butts of God.
While the dead Mummy trample everyone that cross it’s path.
Exodus 20.1-6
Leviticus 26.1
What do you think?
Posted by wild-man of Borneo on November 16, 2007 12:35 PM
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One can only hope that the government and the opposition parties are at least reading these blogs…. for there is no hope of their acting on any of these fairly desperate cries!!
Posted by Andrew Bols on November 16, 2007 12:26 PM
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The reason why most decent people are concerned about immigration is not because we have a problem with foreigners, of whatever race or colour, but because we realize that the flood of humanity coming into the country will have a devastating effect not only on our culture and way of life but also on our countryside and natural environment. It was so obvious all along that we would end up with a massive house building plan largely designed to cater for immigrants and built on some of the most beautiful countryside in the world.

A nation is not an economic machine–it is a place to live.

There are problems in the world which need our attention. They will not be solved by the self-hate immigration policy of New Labour.
Posted by Michael on November 16, 2007 12:24 PM
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I live in Belgium and wouldn’t move back to the UK, main reason for leaving the UK is the continually increasing gap between rich and poor which the governments since the 80s have encouraged. All I ever knew in England was debt, starting as a student and not clearing until 6 months after I moved to Belgium. I’m actually in a well paid job but the cost of living in England now is so high as to not be worth it anymore. When someone on a 30k salary cannot afford to buy an apartment in London because they’re all owned by city investors then the government should do something but they didn’t so I left. The governments from Thatcher onwards have treated normal people with contempt.

I think in Belgium we are seeing the benefits of not having a government!
Posted by Mark on November 16, 2007 12:20 PM
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It looks very much like rats leaving the sinking ship, doesn’t it?
The same phenomenon is occurring in Holland. The natives are heading to places like Canada, NZ, and Australia.
On a recent visit to England (I am a NZer living in Germany) I was horrified by the general lack of civility, the bad manners, the swearing – practiced almost universally, the lack of respect for representatives of authority, the crime epidemic and the ineffectiveness of the police in dealing with it (for this reason much crime goes unreported), the trash-filled streets, and most of all by the obvious fact that the native Brits are becoming a besieged minority in their own country.
When your home, heritage and cultural values are being destroyed, you inevitably want to flee to another life to start all over again.
Posted by stephane picault on November 16, 2007 12:12 PM
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Brown has succeeded in creating a client state with a hard core of tax-funded voters (teachers, civil servants, long-term sick etc) to support Labour. Posted by Peter on November 16, 2007 10:48 AM

Are you joking?!! Have you got ANY idea what teachers’ workload is, how they got a below inflation pay rise and how it is impossible for them to buy a house now? How DARE you lump professional teachers at the frontline of the mess this country is in with long term sick! Perhaps the root of so many of the UK’s problems are down to the prevalence of uninformed ignorance and unsubstantiated prejudice shown in your post.

Posted by Dan Oxford on November 16, 2007 12:09 PM
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Why? Not too hard to divine reasons for going. I’d like to go, too but my partner is reluctant because of a different language and culture in another country. Fair enough, it will be daunting but as I recently pointed out: stay here and you’ll face that problem anyway and in your country of your birth and that of your parents.
Posted by m collins on November 16, 2007 12:09 PM
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I don’t understand all these on this site telling us they love this country, and then run off to another country in the EU. I’m glad it’s not a war,I would hate to think I had to depend on you people to watch my back. At the moment this country is a cesspit but if you don,t try and stop what’s happening it always will be. But once it’s sorted don,t come running back, we don’t want you.
Posted by preddo53 on November 16, 2007 10:32 AM

1, We didn’t leave our country it left us.
2, It will never get better as those who are in the pay of the goverment or those who draw benefits hold sway.
3, Thre comes a time in your life when you realise that with good health one may only be able to count on another 15 years of life. Why spend it in a cess pit that’s not of our making?
4,Don’t ever presume that those who have left are less patriotic than yourself.
5, If you got out more you’d realise that mainland europe does not have every EU diktat enhanced, gold plated, twisted and rammed down the throat of a gullible population who cannot recognise a bunch of lying incompetents when they see them.
6, It’s not being selfish to leave, it’s plain old common sense….look it up
Posted by Vandiemen on November 16, 2007 12:05 PM
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It seems that too many of us ‘cut and run’ by emigrating or sit on our hands and whinge while the all-pervasive political and media classes lead us by the nose. And people can’t even be bothered to vote! So we get what we deserve.
Posted by Demosthenes on November 16, 2007 12:02 PM
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It’s obvious, who in their right mind would want to live under an oppressive incomepetent government which favours everybody apart from the indiginous population?
Posted by Roger Jones on November 16, 2007 12:00 PM
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We moved to CAPE TOWN two and a half years ago
and never want to return to the UK. Apart from the
cost of living and climate, the people are so lovely –
you see smiling faces everywhere! And so many
beautiful girls, not something England seems to
have any more. Nowhere is paradise, but this is
close.
Posted by Jerry on November 16, 2007 12:00 PM
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Good people are scrambling to escape because they see that the Conservative Party has utterly failed to Oppose and Conserve anything good, having been successfully infiltrated with socialist thinking.

It continues to stamp out free speech and sack good candidates who tell the truth.

The middle classes are too gullible, brainwashed, confused, demoralised, selfish, short-sighted and afraid of social ostracisation to change their foolish voting habits.

I’m going to stay and Resist! These are our islands.
Posted by Dr Alan Patterson on November 16, 2007 11:57 AM
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Lets see shall we!

1) Prices are rising at an unprecedented level and the Government does nothing

2) Too much surveillance and ‘little jumped up Hitlers’ in councils

3) The English are treated as second class citizens and discriminated against in our own country by the champagne socialists and do-gooders

4) Inflation rate is always considerably lower when pension rises are due than when the rubbish in parliament have their salary rises

5) Council tax. Thats just a joke!

6) Citizens are fed up of being ripped off by big buisness, and the Government doing nothing

7) Citizens are fed up of being robbed and blackmailed by the Government and councils

8) Citizens are fed up with having a two tier pension system. Public and private.

9) Its o.k to c**k up in Government and apologise. That makes it alright. Just try that if you are taken to court.

10) Citizens are fed up with the lies, deceit and threats, not only from the champagne socialists but by the BBC (You must pay the extortion racket money or we will hound you by using thugs (baliffs)), and the DVLA (We know where all the untaxed cars are (do you really?) you cannot escape)

It also looks as though GB is becoming like the film Escape from New York (Who is Snake Plisskin)?
Posted by Karl H on November 16, 2007 11:55 AM
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Why are British Nationals leaving !

Just look around you and see what successive Governments hove done to our once green and pleasant land.
It is unfortunate that I am 63 or I would be off on my toes if I could afford it.
Unfortunately I cannot even get a job cleaning floors up in this part of the Sticks as most of the jobs are picked off by much younger people from abroad.

Posted by Sid Jacques on November 16, 2007 11:54 AM
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Must say that looking around I don’t see anti-social behaviour in Manchester being caused by brown skinned people or immigrants. The thugs and drunks are almost exclusively white British. I have friends who are Black caribbean, Asian, Arab, African, German, Chinese Malaysian. They are decent people and many of them are just as shocked by the behaviour they see as I am.
Posted by Robert on November 16, 2007 11:54 AM
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My fear is that if the sorts of insular and invincibly obtuse British people who mainly comment above move to other lands, they might not be worth emigrating to in the future.

I moved from Britain to Canada and greatly prefer it to Britian as an Indian because the white people there are so much more friendly to non-whites like me.

When I lived in Britain, I was afriad of venturing out of a few big cities where there are many coloured folk, simply because of the unfriedly stares one got in the smaller towns and in the countryside. I felt terribly confined and choked. It was a sad feeling for someone from India, where British people lived peacefully for centuries. Most non-white people I spoke to in the UK feel the same about life in Britain for the likes of us – there is no friendliness to be found.

Canada is so different. There I live in a pre-dominantly white neigbourhood and am on the most excellent terms with all my neighbours. We have wonderful street parties, advise each other on how to handle house, finacial and family problems, and I can go anywhere in Canada and feel completely at home.

Briatin is undoubtedly a great nation, but I am afraid the British have little gift for a friendly, un-self-conscious, unsuspicious attitude to coloured folk. The climate is miserable and this makes people grouchy, I think. In Canada, people of the same British stock are wonderfully different and extrovert.

Any idea why?
Posted by Ganpat Ram on November 16, 2007 11:53 AM
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To all those posters (and there are quite a few) who suggest we escapees come back and fight for what we believe. Please please please tell us what EXACTLY what you suggest and how exactly we do it? Don’t they realise they live in a control freakery state now? What are they thinking -armed insurrection perhaps? Á la Pakistan ?…yeah that’s right.
In the meantime I’ll pop out for a walk in the warm sun.
Posted by A happy ex-pat on November 16, 2007 11:52 AM
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You poms complain about your country falling below par, the Pols stealing your jobs for less money. Now you know what the rest of us think of you. Your doing the same thing to us thats happening to you.
Great
Posted by p on November 16, 2007 11:52 AM
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“The point is, in case you have missed it, that the country that they have gone to is more like the Britain that they remember than the current one.”
Posted by Morvan on November 16, 2007 8:57 AM

And of course those countries will change too. Doesn’t this make them travellers? As soon as they don’t like something they move on – like hobos. Now I understand…!

Posted by Rod Munch on November 16, 2007 11:50 AM
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So…Morrissey turned out to be right after all…The UK demonizes anyone who cares about England…Last one out, turn off the lights…In 20 years you won’t be asking what happened to the UK, you will be asking if whatever you do is acceptable under Sharia Law.
Posted by David Delacroix on November 16, 2007 11:49 AM
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Come on DT show us the replies the moderators have spiked.

Well over 400 responses and not one mention of the Elephant (or is it 800lb. gorilla these days.)

Come on, just a sample.
Posted by Gordo on November 16, 2007 11:45 AM
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They are leaving for FREEDOM, no more New Labour taxes and nanny state intervention. What other country on this earth treats it Soldiers like dirt and puts them in the theatre of war ill equiped causing casualties on a nearly daily basis due to the incompetence of the MOD and the champagne socialist bastards in charge. This country needs a massive enema to clear out the faecial matter running the country and the scrounging indiginous population as well as the immigrants over here having a free ride.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN and GOD SAVE US..
Posted by Andrew Geeves on November 16, 2007 11:43 AM
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We are constantly being asked to pay more and more for no discernable improvements. All I can see is money being wasted. Thanks to Labour, I now have practically no disposable income despite being paid an above average salary. Once the mortgage is paid, everything else goes on bills and taxes. We are told that council tax will continue to rise and that food will become more and more expensive.

When the money runs out, what will have to give way? Should it be heating? I heat my house with wood, so no – I have already cut down those costs as much as I can. Should it be council tax? I don’t want to go to prison, so not really an option. Should it be insurance?

It is a long time since we had to stop eating out – so the local pubs and restaurants no longer have the extra income we used to bring.

We are being bled white – how long before civil disobedience is our only option? With no prospect of an election, maybe sooner rather than later is the answer.
Posted by S Howard on November 16, 2007 11:43 AM
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Send these comments to your MP. Perhaps he she or it will wake up, but I doubt it. It is true that millions of us are fed up and will not leave. So what are we going to do about it? Democracy is a joke. Most professional politicians are all a bunch of self seeking pigs who don’t really believe in anything other than ensuring huge pensions for themselves. Given the EU is responsible for our loss of border controls, and that we are paying billions to it for nothing. (The government refuses a cost benefit analysis as we have lost billions and gained nothing since joining the “common market”). So there is palpable anger and a number of very able bodies and intelligent folk waiting for? What? Revolution? Massive civil disobedience seems to work. Now let’s see – which countries got what they wanted by violence? Zimbabwe, South Africa……… and HMG supported and installed Mugabe. So it will take some thought and some time. Meanwhile the taxpayers continue to leave for all the reasons given so far. The problems are easily identified. The solution will only come with collapse. Refusal of ID cards would be a good start. And sending these comments to your Sock Puppets in Westminster.
Posted by P O Halleran on November 16, 2007 11:43 AM
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I have just returned from a week in Spain. I saw no surveillance cameras at all in that time, not even at the port of entry.

Back in the UK Gulag my (British) passport is swiped through a machine, recording my movements for New Labour’s Gestapo. Driving home from the ferry I encounter several speed cameras in the first few miles and bleak camera warning signs for the next few hours. On a motorway bridge, some uniformed thug has erected three spy cameras on tripods, noting the registration numbers of all passing cars. I read that (Gest)ACPO intends to store details of my movements for several years.

On TV and radio I am bombarded with “we know where you are – we are watching you” messages from DVLA, Social Security etc.

I intend to leave the UK because I have no democratic (and no non-violent) opportunity to challenge the corrupt police state that the UK has become.

The grass may not always be greener on the other side, but at least the field will not be quite so polluted!
Posted by Wat Tyler on November 16, 2007 11:41 AM
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Why is everyone leaving? Where do I start; The government aren’t pullying their weight and have lost the plot; the flood gates are open for all the low life in Europe to flood into UK; cheap foreign labour is pushing our work force onto the scrap heap the same way our mines/ship yards/steel works dispppeared. Stress is a daily thing; Crime is out of control with US style gangs holding communities to ransom; the police force is fighting a loosing battle; the country is sinking with immigrants; the cost of living is sky high; pensioners who have worked all their lives are on a tuppence of a pension and are heart broken by the hand outs given to immigrants. I served my country like many others did but now I’m living on the other side of the globe in sunshine cos I could see the light LIKE the half a million true brits that have left this year!
Posted by Tony on November 16, 2007 11:40 AM
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Peter 10’48 says it all for me. There are enough benefit scroungers, final salary public sector leeches, and immigrants to vote for labour indefinitely. These people contribute not one jot long term.
These people will put up with anything as long as the gravy train keeps rolling. Those of of us who do not benefit from this largesse see what is happening to the country.
More than half my family now lives in Oz, NZ, the US, and Canada. Those that remain are all in govt. jobs, retired, or planning to leave. My family has been fragmented, I have to live 200 miles from my wife for work reasons, my disposable income is reduced endlessly to pay for non- existent council services, my childrens’ state school does not serve beef in case it offends the 12 muslims in her school of 400, and now i cannot even have a fag whilst binge drinking my 2-3 pints of beer. This country is not going to the dogs, it has gone to the PC muslim multiculturist europeans.
My relatives who died in 2 world wars made a brave sacrifice but it was wasted by successive governments of both parties. Immigration is wrong and allowing a benefit claiming underclass has distorted democracy. Turkeys will not vote for Xmas and these people will not vote for balanced books and traditional values.
It is emigration or revolution for a large part of the population and emigration is easier.
Posted by private sector, white, christian, middle class male on November 16, 2007 11:38 AM
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There was recently a very similar article on the guardian website.

The gist of most responses from the guardian reading intelligentsia was that if those emigrating are so bigoted and racist that they cannot tolerate the new multi cultural Britain then good riddance!

The public sector is full of these liberal left slack jawed pseudo intellectual fools and I fear that it is not until they realise how very, very wrong and stupid they are that us bigoted racists will continue to leave this tragic country in our droves.
Posted by richard on November 16, 2007 11:38 AM
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Many state a major reason for leaving is poor state services here, while praising those overseas. One reason for that state of affairs is that they pay more for them overseas, yet taxes is one of the other major complaints about UK! You can have high French taxes and better healthcare if you wish, but you cannot have low taxes and great state healthcare. Can you?
Posted by edward vale on November 16, 2007 11:35 AM
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I am in the process of assimilating into Melbourne after arriving here in Australia with my family at the beginning of October. It has been a big change and on a few occasions I have really missed London, especially after watching a clip on TV. Then the sun comes out here and I read further reports on the demise of UK society at the hands of witless marxist nu-lab/libs and I am reminded of the single reason I moved to a country where there ARE Controlled Immigration policies. From my early impressions here is that everyone gets on by becoming their version of Australian and anyone who is fair game for sledging gets it. It aint perfect but you must produce a passport to start bank accounts, rent property or even to enrol your kids at school. All institutions check everyone for their legal status. Thats trust.
Posted by Stefan Morris on November 16, 2007 11:31 AM
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Typical Torygraph fear mongering and race hate
being blurted out here. People are leaving this
country because they have had enough of all you
right wing knee jerkers shouting and moaning
about life in this country. I came back here six
months ago from spending ten years overseas
and the biggest change I have noticed is the
small minded minority have become the small
minded majority – and look its all on this thread
for the world to see! You should be ashamed of
yourselves. All you right wing nimby nazis who
are peddling hate crime and intolerance.
Posted by GlobalCitizen on November 16, 2007 11:30 AM
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We are hoping that our two daughters and
their families to emigrate soon as we fear
for our grand childrens future in this now
god forsaken country. If they go then we
will follow. The horse has bolted and the
UK as we knew it is gone.
Posted by Katy on November 16, 2007 11:29 AM
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I can’t help feeling most commentators got this morning’s story wrong – the point about British jobs for British people is getting Brits off benefits. The wider question remains – why are so many Brits on benefits or deserting the bobbing ship? Well, I too blame education. The schools are too big, the kids ( in London at any rate) go off the rails, no one seems to know how to stop the drugs/drinks malaria amongs the young, the old trades have gone, not enough attention has been paid to apprenticeships in the building, plumbing and electrical trades, there’s too much strictly come dancing or pop idolling, too little in tems of simple old fashioned values, we’re losing our North and South and are merrily ignoring our failures while putting the blames on migrants who may be the only grafters in this society. You think I’m joking?
Posted by Mara on November 16, 2007 11:29 AM
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All right, let’s inject a dose of reality here, shall we.

I concur: this is a huge problem. All these Teabags flooding certain parts of the world, that is. The situation is particularly acute in Spain, where thousands of Britishers have settled in ghettoes, refuse to learn the language or embrace the local culture and customs, open and patronize their own stores and social venues, and act hostile when the locals happen not to be able to speak English. (I though refuse to speak to them in English out of principle.) The situation is even worse in places like Thailand, former Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Now, in your article it says that 510,000 immigrants came to Britain last year; 400,000 emigrated from Britain OF WHOM HALF WERE NON-BRITISH. That means that net migration was 300,000. This, of course, does not specify the proportion of the figure who are hoodwinked students and who pay through their noses for substandard British university education. Foreign students stupidly leave more than GBP 5 billion on your island annually. And most of the rest of them go to Britain because you natives are too obtuse and/or lazy to do certain types of work. Do you think all the Poles would be coming if your builders didn’t demand exorbitant wages or if your plumbers didn’t try to rip you off or if your yowf (youth) was up to taking a broom and sweeping the streets?

You know what, do us all a favor and close all entry points to your island, or what’s left of it. That way you won’t have all those “nasty foreigners” coming in (let’s see how long your economy can cope relying on the dumb hooligans you call your kids) and the rest of the world won’t need to contend with your whiney accents and pasty skin.

We got a deal or what?
Posted by Michael Steiner on November 16, 2007 11:28 AM
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Reasons for not going back to Britain: too many
people; roads too crowded; excessive littering;
inability of the average Briton to speak or
comprehend English competently; vast and
widening gap between the have’s and the have
not’s causing division and resentment;
widespread criminality; unaccountable Prime
Ministers; the culture being ransacked by
consumerist values; the populace degenerated by
dummed-down culture.

Reasons for staying: bitter beer and British
humour – the ability to laugh at themselves.
Posted by Pleromat on November 16, 2007 11:23 AM
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I am 54, self-employed, divorced and remarried (huge mortgage to pay off the ex), one daughter at university and one off to college in September next year.

What do I have to look forward to? I don’t know when I can afford to retire, a health service where even the simplest need is met with huge waiting lists, unclean hospitals and apathy, income after retirement that will enable me to exist, just. A police force that is becoming more and more ineffective, a judiciary out of touch with the people they are supposed to act for. Quality of life, what quality? This is what I have worked for, who sold me this crock of ****!

Am I going to leave, you bet. I plan on going back to Nanning in China, which is my wife’s home town. Our English friends who are already there say why would we even consider going back to the UK? Yes I will happily go and live in a “communist” country, but this is a country where people are generally happy and have a good life, at least in the cities. Don’t talk to me about democracy, we kissed that goodbye a long time ago. We get to vote with no real choice for a system that only gets worse, if that is democracy I don’t want it.

A client of mine moved to New Zealand about five years ago and the main reason he gave was he was fed up running to stand still. In other words, constantly having to earn more and more every year just to pay the bills and taxes. I speak to a lot of people and they all give the same reasons, no quality of life, taxed till it hurts, everything far too expensive, levels of service that scrape in just above zero. Time and time again I hear from people that they already have plans to go, or that if personal circumstances were different they would go.

The “Great” Britain that people hanker after went a long time ago. The door was shut and the lights were turned off. Those of us that are still here are just groping in the dark, and some don’t even know it. Once my youngest daughter is off to college next year I am off to the light again. I have heard it said that this country is going down the drain. We are already down the drain looking back up at that pin-prick of light and wondering how we got here.
Posted by Ray on November 16, 2007 11:21 AM
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Hi from China!

Jon Crowe- come here! I taught in England for fifteen years, and I now teach near Beijing.

My wife (who’s Chinese) and I do have a better quality of life here. Marriage is respected here in China- it felt, at times, as if being a married couple in Britain was almost politically incorrect. You’re certainly discriminated against taxwise if you’re a married couple in Britain.

No country is perfect, but we have a much better quality of life here, on balance. We can live comfortably on my salary, and my wife doesn’t feel compelled to work.

I miss my family, friends, the British countryside and pickled onions, but I know we made the right decision in coming here.

Posted by Tim Lyon on November 16, 2007 11:21 AM
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Emigrated to Malta just over 2 years ago. Best thing we ever did. Among one of the safest countries in the world, no council tax, great social life with expats and Maltese. Terrific medical attention. Plus most of the population speak English. Not to mention the weather. From my experience the only downsides are the standard of driving and the manana mentality of workmen.
Posted by Lyn on November 16, 2007 11:21 AM
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I am returning to the UK in 2 weeks for a “holiday” because my wife want to visit her family. I feel quite depressed at the thought of the cold weather, the safety and security aspects, the horrendous prices of going out at night, and even the political issues that are in your face all the time
Posted by madeira4u on November 16, 2007 11:21 AM
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I’m stunned by how bleak and desperate almost everyone in these comments sounds, and not surprised at all that a recent expat Pom I met two years ago said the main reason he’d left the UK was that, as a Christian, he’d felt oppressed in the country of his birth. I left the UK at 18 30 years ago to follow an Australian girl I got engaged to. The marriage was an utter disaster but it was the best thing that ever happened to me because it got me out of the UK.
Posted by Nick on November 16, 2007 11:14 AM
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The way this country is run can be changed by voting.Stop whingeing and
Posted by bob watkins on November 16, 2007 10:17 AM

Ah- just like a referendum on the EU and no student tuition fees were achieved by voting? When people stop whingeing it will be to start rioting- not voting.

Posted by Dan Oxford on November 16, 2007 11:07 AM
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People are leaving because the UK is becoming a country fit only for an underpaid, overworked underclass governed by a selfish, hypocritical elite who milking the country for their own benefit, and at the exepense of the Middle Classes, who are in general too politically stupid to see what is happening.
Posted by L Sokolic on November 16, 2007 11:04 AM
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I left 2+ years ago. Why?
1. New labours destruction of our culture and pandering to immigrants who have no intention of integrating. On recent visits it is rare to spot a native brit in town apart from pensioners and those taking a lunch break.

2. The high and growing cost of living.

3. The need to work longer and longer hours and further fronm home incurring long and unpredictable journey times.

4. Failure to deal with crime and antisocial behaviour by Asian immigrants.

5. Failing health and education services depite massively increased funding.

Together with many other less tangible reasons. Whenever I do visit the impression is of somewhere I would not wish to return too.

Posted by Expat David on November 16, 2007 11:04 AM
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With so many taxes without any benefits, with ministers and officials not accepting their mistakes, responsibilities and resigning honourably, with youth discipline going to the dogs, with irresponsible parents not being punished but appeased for the sake of votes, I too am thinking of reversing my migration. This was a land of justice, discipline, and good etiquette; but alas, it is no more. Banks are allowed to cheat, we as a great nation depend on USA for every move, we condone them for misappropriating the money deposited by people and not a word of condemnation, about American banking system responsible for the North Rock, Barclays management and God knows how many Banks, is uttered. Petrol prices keep increasing not because of any production costs, because USA and GB talk of war in the Middlle East every other day. The great negotiator Ronald Reagan established peace with Soviet Union and before him; Nixon did the same with the China, not so the Cowboy gun wielding Bush. Overall, the country is in chaos, it is mismanaged; crime has increased, (there is a murder every day now) though the government says it is on the decline Ah! Ah! Ah!
Posted by Sridhar Rao on November 16, 2007 11:02 AM
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Why do you even bother asking the question – you Telegraph already know the answer but you want the public to say it for you.

I hope Brown or someone on the Labour front bench is reading these comments and shuddering. Tories read and take note and start to shut the door – even if the horse has already bolted.

The EU has taken over. Want to get the UK back? Better start telling the Scots that the UK is their best bet and start the process to give us that referendum NOW!!!!!..and then tell every beer swilling idiot in the country, who keeps voting for the non-of-the-above party or the Lib-Lab-Con, to get on the streets and act. I’ve given up on the Tories – so much ammunition and still they wander round with their eyes shut – what happened to HM Opposition. Or Her majesty for the matter in allowing the EU takeover in the first place. Wasn’t it unconstitutional?

UKIP might get us out – but it won’t be pretty and they don’t have enough time to get a majority. No wonder the apathy vote has spread.

It will probably mean blood on the streets eventually even if we impose a very strong monoculture based on Celtic-Anglo-Saxon principles from now on.

Racist? Creedist? You bet. This is our country and it has been taken over at end of Empire through the stupidity and arrogance of professional politicans.

Switzerland has the right idea – and those ideas are going to spread throughout Europe. You wait. Brown and co – your time is up. Get the F off our Lawn.
Posted by Peter W on November 16, 2007 11:02 AM
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To Syd mainly, I am also a pensioner. I moved to France 2 years ago at the age of 67. I could no longer afford to live in UK. I was a supposedly rich electrian, had been all my life but the latest regulations meant I had to retire being to old to take in all the new rules and too fed up to want to. I earned about £600 a week and taxes, rates and mortgage took up £450 of that. I sold my pokey little flat near Kingston upon Thames and bought a small mansion in France. In doing this I cleared a £50k mortgage and am now living comfortably on my pension. In England despite being surrounded by mainly English neigbours I knew no one, my only friends were people I worked with and customers who appreciated what I did for them. Here in France I live in a small village where although we do not speak the same language are unfailingly polite and helpful. Earlier this year I suffered a heart attack, though I didn’t realise at the time that that was what it was. I was prevailed upon by my new friends to visit the doctor and within 24 hours I had had an operation and was in intensive care for 5 days. All this at no cost to myself. Compare this with UK, I would probably be told to go home and if I was still alive come back in 3 months. So Syd and anyone else it’s not that hard though it helps if you can drive, there is so much space over here. By the by, I also traded in my 12 year old Volvo for a nearly new diesel car, and my running costs have gone down by 60% even with the same milage.
I love it here though I wish I could pick up the language, but don’t worry about the French being standoffish if you can’t speak theirs, they are great. Mike
Posted by Michael Strange on November 16, 2007 10:59 AM
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Living anywhere in the world is, in some form or other, a matter of compromise. If you have the patience and ability to intigrate and learn the language reasonably well then Northern Italy is the best. I have travelled all over the world, and came to the conclusion that Northern Italy outside the big cities is the best for “quality of life”

Out town is a clean as a whistle
The is no hooliganism
The taxes on the house we own are low
The health service is brilliant (Doctor will visit if necessary phoning at 0730 the visit will usualy be the same morning!
Old people are well looked after!!!
Much culture
Charming bars without binge drinking
and much much more
We are only 80 mins for the Italian riviera but our winter weather can be cold but usually “dry” cold and nice in the summer

Posted by Nick on November 16, 2007 10:55 AM
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This country is being relentlessly destroyed by white Anglo-Saxon British people who hate their own country and all it stands for.

That is the simple truth. In their view, we all deserve an ongoing national punishment for being British, for having had an empire and everything else. The punishment is immigration–having foreigners rubbed in our faces and trampling all over our country.

No wonder people are leaving. The New Labour administration is the biggest disaster that England in particular has ever suffered.
Posted by Michael on November 16, 2007 10:54 AM
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Those people who voted Mr Blair and his bunch of incompetent sidekicks to power, probably still believe the lies and spin. The country is finished unless you are amongst the sponging immigrant population whom sre given everything (out of our pockets). thankfully i have reached the later years of my life, the people I feel sorry for are those to follow!
Posted by Frustrated on November 16, 2007 10:53 AM
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Freya makes a good point about the grass not necessarily being greener and mentions my native New Zealand.

I left there for the UK in the mid-90s and see no reason to return after 2 trips in the last decade where I found Auckland, and many other cities, as overrun by Far East Asians (due to a failed 90s government migration policy) as Britain now is by east Europeans and ‘new Commonwealth’ Asians.

Meanwhile, the native New Zealanders, fed up with the priority given to the new, barely English-speaking migrants for housing, benefits, schooling, PC treatment etc (friends say the Kiwi PC element are now worse than the most rabid of Brits), are fleeing to Australia and elsewhere in such numbers it is getting the same press coverage as immigration/emigration is getting here.

The government is being criticised for its recent ‘police state’ tactics against a tiny minority of country-dwelling Maori dissidents, who are all apparently ‘terrorists’, the police pursue speeders with the same vigor of UK cops while ignoring the harder crimes and Auckland’s Pacific Island gangs recently made Time magazine.

Emigrate by all means, for the new challenge, scenery, job and lifestyle but, once the novelty wears off, under the surface things won’t be as different – anywhere – from Britain as you might wishfully think.
Posted by Fred Marconi on November 16, 2007 10:53 AM
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There are on this thread the usual moans about how bad Britain is or how things are not as good as they used to be but those people are, I feel, missing the bigger picture.

I’m not yet intending to emigrate but have been giving it serious thought, and here are my reasons. I can spend a life working here in Britain and come retirement what will I have to show for it compared to if I did the same in Australia?

I think I’d end up more or less the same in so far as I would be an old man with grandchildren but I suspect I would have a bigger house, better pension and an all round stronger fiscal wealth if I up sticks and flit.

This I attribute to the realisation that house prices are inflated making moving up the housing ladder almost as difficult as getting on it. I will spend my working life subsidising a welfare state that I myself will see little or no benefit from, seeing as payments to people my age are to the idle and feckless and when I’m older the pensions I’ve been paying to the older generation are unlikely to be available to me.

Add in the romantic “grass is greener” aspect of better weather and every time I consider it I seem to convince myself more that greater opportunities await those going than staying.

Posted by Alex Keenleyside on November 16, 2007 10:50 AM
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Reading the above comments encourages me to stay. It looks as if all the bigots, racists and snobs are leaving which can only make things better for those of us that choose to stay!
Posted by Garry Booth on November 16, 2007 10:49 AM
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Many people who are wanting to emigrate, or have emigrated, have told me that one of the most powerful reasons which has driven them to go is the change in this country brought about by excessive immigration and with it the ‘God of Multiracialism’ who, until recently, we have been expected to worship.
It is a warning which we must heed!
Posted by Bernard on November 16, 2007 10:48 AM
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Brown has succeeded in creating a client state with a hard core of tax-funded voters (teachers, civil servants, long-term sick etc) to support Labour. The only thing that is now required to turn the UK into a one-party state is to ensure that the remaining Tory voters leave the country; which they now appear to be doing.
Posted by Peter on November 16, 2007 10:48 AM
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Just went to the petrol station in south London to fillup and guess what. I have to endure loud Indian music. The cashier is Indian and barely able to speak English. To get a receipt requires two requests. Walking out I notice that I am the only English person in the shop. I wonder what the Japanese would think if they adopted 50% foreigners on their tiny island?
Posted by jack daniels on November 16, 2007 10:47 AM
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My house and business are up for sale. As soon as i get completion of this, I intend to get abroad as soon as possible.
The main reason is crime. I and my wife do not feel safe in the UK anymore. Tagging, ASBO’s, community orders, what a farce, it achieves nothing. Build some more prisons and give hefty sentances. Britain is just not safe anymore, its time to go.
Posted by Craig james on November 16, 2007 10:45 AM
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Goodness me the `Bernard Mannings `are out in force this morning – Goodbye to bad rubbish I say !
Posted by Graham Dean on November 16, 2007 10:43 AM
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Having read 20 of these comments I am surprised to see how political correct they all are. Not one of them even touches the word non-western immigrants and the enormous problem these people obviously are to Great Britain. You should read what we utter here in the biggest newspapapers about the same theme. Like db.no – vg.no – aften.no. Then you will get a grip of why we will be leaving our own country shortly.
Posted by Ola Nordmann on November 16, 2007 10:43 AM
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Because britain is a $#@!ing $#@! hole.
Posted by bob fungus on November 16, 2007 10:41 AM
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Britain is the best country in the world – temperate climate, beautiful countryside, artistic and musical culture (I exclude pop “music”), wonderful ancient towns, villages and buildings, great food – can you better a roast beef dinner? – but it’s being ruined by uncontrolled immigration, Marxists at the heart of government and the media who promote PC lunacy to keep us down and, a general degeneration of our morale. The answer is NOT to run away but we must all join together to promote the BNP and ensure the BNP has a role in running things. The Establishment approved political parties (the ones the media are not rude and intemperate about) are the problem not the solution. Our British backs are to the wall – we must stand united and fight back through the REAL democratic process, aided by total free speech.
Posted by proud to be British on November 16, 2007 10:40 AM
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I don’t understand all these on this site telling us they love this country, and then run off to another country in the EU. I’m glad it’s not a war,I would hate to think I had to depend on you people to watch my back. At the moment this country is a cesspit but if you don,t try and stop what’s happening it always will be. But once it’s sorted don,t come running back, we don’t want you.
Posted by preddo53 on November 16, 2007 10:32 AM
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I have been wracking my brains for the past couple of hours trying to put into words why I emigrated. I think it is this: Of all the other countries I have visited or worked in there is not one where the national character of a country and its people is so under attack from within.

In all, and I mean all those other countries immigrants are expected to observe the law, respect local customs, learn the language and be self sufficient. In the UK immigrants seem to be able to ignore the law, import their own customs, demand interpreters and immediate access to social welfare. This is not surprising as they have the full support of Tom Kilcourse’s (Nov 16, 9:03 AM – an excellent post) “humourless fanatics”, who control the state sector. The only thing I disagree with is the comment that the sense of alienation is “nebulous”. I know what you mean, but the alienation is very real and unsettling enough to make many people pack up and try elsewhere.

It is by no means an easy decision and far more serious than the trite, comments of David Llewellyn (Nov 16, 8:56 AM) would infer.

Posted by O Zangado on November 16, 2007 10:31 AM
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Dear Sir
Why are so many Britons emigrating?
Inevitably, there are many reasons for
British people to emigrate, but I suspect that the
reasons that my wife and I are soon to move to
Cyprus are fairly typical. I have always thought
of myself as a patriotic sort of chap and partly
for that reason I have spent over 50 years as a
voluntary worker in the Conservative Party.
Unfortunately such loyalties are sorely tried of
late.
Probably the main reason for our decision
to leave is the climate: my chest is much less of a
problem in the drier air of the Mediterranean. A
very close second is the tax system. The
confiscatory rates of taxes in Britain discourage
thrift. By contrast, we shall be paying income tax
at just 5% in Cyprus, there are no death duties
and the Council Tax is about £40 a year. On top
of all that, the Cypriot health Service is, by all
accounts, excellent, and a trip to the hospital is
not likely to lead to MRS or a similar infection.
Another contributory factor in the decision
to emigrate is the feeling of despair about the
future in this country. For many years now we
have seen a policy of promoting racial and
cultural differences as being desirable. To make
matters worse, any British or Christian traditions
are at best discouraged. We have the absurd
racial quota systems which see white people
turned down for jobs in the police force because
they made the mistake of having the wrong
coloured skin.
I am not a racialist, and I get on well with
people of all colours and of any nationality.
However, I do believe that Britain should promote
traditional British customs and traditions. After
more than ten years of the most corrupt
government that Britain has seen since the
seventeenth century one would expect the
Conservatives to have a vast lead in the opinion
polls. Unfortunately the Party elected David
Cameron as its leader, and he lost no
opportunity to distance himself from
Conservative values, in spite of the fact that the
Party polled more votes in England than Labour
at the 2005 General Election. He seems to have
no underlying beliefs, apart from the belief that
he should be Prime Minister.
By forcing out candidates who have spoken
well of Enoch Powell’s views on controlled
immigration and the need for integration the
Party leadership is helping to perpetuate the
myths of the Party as being reactionary. As
anyone who has read Powell’s speech will know,
he did NOT predict “rivers of blood”.
To sum up: we are leaving for reasons of
health, taxation, standards of living and
resentment at the way our country is being
destroyed. By moving to Cyprus we demonstrate
that we are not anti-foreigner. We are going to a
country which is proud of its history.

Yours faithfully,
David I. J. Graves-Moore

Posted by David Graves-Moore on November 16, 2007 10:30 AM
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High house prices, CCTV everywhere, drunk louts in every town centre every night, gridlock on every street all the time, struggling hospitals, third world roads, broken trains, bird flu, foot and mouth, ID cards, DNA database – it just goes on and on.

To the earlier poster – yes, house prices in Australia are high, but you’ll get a three bedroom detached house there on a quarter of an acre for less than the price of a two bedroom mid-terrace with a garden the size of a postage stamp in the UK, and the neighbours will be more polite as well.

The bottom line is the South East of England is now suffering from an unrelenting over-population problem. The older generation are actively encouraging their children to leave, probably with the hope of being able to wangle a retirement visa in the sun.

What, exactly, Britain can do about this is the mystery. All the PhDs go through the EXIT, and all the unskilled workers come through the ENTRANCE.

Good luck, I’m off (and taking a PhD with me as well).
Posted by John on November 16, 2007 10:27 AM
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You can travel all over the world looking for whatever it is you think it is that will make you happier but you will always end up with yourself. I returned to live in Britain almost 20 years ago after spending 27 years in Australia. There are good points and bad points in favour of both countries.I also regularly visit a Ukrainian friend who is a university lecturer there who earns an above average salary of £120 a month!But a decent pint costs 25 pence and a packet of cigarettes 35 pence.Everything is relative and anywhere is a good place to live if you are doing alright.I like Britain, Australia and the Ukraine for different reasons. You generally find what you are looking for whether it happens to be good or bad.I seem to be happy wherever I am, so perhaps all the whingers and knockers comments about this country says more about them than it does about any particular aspect of this country.
Posted by Timothy Pole on November 16, 2007 10:25 AM
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Simple, if they’d wanted to live in a Islamist country, they would have left already. But they want to live in a Christian country……

Posted by John Schutz on November 16, 2007 10:24 AM
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Many xenophobic comments sound like those I would expect from The Daily Mail readership.
The way this country is run can be changed by voting.Stop whingeing and work to change it.
The immigrants who come here have a work ethic and values.The system does need changing to weed out all the scroungers.Training and further education are the way to improve our minds but only if there is the infrastructure to relate this into meaningful, value adding employment for our society.
To those who have left these shores for good, good luck.The same to us who stay.Change is good.
Posted by bob watkins on November 16, 2007 10:17 AM
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Trying to be positive – maybe when all the unhappy people have left, the rest of us can enjoy ourselves!! Tip – go live in the country, we have red phone boxes, cute thatched cottages, some lovely pubs, and everyone uses English as a first language ( oops, a bit non pc sorry urban Britain )
Posted by Simon on November 16, 2007 10:17 AM
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As a pensioner, I’d love to leave Britain, but unfortunately this is impossible. The reasons are:
1. Over taxation because of Government and EU waste. The services I get are steadily declining whilst the cost is rapidly increasing. We now have to pay for things for which we have already paid through our taxes, but are not actually available – Proper health care and dentistry being typical examples.
2. Overcrowding – there must be a limit to the number of people that can reasonably be accommodated on our little island. This is the root cause of the houses being priced outside the means of first time buyers.
3. Crime – taking into account our relative populations, murder is now higher in Britain than anywhere else in the western world, although most “murders” are now called “manslaughter” or “accident” so as to increase the chance of the CPS getting a conviction and allowing the police to massage the statistics so that things don’t look too bad. I feel less safe going out, particularly at night, than I ever have in my life.
4. Disappearance of free speech – more and more topics are being banned because they are considered racist, sexist, homophobic; the list is endless. It appears that as a Christian, I can no longer practice my religion without upsetting someone.
5. Rules and Regulations – we must have more of these than any other country in the world – and more Jobsworths going around enforcing them. An American businessman I know really loves the EU and all its regulations, etc; He says it has made his business steadily more profitable over the past 10 or 12 years as he can now compete in areas which were once our preserve!
6. And whilst it doesn’t affect me, Education is steadily deteriorating and becoming politicised. Geography and History are no longer about facts but used as a means of indoctrination on social issues. Ask a teenager to point out on a map some of the places in the news or where they have been for a holiday – not a chance.
7. General manners and behaviour – these are steadily getting worse. I felt far happier when in US or Australia – the locals may be brusque, but they always seem to be polite and willing to help.

I keep urging both of my daughters to leave the county before it is too late; I missed an opportunity to leave when I was in my thirties and have bitterly regretted it ever since. And if I have family abroad, at least there’s somewhere to visit and take a break (assuming that I’m not stopped due to my carbon footprint!)

Posted by Brian E on November 16, 2007 10:16 AM
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I urge all British patriots not to abandon their country. What would have have happened in 1939 if everyone had fled? Stand up for what you believe in and fight the good fight. We can change things but we need the will to do it. Come on Britons’, let’s do it.
Posted by The Patriot on November 16, 2007 10:16 AM
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Things I don’t miss:
Rabid consumerism: the idea that constant shopping is some kind of leisure pursuit.
Vomit and rubbish all over the streets.
Vandalism, petty crime and the ugly measures needed to prevent it.
CCTV absolutely everywhere
Rude people
High cost of living
Prioritising the interests of big business over those of communities, individuals and families.
Characterless town centres
Overcrowding
Traffic jams
Embarrassing drinking culture
Chain pubs/restaurants/everything else.

We left permanently for the French alps about seven years ago, not really because we disliked the UK but because we liked it here (and because we could afford to buy a house here). But every time we go back to visit, we’re both increasingly glad that we don’t live in the UK any longer.
Posted by Christa on November 16, 2007 10:15 AM
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`So! the anglo-saxon race is in self-destruct,good riddance, they were the bane of the earth.
Posted by Tom Bowden on November 15, 2007 9:07 PM`
So the Anglo Saxon race is the `bane of the Earth.` If the Anglo Saxon race had never existed, do you believe your personal circumstances, and those of your family would be better than they currently are. I`m unaware of your ethnicity, however whether you are Anglo Saxon or not, you must know that the basis of western civilisation that you are living in, was created largely on the back of this `bane of the Earth.`
Perhaps you`d like to try living in a place without Anglo Saxon inventions and systems of government. I think of all the places in the modern world, Sudan or North Korea might come closest. Please have a happy time there.
Posted by Andy on November 16, 2007 10:13 AM
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RESIGNATION?

BECAUSE ALL HOPE IS GONE! Our political representatives are out of control.
The Will of the People has been replaced by conspiracy & corruption. Democracy has been destroyed by our POLITICAL DROSS, supported by a Phananx of treacherous left leaning Liberals, constantly preaching the virtues of their own unrealistic & mis-guided utopian fantasies. The M.O, as demonstrated by some of the posters here today, is of trying to twist a logical opinion or argument into an acusation or imlpication of racism or right wing bias, whilst nearly always hiding their identity behind the tell-tale pseudonym.
.
Posted by Phil Kean on November 16, 2007 10:12 AM
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Having visted over 50 countries, I can say that despite all the moaning – generally with no action – the UK is on comparision a nice, clean and safe country to live in. However, I do feel it is increasingly expensvive; the schools, NHS, councils, transport are poor compared to our European neigbours; house prices are hugely inflated; and that we get fed a lot of BS by the government as they try scheme after scheme to turns things around. Contrast India, most of Africa, huge parts of Asia with the UK and you know where you want to live: these countries may be cheap but you pay with pollution, poor law and order, lax safety standards etc.

On immigration, allowing possibly millions of people from 3rd world countries – some war zones- to transplant themselves and their culture into the UK, with no incentive to inegrate, then having large families is planting the seeds for the UK’s own Kosovo. Imagine that Scotland leaves the union, then other regions push to leave eg Cornwall. With enough votes other parts of the country could leave the UK. We live in a democracy, so this is possible.

So people leave as they want better – just like the immigrants to the UK-, if you go to the right country you can find it, but most countries are not so nice after all.

Posted by roger on November 16, 2007 10:12 AM
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Well said Scott 9.47am.All that will be left behind are those who cannot spell!
Posted by Freddie Blunt on November 16, 2007 10:09 AM
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There’s nothing new here, Britons have been emigrating to other countries for centuries. But in the past, we used to take over the country we emigrated to and called it part of the Empire.
Posted by Chris, Derby on November 16, 2007 10:07 AM
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The economics of the country make it very hard
to better yourself because you’re taxed to the hilt
to pay for all the 60K a year “diversity” officers
and the rest of the PC claptrap.

I’m still stuck here but I’m working a way out –
somehow. I was born into a democracy and I will
die in one. I will NOT die in a Caliphate and I will
not have my taxes continuously ripped off me to
pay for the sneaky setting up of one.

Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough
And don’t stop there, Britain’s over now.

What a disaster – are you watching, World?
Posted by Ellen on November 16, 2007 10:06 AM
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Posted by Scott on November 16, 2007 9:47 AM:

“3- Their children will have better education.

I take it if all the bad behaved brits, holigans, recists, egoists, ……”

Looks like you should have taken an education abroad, old chap!
Posted by Dave in Notts on November 16, 2007 10:03 AM
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Our new elite and religion – the broadcast media – see nothing wrong in someone who has been paying both monetary and military service taxes in the UK for 50 years and who believes in our culture, now being treated precisely the same by the “British state” as someone who’s been at Heathrow for 2 minutes and who hates everything that England has had to fight for for 1500 years.

The broadcast media should be telling us to be proud. Instead they have spread their own self loathing to a people desperate for leadership and a belief in themeselves
Posted by tom atkins on November 16, 2007 10:03 AM
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I’m 20 and I run a business with my brother that involves trips to Florida every 10 weeks. When I step foot on US turf I wish I could stay forever. England is full of moaning old farts with nothing positive to talk about, and who can blame them?

I try to avoid going into the centre of my home town because I’m instantly surrounded by immigrants that don’t speak a word of English and 15year old pram pushers, and soon I’ll be funding there lazy lifestyle.

Everyone has become so PC I might aswell walk around with my lips super glued.

The whole Fox hunting ‘crisis’ was the biggest waste of time and money, where’s the mousetrap ban?

As goby little yobs roam our streets the police would rather be out catching people speeding instead of twisting the little sods ears.

I can’t turn on the TV without having to watch advert after advert about people suing each other.

Iraq, where do I start?

America, Spain, Australia.. I don’t really care. I can’t stick another depressing winter in this depressing country
Posted by Tom on November 16, 2007 10:01 AM
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A poll today on another website shows that 92 per cent of respondents (presumably indigenous Brits) are considering “emigration”. Who can blame them wanting to escape.
Posted by Ron on November 16, 2007 10:00 AM
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I don’t think it’s anything to do with a despair of ‘what this country has become’ that the knee jerk reactionists would have you believe, and more to do with a globalised world, accessible travel and a wider knowledge of other cultures and countries. Afterall, people complaining of how we’ve become a puppet state of europe must have missed that France of the EU and Spain of the EU are two of the most popular countries to emigrate to.

People want to experience more, and moving countries is more for the experience than through alarm at how the second you step out your door you’ll be arrested, or mugged or both.
Posted by Steve on November 16, 2007 9:59 AM
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I want out of Europe. I want the peace and quiet of New Zealand but unfortunately now I am a pensioner they do not want me. I feel trapped in a police state. My advise to young Brits is get out of europe now, so that you can retire in comfort and peace of mind.
Posted by Arthur Nightingale on November 16, 2007 9:58 AM
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I left UK for selfish reasons, money, better job, being treated as if I worth something at my age.
I will return simply to educate my child in the manner I judge to be the best and because the housing market is about to collapse and the pound about to drop against the dollar next year. Aside from that the UK has less attractions for me every visit. Camera’s, ID cards, political correctness, other people cultures that I do not find commensurate with my own country, few prospects for a decent job.
Does that answer your question?
Posted by Monty on November 16, 2007 9:57 AM
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Because IT’S TOTALLY CORRUPT why does the press ,political parties etc. ignore this.

When did you last hear a politician or party state that they will attack corruption at all levels ,especially within their own ranks or local government.

Because of “Common Purpose”?

link

I’M a decorated ex serviceman ,why has my young son been left being horribly abused and neglected for over 4 years ?,why was i threatened and offered a bribe by council leaders if i dropped my complaints, why have i been denied an ear for my complaints ?,why does the press not publish the documents i have which prove this despite meeting with them for over ten and a half hours ?,why do the police at ground level promise immediate action yet when it becomes more senior they adopt stalling tactics,? why were 2 councillors threatened by the same council management team when they attempted to help?

Why is the police investigating their own failings instead of bringing in an outside force.

And i took an oath to protect this place ” not blooming likely”
This is corruption
Posted by E Kelly on November 16, 2007 9:57 AM
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There’s no way I’d ever come home. Shortly after moving to Scandinavia, I was diagnosed with cancer, and I am getting brilliant treatment using all the latest drugs. I was operated within 4 days of diagnosis in a clean, comfortable hospital and have received tip-top care ever since – all on the State.

I am disgusted to read of patients in the UK being denied life-saving drugs, and I hear some horror stories from friends who are still living in the UK. I feel that to come home to England would be tantamount to suicide, since I know that the quality of my cancer care would drop dramatically. British cancer survival rates are known to be among the lowest in Europe, whereas the Scandinavian countries are all near the top.
Posted by A.S. on November 16, 2007 9:54 AM
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To Jasdev Singh: you are quite right. Britain has always been a people processor. Since the last ice age groups of people have immigrated, stayed a few hundred years and then emigrated again. While they are here they get infected with the democratic, equal-rights virus, then they export it all over the world, causing endless trouble and outbreaks of civil rights. This is the basis of the free world today. It is happening now in Pakistan, for example.
Sorry we left you with the dregs.
Posted by Minerva in Germany on November 16, 2007 9:54 AM
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I have lived abroad for the last 10 years and will come home again when the time is right.
I think one thing the government could do to hasten my return would be to curb the hysterical mass media in the UK, it appears no problem is too small any more.
Posted by David on November 16, 2007 9:51 AM
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I’m not British, just had the misfortune to get dumped here by my company on a 3 year assignment. Previously worked 24 years in various countries in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa. My view: if there is a over-regulated 3rd World Country in the western hemisphere, it surely is the UK. Can’t wait to get away.
Posted by Have Enough on November 16, 2007 9:48 AM
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Overall, it’s a positive thing that the brits leave for another country:
1- In abroad they will learn how to behave properly.
2- They will learn how to be polite, friendly, law-abiding.
3- Their children will have better education, better understanding, better life, they will learn how to talk and walk and behave right.
And the list can go on and on and on…
I take it if all the bad behaved brits, holigans, recists, egoists, thieves etc were to be sent abroad for personality and psychological changes, Britain will become “Great Britain” for sure.
Posted by Scott on November 16, 2007 9:47 AM
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My friends and I are all encouraging our well qualified offspring to leave the UK for a better life. We have explained to them that in 20 years time they will be paying 80p in the pound tax to fund this out of control welfare state. There is no doubt that we are now a 3rd world country. Our children will inherit nothing from this cesspit of a country.Our heritage has disappeared, stolen from us by the PC nuts that run this country. There is a dark evil controlling this country now, ther is no other alternative than to encourage our offpring to leave the UK to save themselves from being flushed into the sewer that is now the UK.
Posted by Rosie on November 16, 2007 9:45 AM
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..and what did the lunatic talk about yesterday in the House…’fortress Britain’…’seaching luggage at railway stations’…. When was the last time he used a train as a normal passenger? I promise you, he has ‘lost it’. He should be placed in front of his computer today with a cup of black coffee and forced to read these posts it might (just) open his eyes a little but I doubt it after all he has his gold plated pension already.
Posted by Victor M. – Malaga, Spain on November 16, 2007 9:44 AM
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Joan Mosley’s comment says it all.
The Hipocrytes of the government stand at the cenotaph paying tribute to the people who give their lives for this country and then they go back to parliament and continue to give Britain and it’s values away. We have to watch what we say about religion and just about everything but other religions can publicly chant death threats to the infidels as they call us. If we moved to a non christian country would they allow us to erect a church to worship our faith, I think not. Even our youngsters are struggling to get their first jobs and Illegal immigrants just walk in and get top security jobs and all the money and housing they want. And you have to ask why british people are leaving. Too many so called do gooders ruin the justice system and the peaceful way of life so many died to preserve.Give us back our country and our dignity. If people from other countries and religions want to come and live here fine, but don’t force your opinions and religion on other people. The old saying “When in Rome”
Posted by Dave on November 16, 2007 9:42 AM
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England could be a good country,anyone with any forsight could see it .The government are so detached from our world ,somewhat similar to the generals running the first world war.The very rich politicians unfortunatly are only in power for themselves.What has improved in England since since the Scots came to power here?Nothing
Posted by stewart fisher on November 16, 2007 9:41 AM
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Life really is too short to write about the collapse of so many things in UK; and the rise in alien cultures coming into UK with whom I do not relate and about whom I have never been consulted – and about which I may not speak for fear of offending the pc police.

I have had enough, and have recently purchased property in Czech Republic to which I will shortly leave with my wife.

Posted by andrew chapman on November 16, 2007 9:38 AM
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Quite simply there nothing to stay here for.

In the last ten years all our “wealth” has been sqandered on ridulous adventures either Iraq, the Af place or into initiatives and government drives or publicity campaigns that have acheived nothing.

We have all had money “stolen” from us through the long held communist ideas of raiding pensions funds and still we want more.

There is no future for Britain it is a spent force, a small player pretending to be big.

Apparently we should be world class, our education system is not keeping up let alone moving ahead, even broad band a “tony” initiative is years behind everyone else as most of his initiatives are (watch out when he takes over Europe). The UK has always has IT stuff that is years behind the US and Asia. This is now a fact of life.
The future holds loss of indepnedent energy resource, reliance on everyone else for food, an unwilling indiginous workforce more and more beauracracy etc etc, BUT BUT leaders in green policy (whoopy do that’ll make them sit up and watch)and probably the greatest self publicists in the world

Having said all this it is still the place I look forward to coming home to and I feel so sad that my dad fought for this island to remain free, and what have we achievd with this freedom ??????
Posted by Jeff on November 16, 2007 9:35 AM
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I now find myself in a position in which I feel compelled to leave this country. I personally feel totally let down by this country. I have excellent qualifications, experience of lecturing in the fields of Organisational Psychology and Management upto postgraduate level, worked for Connexions as an adviser. I went abroad to teach in China for a year and what is the best job I can get for myself? Working in a call centre!!! From what I’ve witnessed of recent it’s losers who win in UK organisations, it’s a prerquisite in fact. Countries like China are falling over themselves to invite me to work for them. I am considering selling my property and getting out.
Posted by Jon Crowe on November 16, 2007 9:35 AM
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The main reason people are leaving Britain is because thanks to New Labour’s immigration policy (ALL welcome regardless of criminal record or lack of skills) and the Political Correct crowd (let’s ban Christmas and not fly the Union Jack in case some spiv from Upper Bongo is offended!) Britons are now treated as second class citizens in their own country and if you DARE to speak out you are classed as racist or fascist. Britain used to be a happy place to live in but not anymore!
Posted by George on November 16, 2007 9:34 AM
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Why are so many British people leaving Britain?

Surely the answer is obvious.

If you are forced to live in a foreign country – as we British are being forced – it must be better to live in a country of your own choosing.

It seems that the main places of settlement for British people are France, Spain, Australia and New Zealand; and it is not surprising that many think of those countries as being more British than Britain is now.

It can only get worse.

Posted by Old Man on November 16, 2007 9:34 AM
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May I say that it is a pleasurable relief to read a
few expatriate comments which make some
sense?

More people can afford to visit places very far
away and have thus had a taste of life in very
foreign climes; we should expect more to
emigrate, without the barrage of anti British
invective maintained here, for example.

In the past many expatriates have gained Britain
a poor reputation abroad, so that the Australians
coined the expression “whinging poms.”

Let’s hope most of the new crop do better, and
look forward to welcoming them home.
Posted by Quietzapple on November 16, 2007 9:32 AM
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I left 20 years ago when even then I could see the writing on the wall. Living in South Africa even with it’s crime problems seems to me to be infinitely better than the UK with its mindless politicians and its nanny state.
Posted by Bomberon on November 16, 2007 9:27 AM
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Most people seem to leave because they think the grass is greener elsewhere. When they get there, and find it’s not, they’re priced out of the soaring UK property market, so they’re stuck in their new country. Some of the comments I read by people emigrating (particularly to New Zealand) show that they have done almost no research and don’t have a clue what it’s like where they’re going. And, as others have mentioned, they inevitably complain that it’s so expensive in the UK because immigrants have driven up house prices, but they don’t seem to see the irony in going overseas with their pounds sterling and doing exactly the same thing in these other countries. The UK is far from perfect. But so are most other places when you actually go and live in them instead of going for two weeks as a tourist, seeing all the fun stuff and never reading a newspaper.
Posted by Freya on November 16, 2007 9:24 AM
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During the 20th Century, the vast majority of U.K. emigrants left from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales mainly because the poor economies and historically high levels of unemployment could not sustain the better educated and less skilled in comparison to that of much wealthier England.

England’s economy, and Commonwealth nations like Australia, Canada and New Zealand, benefited greatly from these Celtic immigrants.

The economies of the Celtic Nations are now more able to support their own indigenous people, although there will always be the well educated and restless Celts who will still migrate to England, and abroad.

However, according to statistics, some 1.75 million of the wealthy but heavily over-populated Southern England, now either own homes abroad, have retired, or moved to work and reside in another E.U. Member State, unsually one with a better climate and lifstyle like Spain, France or Portugal.

However, the Spanish and French complain about this massive influx
of around one million wealthy Brits, mainly English, who have bought up land and properties and retreated into their own enclaves, do not take part in the local community and refuse to learn the language! Sound familiar?

Today, the problem of outward and inward migration is much less of a problem in the Celtic Nations compared to England?

Post-war governments, despite token attempts at spreading economic wealth and government departments around the U.K. have failed miserably, and the present situation is a result of the masssive investment in lop-sided Southern England which will always be the economic magnet.

You get what you pay for and inward and outward migration would be less of a problem today if only post-War governments had actually looked ahead!
Posted by Mr. Lachie Todd on November 16, 2007 9:20 AM
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Existing not living on this Prison Island we call Britain, ‘Surveillance Island’ being watched, monitored, screened by cameras everywhere we go It’s very difficult to know what being British or English is anymore, we have lost our identity or rather it’s been deliberately deleted by this Government and it’s going to get much worse in the coming years. Constant pandering to minority ethnic groups is very irritating seeing people getting promoted on grounds off race and not real ability to do the given job. Yes immigrants have contributed to the economy but lets not forget the millions born here who have built this country up since the war, paid their taxes when they earn it, when they spend, it and when they save it, for what I ask, FOR WHAT?
Posted by Peter Giles on November 16, 2007 9:20 AM
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Anyone think this is an accident? Labour policies are to encourage immigration (because they are more likely to vote Labour than Tory, by a ratio of 5:1 according to a survey for another national newspaper. Neither will Mr mega patriot Gordon Brown worry about those leaving: they are likely to be the “get up and go” individuals, rather than those who are happy to get a job working for the vastly inflated state he has created. And emigrants are more likely to vote Tory.
Some immigrants are turning England into their version of the Balkans. Their version of the Muslim religion despises non-Muslims and encourages seperatism (except when claiming the benefits of the non-Muslim society) – google Deobandi sect for more. Substantial ghettos have been created in areas unlikely to be often visited by national journalists – West Yorkshire and East Lancashire among them. I worry deeply about my childen’s future. Although political leaders in Britain do not display much knowledge of history (Labour has banned Winston Churchill from history lessons) even they ought to remember the ethnic cleansing in the Balkans during the 1990s. What kind of a country allows this? Not Scotland, where their administration has ensured most immigrants have come from Christian eastern Europe.
Posted by Tony G on November 16, 2007 9:18 AM
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People unhappy with high tax,poor health care,poor police and high crime,poor public transport,bad roads,over government,big brother atitude to motorists,yobs produced by failing education.Too many people on too small an island helped by uncontrolled immigration.Thanks new Labour!
If i could afford to leave i would today!
Posted by Huw williams on November 16, 2007 9:17 AM
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Strange question. Under the Socialist rule of our Great Leader the prosperity of the country can only be achieved by ever increasing incomers. This way of creating prosperity comes at a cost, overcrowding, rationing of resources and the requirement of more State control of the individual.

The biggest problem for the UK is it can no longer be recognised as a democracy, a free society or a place of aspiration.

As usual Socialist dogma has everything misplaced, their version of prosperity is not the same as a the free worlds view of the ‘Quality of Life’

Posted by Ian on November 16, 2007 9:16 AM
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Joan Mosley’s comment says it all.
The Hipocrytes of the government stand at the cenotaph paying tribute to the people who give their lives for this country and then they go back to parliament and continue to give Britain and it’s values away. We have to watch what we say about religion and just about everything but other religions can publicly chant death threats to the infidels as they call us. If we moved to a non christian country would they allow us to erect a church to worship our faith, I think not. Even our youngsters are struggling to get their first jobs and Illegal immigrants just walk in and get top security jobs and all the money and housing they want. And you have to ask why british people are leaving. Too many so called do gooders ruin the justice system and the peaceful way of life so many died to preserve.Give us back our country and our dignity. If people from other countries and religions want to come and live here fine, but don’t force your opinions and religion on other people. The old saying “When in Rome”
Posted by Dave on November 16, 2007 9:16 AM
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A government run by Scots that has suppressed British identity for years and is now making grisly attempts to right this with plans for “British Days.” A police service that has abandoned the fight against proper crime as being too dangerous, to allow them more time to issue five-year olds ASBOs for playing hopscotch on the pavement. The prescription of medicine being based on one’s postcode. Serious physical assault being punished with community service, whilst trivial motoring offences are met with savage fines. Foreign criminals released from prison with no check on their whereabouts afterwards. Religious fanatics allowed to preach hatred on the street and being guarded by policemen whilst they do so. Schools with children speaking half a dozen languages in just one class. Children leaving school unable to read or write properly. Houses with a real value of a few thousand pounds changing hands for half a million. An IT system for the NHS which has cost in excess of one billion but does not work. The British army sent to intervene in dangerous situations whithout proper protection or sufficient ammunition. Badly injured soldiers left to struggle on inadequate payouts whilst a typist is given half a million for a sprained thumb. And this laughable mess is presided over by politicians whose ambition is matched only by their incompetence. Too late for me to leave but, although I’ll miss them desperately, delighted that my children are doing so.
Posted by Ross on November 16, 2007 9:13 AM
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Foreign Secretary David Milliband stated yesterday that the EU should be expanded to include the middle east(read TURKEY). After 500,000 foreigners arrived in Britain last year our wretched govt.proposes another stream of economic refugees. Thats why everyone in Britain should now be planning an escape route from ALCATRAZ BRITAIN.
Posted by muggeridge on November 16, 2007 9:11 AM
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Umm

-Cost of living.
-Lack of law for the guilty/ lack of protection for those who honour the laws of the Country. (Bring back the death penalty for murder of police officers/ young children at least).
-Hard work going unnoticed and then punished by the Tax man.
-Housing / mortgages expensive for first time buyers. Professionals who work hard and have gone to university in competition for accomodation with those on benefits.
-Labour government (which explains the above)
-Without sounding racist/ supremicist the huge influx of immigration who have no or little English. No, the Human Rights mob can’t deny it. Go to anywhere in the Country. You would forget you are in England in some parts of the Country.

Posted by Tim on November 16, 2007 9:10 AM
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I lived in the Netherlands for over ten years and now live in Slovenia, which even though it was a communist country not so long ago, is thriving. Indeed, many of its services would put those in the UK to shame. Britain is a police state, with poor pensions, health service, and transport, and a society destroyed by invasive “multi-culturalism”.
Posted by B Redfern on November 16, 2007 9:09 AM
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remember 50% come back!! (as we did)
Of the other 50% many cannot return due to cost of housing etc
But notwithstanding the above-the comments of the contributers above are the cries of millions- most unable to leave.
Someone suggested that these comments should be forwarded to Brown at number 10- he like the liar before him
will treat them with contempt
Posted by mike on November 16, 2007 9:09 AM
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I am fortunate enough to live in an area which is still, largely “British” in the true sense of the word. So no great concerns about immigrants etc.

However, I find, week by week, that I have less and less money to spend. For the first time in 25 years I am concerned about how I will be able to aford to heat my home this winter.

This despite a family income of over the “national average”.

My daughter and her peers will, in all probability, be priced out of the housing market when/if they ever find a job.

Unless you earn pots or are on benefits Britain is simply becomming too expensive to live in !

Well done Labour, the Conservaties destroyed the working class, you have destroyed the middle class.

All that’s left have no class at all.
Wonderful.
Posted by AndrewG on November 16, 2007 9:08 AM
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Interestingly, we moved to England from New Zealand almost 8 years ago and love it here. We live in a great community, have fantastic jobs, have a good school close by – the only annoying thing is having to keep reminding our English friends how great this country is (that and living with recent rugby results). I think there is always an element of the grass is greener on the other side. Yes, house prices are expensive, but have you looked at property prices down under recently?
Posted by Angus on November 16, 2007 9:08 AM
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Good luck to those who take the chance to move overseas. It is interesting that 50% of them choose to repatriate at some point: mostly for reasons of family, pension entitlements and NHS healthcare provision. The ‘old’ countries of the EU are going through an increasingly tough time at the moment. The pace of change brought about why the unelected bureaucrats and eurocrats in Brussels is making all but the business and political elite nervous and uncomfortable. Why? Because our politicians and business leaders to not have to live in the communities we live in, they do not have to commute in the same ways that we commute, they do not send their kids to the schools that we send ours to, and they certainly do not access healthcare and social services in the same ways that we do. To them life in the EU is great. Well it isn’t, our individual identities and wealth are being overwhelmed and consumed by those who should not have any entitlement to them. ALL our nationhoods are being eroded, and not slowly I might add. Riding blindly over the opinions of all the peoples of Europe in pursuit of a United European Superstate wiil ultimately lead to the break-up of the EU and we will return to where we were 60 years ago. French, Germans, Dutch, Italians and Spanish we must unite as friends and colleagues and save all of our cultures from this undemocratic ideology that will ultimately erode all that we believe in and have achieved.
Posted by Liss Canary on November 16, 2007 9:08 AM
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We are moving to France shortly so that we can live in a decent sized house. We got off the property ladder when we thought it was at it’s peak a few years back which was a mistake.

Both our businesses are virtual so we can work remotely. But even if we could afford a house in the UK – France is so much more civilised. You don’t have to worry in the same way about being mugged and the French are generally more polite too – something that is fast becoming a thing of the past here. And whilst France is state driven at least it’s not the Police state that the UK is fast turning into. My husband said that he would rather go to jail than face DNA testing…
Posted by Nicola, London on November 16, 2007 9:06 AM
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I have been away from the U.K for 10 years now.However when the British people finally get their back bones back & come the revolution I will fly back to be in the first line to hang its corrupt politicians from the lamposts in whitehall !. Till then I shall remain in the sun & enjoy the freedom I have by not being in the U.K.
Posted by Clive on November 16, 2007 9:04 AM
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I suspect that most British emigrants are driven by a nebulous sense of alienation, rather than by any single factor. My own disenchantment arose 25 years ago in the era of ‘loony left’ councils. As an employee, briefly, of Sheffield City Council, then led by David Blunkett, I witnessed the humourless fanaticism with which individual conscience was assaulted. White, working class males were presumed to be racist, sexist and homophobic. That was my first experience of a culture that eventualy prevailed throughtout the country. A fictionalised impression from that period can be found on http://www.toms-tales.co.uk/ under the title ‘Shamfield Socialist Republic’. Only the names have been changed to protect the guilty, some of whom ended up in Westminster.

The endency to categorise people and rob them of their individuality became generalised so that as I aged I was increasingly identified with the only group about which humour and discrimination remained permissable: the elderly. Jokes about ‘wrinkleys’ and zimmer frames on the politically correct BBC could be ignored, but the matter became personal when I was refused a PSA test because I was sixty. I decided that this was not a country in which to grow old, amid a rising tide of loutishness and public vulgarity. I moved to Normandy.
Posted by Tom Kilcourse on November 16, 2007 9:03 AM
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I’m no fan of Gordon Brown but
it’s rather absurd to blame emigration on his pro-EU stance, high taxes and socialist agenda.
Two of the 4 principle destinations (France and Spain) are EU countries with much stronger EU links than Britain has. Yet that doesn’t stop Brits from going there. One of them (France) is an outrightly socialist country (even under Sarkozy) with much higher taxation and “social contribitions (NI) than in Britain.
So it’s nothing to do with Brown in my opinion. People are leaving Britain because there’s less and less of the traditional British way of life left (looks what’s happening to the country pubs!).
If you’re going to live among foreigners you might as well do it in the sun where decent health care is available. That’s the bottom line.
Posted by Mike Meade on November 16, 2007 9:02 AM
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We left Blighty over ten years ago to live in the South West of France.The writing was on the wall then, and the few times we come back to England on short visits, we cannot get out of the place quick enough, and return to civilisation.The best thing about the UK is the plane leaving!
Posted by Iain Chapman on November 16, 2007 9:01 AM
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Posted by Rod Munch on November 16, 2007 8:21 AM

“I dont (sic) know but whats (sic) so funny is the amount of them that say they are leaving because Britain isn’t Britain any more (or England or whatever) and so they go to a foreign country!”

The point is, in case you have missed it, that the country that they have gone to is more like the Britain that they remember than the current one.
Posted by Morvan on November 16, 2007 8:57 AM
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I wonder whether the team at the DT have a nickname for this question. Perhaps they could call it the “Once-Every-Two-Months-Or-So-Invite-For-Expats-To-Contribute-Their-Usual-Gloating-Diatribes-About-A-Country-They-No-Longer-Live-In-While-Sharing-The-Oh-So-Smug-Details-About-Their-New-Lives-New-Wives-And-Cocktails-By-The-Pool” question.
Of course, not all expats meet this criteria. Some of them are lovely people, and I wish them all the best of luck. But to those that do: You aren’t missed.
Posted by David Llewellyn on November 16, 2007 8:56 AM
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I think the Telegraph should just print all these posts on the front page if it’s Newspaper.

It obviously shows the strength of feeling that Briton feels. Maybe the Government would then get some balls & learn from these posts!

For all you over-paid & over-weight officials at No: 10 It’s called “FEEDBACK” maybe we should engage Sir Alan Sugar or Sir Richard Branson they are both very successful & have a head for figures & no-nonsence approach!

I would give anthing to be in that boardroom & hear Sir Alan say:

Gordon, Tony, “Your dead weight”

“YOUR FIRED”

Sir Alan & Sir Richard looking at the books & would soon start making savings by getting rid of all the excess baggage first.

What do you say Sir Alan – Sir Richard?

Think of it has a huge challenge, a joint effort, You’d certainly be remembered as the duo that saved this sinking country that’s for sure!

AS for me, I’m off before it does sink completely.

Gary Worc’s
Posted by Gary on November 16, 2007 8:56 AM
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I came to the UK as a young baby, adopted from Germany. My natural Mother German, my Natural Father American, my adopted Mum, Silesian German, my adopted Dad from East Anglia. This cultural melange has meant that I have never truly felt that my roots were in the UK. Nor anywhere else.
My adopted parents are dead now so I have none of the emotional ties which hold so many people back.
a massively over-inflated housing market meant that my wife and I could sell our house and buy a property outright in France.

Most of those who cite idealogical reasons (politics, state of society, overcrowding and so on ) would move back immediately if they could have in the UK the things they own in their self imposed exile.

I for one, could put up with new labour, a broken society and Polish neighbours, if I could afford over 300 square metres of house, 1000m2 of out-buildings, 30 acres of pasture, 20 acres of woods.
My children educated in schools which, whilst not pretty, are disciplined and committed to the education of children. (After 18 mnths they both speak and read French well. The 13 yr old learns Spanish (in French). Both learn grammar and the young’un is required to write cursively in the classic French style.)

Cheap wine good local produce and so on.
If I could have that in England I would have stayed.
Posted by Andy on November 16, 2007 8:52 AM
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Duh, do you really need to ask? Britain isn’t Britain any more, and we move to countries that have the values that Britain used to have. Where we can live the lives that we should be able to live in Britain but can’t thanks to the wonderful British government.

Apart from that, the following reasons are pretty good too,
tax- too high and nothing to show for it.

Wages- too low

Living expenses-too high

Housing- Poor and overvalued

Dictatorship style government, (what happened to democracy)

Pandering to the lowest commn denominator and not caring for the majority.

No future prospects for our children

A welfare state that panders to the lazy.

Education- Unless privat, extremely poor

Health service-What health service?

A socialist ideaology, which has time and time again proved to be the wrong way to go about things.
Posted by Dee on November 16, 2007 8:51 AM
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I would like to say to all the moaning minnies – it’s your country do something about it! Take some responsibility. Pull the government into line. Complain in shops/resturants etc. when the service/food is rubbish. Rein in unruly children. Oppose poor planning decisions. If enough people do enough complaining/challenging things will change. We have a right to live in a fair and above all democratic society. Why are you letting them push you out? By running away you are providing a self fulfilling prophesy
Posted by Dawn on November 16, 2007 8:48 AM
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I regret to say that the country is simply not viable as a home for anyone who is self-employed or wishes to be independent of the state.

Too many public-sector-workers, and too many of them wanting a communist utopia overrun with anyone but The English.

It really is time to consider leaving for the sake of your family and future.
Posted by paul on November 16, 2007 8:48 AM
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A lack of reason for optimism, diminution of standards in public life and government oppression seem to be behind many of the departures. I often find myself shaking my head and thinking “that’s just not good enough” when the pompous law-givers rear up on their hind legs and strive to progress their political careers. They are ably assisted by a less-than-mediocre media who have long-since abandoned any pretence at representing public interest and have polarised themselves in political bias.

We need firm leadership from an individual who demands and deserves respect, giving us a clearly-defined future. None such have presented themselves for election for a considerable time. Brown told us he would present his vision to us when he assumed leadership of his party. We still await that revelation, as, I suspect, does Brown. Cameron may have a vision, but if he reveals too much of that, Brown will claim it as his own and the only vision the LibDems have is of their own feet.

We have cries for independence, justice and welfare, yet little/no consensus on what any of these mean. Do the majority of us wish to be independent of the EU or retain membership in the trading group we joined in the 70s? Do we want more prisons to house all those we wish to be locked-up or would we prefer more crime prevention in the first place? Do we want to pay more for treatment of all our ills or have more emphasis placed on diagnosis to more swiftly and accurately decide what ails us?

There are many more questions, but there is no real debate. That is largely because nobody is listening. Forums such as this are fuelled by controversy to attract contributions to boost advertising revenue. Fine, that’s business, but more interest might be attracted by truly identifying the issues and asking how to put things right, rather than list what’s wrong and offer no alternatives.

Many have said this is no longer the country they were born into, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. If there are identified problems, let’s discuss solutions, not be obsessed with destructive criticism.
Posted by Hamish, Glasgow on November 16, 2007 8:46 AM
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We now live in Germany and will stay here as long as the United Kingdom continues its spiralling descent to God knows where! We would not want to bring up our son in a country where there is no evident system of values anymore; materialism is rife; and the dumbing down of society is ubiquitous and seemingly increasing day after day.
Posted by Martin Sams on November 16, 2007 8:45 AM
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This is not the England in which I was raised, educated and nurtured.I could cry when I see photographs of our cities, some of which I have visited over the years, but no longer recognise.I could weep further for the unforgiveable disgrace of non- government over the past years. I hang my head in shame at the never ending chaos on our roads -God,I could go on but what is the point. I hesitate to say it but England, I feel, will soon be no more -lost in a morass of incompetence, inadequacy, indifference and self interest. I am now to old to make the move at 78, which country would take a ‘wrinkly’?I am fortunate to have a small cottage in France to which I flee twice each year for ‘a quick fix’ of sanity, peace and relative normality before plunging back into this lost world once called Gt. Britain.I sometimes envy those who are brave enough to depart these shores but, like other folk, stll feel a deep love for ‘my country’ still to be found in the odd corner yet untouched by ‘mass immigration’.
Posted by Alan Chater on November 16, 2007 8:42 AM
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I think that the answer to your questions have been answered in full. I left because I could afford to and no longer felt at home in my own country.

No not the immigrants, the Government. John Major was the final straw – his Government set the scene for NuLab who only continued his work.

It is obvious to me that England is losing in this exchange of people hand over fist. The people leaving are either rich enough to do so (not that you have to be that rich to live comfortably in most of the countries mentioned) or have useful skills and the intelligence to use them. In other words; its a lose lose situation for the UK.
Posted by Morvan on November 16, 2007 8:42 AM
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You can’t really blame them… I just wish I would have left the UK before I went and got a mortgage, now we are about to enter the biggest economic crash EVER, it looks like I’ll be enslaved by the banks for the rest of my life.

Britain WILL become a fully established fascist police state, and there is NOTHING that anyone will do about it, I’m afraid people have been far too brainwashed to do anything about it.

Unfortunatley, if you HAVE left the country, it turns out that THE WHOLE WORLD will also be taken over by the fascist global government (that calls itself the New World Order).

These people want a global version of Nazi Germany (and then some)…

One world government
One world army (there to kill people who do not agrere with the global government)
Microchipped population

The future is going to be grim and we are falling for it, again!
Posted by B Calvey on November 16, 2007 8:42 AM
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I see there are some who believe in fairies, and we are a still a Democracy. That Goverment we vote in will keep its word. Well this NuLabour lot promised us a Referendum on the EU. Kept their word, not likely. Our Government takes absolutely no notice of the voters and we let them get away with it.
We now live in a society where the Politically Correct do-gooders have ruined it. Rewarding the feckless and lazy. Lets anyone in and rarely deport even those guilty of heinous crimes. Nothing wrong with controlled immigration, but anyone coming here should have to abide bide our rules, not as it has become, we have to grovel to all and sundry.
To those who state that those who are fortunate enough to be able to leave England are immigrants. Yes, but they aren’t given everything on a plate by any of the countries they go to! unlike us who can’t get decent treatment or pensions we have paid for because this government persists in giving it to those who just walk into our once decent land.

Posted by Geraldine on November 16, 2007 8:41 AM
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We spent some time in Spain over the Summer and were struck by how unhappy many of the ex-pats really are and how empty many of their lives are. I fear they would be unhappy anywhere.

The UK remains a great place – stop whingeing and just accept how good it is.
Posted by Yorky Pud on November 16, 2007 8:40 AM
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why are so many leaving?
they don’t like living in a police state run by a bunch of pc wimps, that is why.
Posted by khs on November 16, 2007 8:40 AM
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It’s because everything is kind of crap here to be honest. Since people started travelling more in the 80’s the 30 somethings of this generation who managed a trip to the continent or across the world saw with their own eyes that Britain really wasn’t that “Great”.

Since the 70’s we oly had strikes and fuel shortages. VAT and duty is astronomical and moronic. There is zero value for money as far as government spending is concerned. More recently – and only in the past 10 years – the MASSIVE quantities of cash handed to stupid restructuring projects have achieved very little resulting in the quality of life going down rather tha up.

Green taxes… again, another load of bollocks. Council tax – very little value for money (great for public servant pensions – of which 20% goes into the pot).

Not withstanding the arsenine Members of Parliament who pass laws for their own benefits without regard for small business owners, employment laws, world class health system. It’s all gone to pot.

We really could do with another modern day version of Oliver Cromwell.
Posted by John Day on November 16, 2007 8:38 AM
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I left the UK in 2003 to go to the USA because of my husbands job. I was terribly homesick and went home twice a year until he got moved to Germany in 2005. I now go ‘home’ about every 2 months but I have to say that it is not the same in the UK. I have family ties and I always longed to move back but now I am not so sure. I listen to my parents who are in their 80’s and they are so dis-illusioned with living in England that they tell me not to come back but I can see with my own eyes how everything has changed. However, Germany is not that great either and given the choice I would take the USA over living here as many Germans do. My advice to anyone wanting to leave the UK is to go and live in the country for at least 6 months first before you make that final move. Going somewhere for a holiday for 2 weeks is nothing to what it is like to live there.
Posted by Jo Andrews on November 16, 2007 8:38 AM
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According to the CIA facts, the UK has an $8.2 trillion debt, left over from the days of Colonialism. Great Britain is finished! And is it ironic that after beating up on poor people in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and stealing their natural resouces (for those rich people in the city of London), that these former colonial subjects are now full citizens in the UK. See, there is a God of justice.
Posted by Jerry Peterson on November 16, 2007 8:36 AM
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207,000 Indigenous Brits leaving? Thats not enough, make it a few million and i’ll be much happier. Britain never was great, only in the eyes of the uneducated jingoistic few. The nation became wealthy on the back of exploitation and slavery of others, and the chickens are continuing to come home to roost on that count. The level of intolerance in Britain has always been high, and I have found very few balanced-view writers who have ever written anything other than that. So if you want to leave the country so us immigrants and son’s of immigrants can make our own fortunes through real hard work and fair play, then please go, and take the other uneducated fools with you, you won’t be pushed in trying to find them (1am on Saturday morning – outside most nightclubs or urinating in bins behind supermarket car-parks).
Posted by Jasdev Singh on November 16, 2007 8:36 AM
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Some of the immigrant figure will be Brits
returning of course because, as pointed out, half
of British emmigrants return.

The recent figures will be skewed by
regularisations of the positions of people here
illegally for some time: Rumanians etc who used
false Italian passports who are now here legally.
In effect much of what has been for years and
years is being counted now.

In the short term Britain is receiving more
immigrants than would be the case if other
countries eg Germany had not temporarily
restricted their own intakes.

Clearly the regulation of people in the UK will be
better facilitated by compulsory id cards. Bring
them on!
Posted by Quietzapple on November 16, 2007 8:36 AM
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Simple: Immigration, the human rights that foreigners have when they murder British citizens, the reducing rights that are accorded to white British people, OH YES and of course these total a******s in Westminster.
Posted by Graham Spurrier on November 16, 2007 8:35 AM
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I am emigrating to China next April to work as a
teacher, there are many reasons i’m leaving one
is that i’ve spent the last two years there and met
the person of my dreams, and whats the point of
teaching in the UK?

When i’m there everyday I wake up not being
able to wait to get out and enjoy the day, people
say hello (nihao!) in a morning, I dont feel
threatend have to listen to streams of bad
language, my students and their parents know
me and I have next to nothing in terms of
behavioural problems, its heaven!

The UK can go to hell for all I care.
Posted by Samuel on November 16, 2007 8:34 AM
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PC, corrupt, overbearing and unchecked government (read communism). Taxes. Yob/crime culture. Overly lenient criminal “justice” system. Deference to EU. Immigrants – for whom the government bend over backwards to accommodate.

On the other hand, I rather enjoy the weather.

England was a great country with a spirited, good-natured people, but it is now too deep into the pipe of the drain to hope for a return to glory. 8 more months and America will be my new and permanent home.
Posted by TT Brimhall, GX on November 16, 2007 8:33 AM
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Thank God we have got rid of so many racists, reactionaries, fogies, pessimists and Little Englanders
Posted by Colin on November 16, 2007 8:31 AM
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Blair and Brown have ruined this country and things
can only get worse.

If I wasn’t already too old I’d join them.
Posted by Perry on November 16, 2007 8:30 AM
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I left for Central Europe nearly seven years. It was clear then that the New Labour regime was intent on squeezing the productive members of society to the last drop to fund their lunatic enterprise. So when I got a job offer, it was an easy decision. Central Europe is beautiful, relaxed, underpopulated, increasingly self-confident, and culturally rich. Affordability is really the last consideration. Plus of course, if we want to go to Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, it’s just around the corner. Total no-brainer.
Posted by Frank Williams on November 16, 2007 8:28 AM
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I think the motto that our Gordon is seeking for the UK is ” if it moves tax it”. Undoubtedly one good reason to leave our poor benighted island.
Posted by P. Hawkes on November 16, 2007 8:28 AM
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Most of the countries you meantioed were
France Oz NZ Spain. I am sure there are more,and I can add Belgium (which is having its own internal problems for the moment such as not having a government… I digress.
The reason they are leaving for better food wine and weather 😀
However, once left, why would one go back to terror UK. To be honest, the rest of Europe will follow Britain. The Commision is pushing the same biometric ID cards/passports as Britain is. Last time I was in Bruxelles I noticed a great increase in the number of CCTV cameras.
Posted by Ian Peters on November 16, 2007 8:28 AM
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Obvious its quality of life ,we are over taxed , over regulated , over populated over worked ( those of us lucky enough to have jobs)
and with the prospect of a miserable life when we retire . In addition to which we are being governed by an bunch of incompetents !!
Posted by stephen bennetts on November 16, 2007 8:27 AM
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I moved to the Netherlands after graduation because of employment opportunities and a life style that I would not be able to afford in Britain. The values in dutch society are inclusive of all rather than exclusive to the neo-conservative few.
Posted by Jessica Buckley, Amsterdam, Netherlands on November 16, 2007 8:25 AM
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Government & quality of life are the problems.Too much government; too many restrictions; too many immigrants; indifferent food; poor service; expensive petrol. I have been unemployable in England for some time & have had to work overseas for some years. It is increasingly difficult to return. On a typical journey I check my baggage in at Abu Dhabi. After a cursory check on my passport & boarding pass, my E-gate pass (card & fingerprint activated) gets me smoothly through emigration (when I return, the same gets me through immigration). Entering Schiphol is not so bad since they have stopped inspecting passports when leaving the plane. Leaving Schiphol, having survived its queues & security stormtroopers, it is always good to see England from the air; green & neat. Arriving at Birmingham, however, is depressing: an over-long wait to leave the aircraft (not always but sometimes);invariably a long queue for English nationals (the queue for aliens is always shorter but I cannot join it, even though it often ends up at the same desk); po-faced immigration staff -; an over-long wait for baggage; more security stormtroopers & hard-faced Customs & Excise officers. Into the terminal & a coffee shop that does not accept euros (in Schiphol, pounds, euros,& dollars are interchangeable) but where coffee has greatly improved in recent years. To the taxi where my fare home is about 27.00 pounds (equivalent to trip from Abu Dhabi to Dubai;five times the distance). Into the congestion & speed restrictions of the M42. (Sorry about the whinge).
Nearing my home, however, & passing through the fields & hedgerows that survive to date in its environs, I can relax. I am priveleged to have a nice home in a pleasant & secure area. Many leaving England, I am sure, feel they do not have the same.
Posted by John Cleeve on November 16, 2007 8:24 AM
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Because we’re sleepwalking into a Police State, The EU.

Posted by SaveourSovereignty on November 16, 2007 8:24 AM
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Believe me – if I were younger I
would consider leaving. My fears
are for my children and
grandchildren.
I do not – apart from the
glorious countryside -the Lakes,
Peak District, small cosy
villages, and the seaside resorts
visited in my childhood, and with
my children – recognise MY
England.
Crime – as never before,
immigrants who really have no
interest in my country, except
what they can take from it,
and have no respect for our
Christian society, and expect
us to respect their ‘religion’
and dress code.
God help this beloved country!
Posted by Joan Mosley on November 16, 2007 8:24 AM
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Why are so many Britons emigrating?

I dont know but whats so funny is the amount of them that say they are leaving because Britain isn’t Britain any more (or England or whatever) and so they go to a foreign country!
Posted by Rod Munch on November 16, 2007 8:21 AM
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Mass immigration into the West from outside the EU is not a natural phenomena as the media would have us believe.

Mass immigration is a programme orchestrated and micro managed by the United Nations through the EU. (in Britain) Migration is allocated, allotted and dispersed throughout the West from Canada to New Zealand.

Therefore, the idea that the British can escape from mass migration is an illusion, for what is happening here is also occurring in the target nation of their choice world wide – out of the frying pan as it were.

Posted by One-eye on November 16, 2007 8:20 AM
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WHY STAY!!!!!
Posted by steve mudie on November 16, 2007 8:19 AM
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Why have so many left… well, think back to 1992 and Mr Kinnock… the Sun headline, last one out turn the light off.

Labour learned from this, and when they did get in, adopted an open door to the world to make up the numbers.

I imagine many of those who voted Labour in 1997 voted for change. The changes promised were in education and health.

Alas, nobody advertised the real changes Labour were to make:

Re-creation of a Victorian Landlord / Tennant society.

Open door policy.

Abandonment of working class male children.

Pricing the poor off the roads in London.

Homegrown people feel they are no longer valued.

Labour have destroyed the sense of collective at home, but it still exsists in British communities abroad.
Posted by Dim on November 16, 2007 8:18 AM
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I left about 6 years ago. The initial reason was work related but I soon got hooked on a tropical lifestyle. Not to mention low cost of living and friendly smiling people. Now I would not dream of going back to the UK to live. Overcrowded, expensive, cold and above all a Soviet era control freak Prime Minister.
Posted by Ian on November 16, 2007 8:16 AM
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As long as we stay in Europe and continue to bend over backwards to comply with wish-washy european legislation we will continue in our downward spiral.
The sooner we get a backbone and say NO to the EU and do what is right for OUR people the better.
Both sides of our Government should get a backbone stand up straight and be counted.
It would also be nice if they agreed with each other now and again, instead of squabbleing like small children.
Posted by David Kyffin on November 16, 2007 8:12 AM
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I have now been an Ex Pat (as you call us) since 1994 and saw the writing on the wall then. To my mind there is only one way to encourage people to come back to the UK and that is to treat them as indigenous citizens. There is to much emphasis on stupidity and petty rules such as PC, H&S and generally not allowing people to use their own intelligence.

It isn’t the fault of the “British” people that they need to be “Nannied”, its more likely to be that they cant understand the language or have never become acquainted with the regulations of the country.

Return the UK to a Christian Country with Christian values, insist that that English is the major language and provide laws that fit the crimes (including capital punishment). Also stop giving handouts to people that have never contributed a jot to the society and most likely never will. With a do-gooder government like you currently have together with their supporters you will never have a chance, except to become an even bigger 3rd world Country! What is even more of a travesty is that the current policy makers dont even belong there they should be North of the border in Scotland!!

P.S. I may even help if some of the policy makers REALLY understood what goes on in the country they run!

Posted by Tony Dolby on November 16, 2007 8:08 AM
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Quitters. To all those who’ve scarpered off abroad leaving us behind to deal with New Labour’s PC mess, you are a bunch of deserters and we are probably better off without you.

Go and be an immigrant in another country scoffing marmite sandwiches while the rest of us try to reclaim a bit of what we once had.
Posted by Hugh Appleby on November 16, 2007 8:08 AM
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I have lived in Germany for 22 years but originally intended to stay here for 2 years for work experience abroad and to use my language skills. However, it upset my family when I decided to stay here, but as my parents often say, “It’s your life and as long as you are happy, that’s the most important thing. Just keep in touch”. I visit my family as often as I can; at the end of the day Germany isn’t that far away. I have since married, and am very happy with my German husband.

During the last ten years, my parents are still of the same opinion when I first left the country. However, they now say, you have made the best decision in your life by leaving this country. We are losing our heritage; it isn’t England anymore. It is a real shame. No wonder so many people are leaving.
Posted by Liz (Germany) on November 16, 2007 8:07 AM
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because it is very cold here now…
Posted by Mr A on November 16, 2007 8:06 AM
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Posted by Man of Kent on November 15, 2007 9:44 PM
if you go to toronto, auckland or sydney etc then you will hear many scottish accents. these are people who did not have the luxury of cashing in high value properties to more or less retire to france. they are the many who have left scotland in the last 50 years due to lack of opportunities (and without house sale proceeds to featherbed their arrival). france would have been good since the scots are well liked there but economic hardship forced them abroad many long before it was possible or practical to emigrate to france etc. the scots have disproportionatly emigrated from these shore. my relatives and friends who have left over even the past 30 years could fill a hall. as for france there is an understandable resentment growing against english house buyers taking over areas and outbidding locals. maybe they dont like immigrants any more than many who contribute to this website.
Posted by jim fdouglas on November 16, 2007 8:05 AM
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We left purely for selfish reasons: we’ll return for purely selfish reasons!
Spain’s Costa del Sol is warmer and cheaper in which to live, particularly for those of us who are retired and living on incomes,(reckoned in GBP) which are less than half the national average wage in the U.K.
When increasing age or infirmity strike us, we’ll move back to the U.K. as state aid, of all sorts, is much more generous in the UK for those who need assistance in their day to day living.

Posted by Roger on November 16, 2007 8:04 AM
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I was lucky enough to see what was coming 25 years ago when the love affair with everything under 30 years of age was in full swing. Shops, clubs, pubs and even jobs were being taken over by the spoiled, inexperienced, pampered youth to the detriment of the older, better qualified and more experienced person. Buzzwords, such as “inflexible” were invoked into employment agency jargon to deliberately discriminate against people over 40 and, as a result, the first exodus began.
I arrived here in Austria exactly 20 years ago this month to a good appointment as a 45 year old electrical engineer. I’ve never looked back and, until retirement earlier this year I held several senior positions as well as more recently running my own company. Just after NuLabour came to power I met with several of Blair’s so called (28 year old) visiting economists who were promoting the new economy and inward investment to the UK. I thought that the drivel they spoke then was no better than it is now and I have been proved correct. The UK’s manufacturing base has been decimated during the last 10 years in favour of a single square mile of London. This was never going to work long term and when the investors go away then there is nothing to fall back on. Everything NuLabour has done is based on the fast-buck and nothing is permanent. Go anywhere else in the world including the USA and Germany, the manufacturing base is still in place, as are the experienced engineers and scientists. The UK is even importing Polish plumbers and tradesmen because we’ve never bothered enough to train everyone. The kids leave universities with useless degrees, demanding fancy job titles, and everyone wants to be a manager. How many service industries can an economy sustain? There can only be so many hairdressers, restaurants, sports centres, shops, pubs, insurances and banks, then what else can we do? Quite simply, the UK has become exactly what I feared most – an island dominated by an uneducated, violent, and drunken underbelly.
Witness some international conferences that I have attended and always, but always, the British are an absolute embarrassment. Invite a young graduate for a job interview and his expenses paid overnight costs will be spent in the bar and he will appear the next day “late”, dressed in jeans and a pullover (if you are lucky!), unshaven and with more holes in his visible body parts than a colander. If you can get him to write a few sentences, you will quickly realize that his CV was prepared by someone else as his spelling is nothing short of atrocious. Welcome to Britain 2007!

Posted by Ken Johns on November 16, 2007 8:03 AM
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I left the UK in 1984 for a posting to Geneva. Since then, there has been nothing to return to. I now live in Spain, where food, fuel, wine, housing and taxes are reasonably priced. Where the government’s hand in the affairs of its people is a light one; where the rubbish is collected every 1 or 2 days, and where I don’t have to listen to the jingoistic nonsense that Britain is best. It hasn’t been for a long time.
Posted by Peter Courtney on November 16, 2007 8:01 AM
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because it is very cold here now…
Posted by Mr A on November 16, 2007 8:01 AM
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Twenty years ago I left for excitement and variety and to escape the drabness of wage slavery and the middle management corporate crap Britain is so good at. But there are now many more reasons to stay away. GB is particularly bad at the Balance of life thing. It’s becoming an odious 1984 surveillance society made worse by the fact that the locals seem to accept each and every new attack on their freedom and privacy like sheep. Then there’s the obsession with this politically correct fantasy that GB is a successful multi- cultural society. I have lived in many countries and have always had to adapt to their values and cultures without difficulty. Why does GB have to bend to other peoples’ often very different values while trashing its own historical traditions and debasing its own people? Its all going to end in tears.
Posted by David Drake on November 16, 2007 7:52 AM
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Twenty years ago I left for excitement and variety and to escape the drabness of wage slavery and the middle management corporate crap Britain is so good at. But there are now many more reasons to stay away. GB is particularly bad at the Balance of life thing. It’s becoming an odious 1984 surveillance society made worse by the fact that the locals seem to accept each and every new attack on their freedom and privacy like sheep. Then there’s the obsession with this politically correct fantasy that GB is a successful multi- cultural society. I have lived in many countries and have always had to adapt to their values and cultures without difficulty. Why does GB have to bend to other peoples’ often very different values while trashing its own historical traditions and debasing its own people? Its all going to end in tears.
Posted by David Drake on November 16, 2007 7:49 AM
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The weather.
The fact that a lifetimes work just appears to get you a lorry load of bricks, tiles and a few bits of glass.
Traffic/transport Hell.
Overpopulation/overcrowding.
Taxation saturation.
Uncontrolled Immigration.
Being made to feel a stranger in your own country.
Loss of National identity (see above)
Succession of governments who appear to have forgotten to listen to the populace.

I’ve found that a second home abroad, allowing for several months to be spent away from this place, makes Britain a touch more tolerable.

Posted by KW.Evans on November 16, 2007 7:49 AM
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Why would anyone want to stay,a micro managed socialist state obsessed with cctv.Human rights for anyone other than the law abiding.finally a super mosque planned bigger than the new Olympic stadium.I could add more why bother?
Posted by carling on November 16, 2007 7:47 AM
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The mess, the crime, the bad manners, the traffic, the poor health system, the incompetance, the taxes (stealth), the cost, the LABOUR GOVERNMENT and worst of all Mr BROWN.
Need I say more!
Posted by MikeB on November 16, 2007 7:47 AM
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Simply, beacause I don’t want to live in a communist/facist/islamic state and be taxed to death to provide for it.
Posted by Steve on November 16, 2007 7:45 AM
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Why because britain is a dump!
It is dirty, sleazy, abusive, racist and too expensive.

Everybody seems to have forgotten how to be polite and what good manners are.

Children don’t receive a good education unless they go to a private school.

Parents seem to have forgotten how to be proper parents.

The once beautiful countryside is being ruined and treated as a dump.

The coastline is mistreated and polluted.

Public transport is a joke and overpriced when it does work.

Public services are a disgrace because of underfunding and only survive due to the goodwill of those poorly underpaid souls who work for them.

Just some of the reasons why I moved abroad 12 years ago and will be staying here.

Well done Labour you’ve really irrepairably f##ked thins up.
Posted by Jonathan Card on November 16, 2007 7:43 AM
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I thought about a summary but having now read all the letters, Ruth Tilson and Amanda Regan have already included them. Here I go anyway in case they missed something:
Slob culture, page 3 of the Sun (indicative of general mentality today), hoodies, hooligans, muggings, Big Brother on Channel 4 and in the high street, Health and Safety regulations, Political Correctness, Non-selective education, deterioration of education, NHS and quality of life, cost of living, intolerance of the motorist, road rage, Road Fund Licence cost, Petrol duty, TV Licence, Religious intolerance of CHRISTIANS (not BY Christians), Sleaze, Government lies on crime figures and most other topics of interest and relevance, uncontrolled immigration and generally being screwed.
Apologies if I’ve omitted something.
For those who blame everything bad on this government, no it’s been deteriorating much longer than that. This bunch have just concentrated on the bad bits and made them far worse.
I could have included EU but I’m still within it unfortunately.
Posted by John, Bremerhaven on November 16, 2007 7:42 AM
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Due to high house prices and package holidays, many Brits are falling in love with destinations and discovering that if they sell in UK, they can afford a property abroad and have money in the bank. This is not always a success. Usually there is a period of euphoria whilst Britian is slagged off as the worst country in the world. The second stage manifests itself in the expat Brit telling anyone who will listen that things should be run as it is at home and finally, the once euphoric expat does nothing but grumble about their new country and wish they could return. Moreover, they make little effort to integrate and prefer to socialise in cliques of other expat Brits. Why did they leave in the first place?
Posted by Nick on November 16, 2007 7:38 AM
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David, 7:49…I couldn’t have put it better myself. Unfortunately the main English speaking alternatives have all abolished the “retiree” immigrant category, otherwise I’d be off tomorrow…
Posted by fedupandenglish on November 16, 2007 7:33 AM
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Dear All,

David (Post 15/11/ @ 7:49pm)as so it the nail on the head. I agree with everything you say 100% & like so many people here they have got it rigt too.

For me, I’m one of those Britons too who is fleeing this cess-pit before it all gets out of hand.

Like so many on here I have worked all my life, paid my taxes, I wouldn’t even know what form to fill out to draw state benefits, but I’m so sick & tried of having the race card forced down my throat day in, day out! I’m not a racist, I don’t care if you are Pink, Black, White, Green with Yellow spots, but surely it makes sense to at least establish that people can speak basic English beofre coming here? Or at least have a skill to offer? That’s not being racist, that’s called “Common Sense”

I once said that very statement on forum 2 Months ago & was verbally attacked with the words “That reminds me why I left the UK, because of racist Biggots like you!”

I stressed I have Asian friends & this was not racist but common sense this guy, oh! By the way his name was Bazz (Draw your own conclussions from that tag) he was in Vancouver! Ex-pat from the UK 🙂 How Id love to be able to call someone a “Racist Biggot” for pointing out what so many of you have said on here, whilst watching the Whales of the coast of Vancouver! “Nice”

I’m leaving a business I have built up over 20 years & selling a nice house etc etc.. because this Government have made this country so un-bearable for me I cannot get out quick enough.

I would be interested to know though if any Govenment officials read this post with nearly 500,000. Brits over the last 3 years or so leaving for a better life, & lets face it they are not going to be your Asylum seekers or your Hoodies! But skilled people, with all that lost Tax Revenue which runs into Millions, Surely it has to come from the workers that are left here? Or a Tax on your rubbish maybe??

Furthermore, why is it in all this mess & utter Chaos in the UK? Tell me folks, When did you last see a Chinese person drawing dole? When has it ever been in a paper that a Chinese person employed the services of his No-win, No-fee Vulture to pursue a Hairdresser because of a Headscarf?

Exactly when have the Chinese in this country ever played the race card? In fact, do we have a “British-Chinese council of Britain?

Everytime this Govenment entertains these ridiculous claims from people they are just driving a bigger wedge between people, they would get more respect if people coming to this country were made to aspire to reach the level of application to gain entry in the first place. Instead of just letting everyone in then having to keep them.

Like someone once said “We will be the only country in the world to be occupied & taken over WITHOUT a war!

Also, a public responce from the Royal family to defend our hero’s in WW2 would be nice with regards to Dr Mohhamed Bari’s comments on the eve of rememberance Sunday his quote was “Britain is becoming like Nazi Germany”

My Goodness! This is the very country matey that has given you the life you have today!

Do you seriously think for 1 Minute you would be sitting where you are now, if it was not for our brave guys in WW2?

I doubt it! You really couldn’t make it up..

Gary (Birmingham)

Posted by Gary on November 16, 2007 7:30 AM
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Can I ask the Telegraph if they would be so good as to send all of these postings to the lunatic in ten Downing St and Dave? thank you.
Posted by Mr Barnett on November 16, 2007 7:27 AM
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Quite sinply,we now feel strangers in our own country. I now feel more at home in my husband’s place of birth, Northern Ireland where I am welcomed, the service in shops is second to none, and their OAP’s are really lookd after. Children all in smart uniforms. Family life sacrosant.
Posted by Armageddon on November 16, 2007 7:25 AM
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I have read all the comments and understand them BUT why wouldnt I leave England.Because it is my Country I speak the language i like fish and chips I like walking the fells and moors I like a good pint of beer and I want to stay so I can help to make this country great again this willnot happen if people run away from there responsibilities
Posted by Geoff on November 16, 2007 7:20 AM
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The few that have posted here and supported the government and way of life have not realised yet that they no longer live in the democracy they talk about and that their quality of life is not quite what others’ dollar/pound/Euro buys. They will when they grow up and stop believing the rubbish they are handed out daily. Or perhaps not……Who cares?
Posted by Ripsnorter (a very happy ex-pat) on November 16, 2007 7:19 AM
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I left in 1997 and jokingly said that i was leaving because of Tony Blair coming to power, 10 years on I can only say that I must have been some kind of visionary !!

I live in Switzerland now but also had 3 years in Munich. All I can say is that during that time I have never once felt threatened. I come back to the UK frequently for business and the reality is that immediately on arrival at Heathrow you are greeted by yobs (or scum as I would rather describe them) returning from a lagered up holiday in some unfortunate country. On driving on the M25 you are greeted by aggressive drivers who are just looking for some excuse to have a fight.

I read the Telegraph everyday and I am amazed at the negative reporting, if this really is the reality of life in the UK these days then honestly I really am glad to be out of it.

I think there is one final comment that I would like to make, people often ask me what do you think the most important thing is to a Brit my answer is very simple, fair play !!! and when you see what is happening in the UK today then all I can say is that most of it isn’t fair and that is what seriously pi**es people off. Whether it’s the post code lottery when it comes to medical care, Scots controlling England, illegal immigrants being allowed to stay, the rights of murderers being put ahead of those of those of victims e.t.c. I could go on forever. Address this and the UK has a chance,

Also should have mentioned that I am sitting here writing this message looking over the snow capped Alps, that helps as well !!!

Posted by Nello on November 16, 2007 7:13 AM
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Why? Taxes, taxes, taxes that are incredibly bad value. Political correctness and the nanny state help too.

I left 47 years ago, and cam back nine years ago for my children’s (private) education. I’m off again in a year’s time when they are finished and I can put my feet up.

The cost of housing is prohibitive for first time buyers straddled with student debts. That is the result of insane implementation of planning laws, the good old gold-plating of regulations. I tell my kids to go away for a few years to the Middle East or Asia and make some low taxed money before coming back.
Posted by oldasiahand on November 16, 2007 7:13 AM
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All these spineless people who are determined to emmigrate because of Migrants coming into the UK don’t seem to realise that they themselves are to become unwanted migrants in another country. The “Dominions” are not so keen to take British migrants anymore as they don’t assimilate into a multiculural society and are totally fed up with having to top up British pensions and re-educate your agressive children.

By fleeing like rats from a sinking ship you have taken the ‘Great’ out of Great Britain. Have a bit of intestinal fortitude and stand up and FIGHT for your rights; be it at the ballot box and/or by demonstration (before Broon makes it illegal). Take back your Country from Nulabour and the EU muppets.

ps. Australia is full up.
Posted by Boudicea on November 16, 2007 7:12 AM
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It seems remarkably obvious to me..confirmed by the most recent statistics..because immigration has remained seemingly unchecked and in a way that no other nation seems to tolerate. Our land mass is relatively small and our infrastructures are close to breaking point. It’s a tragedy and an irony when so many people want to come here.
Posted by Rachel A on November 16, 2007 7:10 AM
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ther are too much people in this country i fear for future
Posted by rickado on November 16, 2007 7:08 AM
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I have no doubt that its another lie that for every four British leaving the country five migrants arrive, thats not my experience.
I find it incredibly disturbing that so many from the third world are turning up onto the streets of a country that has one of the worlds highest costs of living, something is seriously wrong.
Posted by wayne on November 16, 2007 7:07 AM
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Why are so many Britons emigrating?
If you have to ask, you’ll never know.
Andrew Milner
Japan Alps
Posted by Andrew Milner on November 16, 2007 7:05 AM
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I left because of the weather and the miners strike (remember that?). I won’t ever come back because the quality of life here is so much better in every way – especially the weather.
Posted by Minerva in Germany on November 16, 2007 6:57 AM
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I was born and bred in England, but I live in Canada where I feel free, although I feel that gradually this too is no longer a Christian country.
Why is it okay to be of a minority faith and have ones religious rights protected, but one cannot have a Christmas tree but instead a holiday tree?
Posted by MRB on November 16, 2007 6:51 AM
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Why are people leaving ?…

GORDON BROWN and all he stands for.Who in their right mind would want to stay in an over taxed country PC led by the Moron and his band of lying “Yes Men”…and women if we include that apalling Smith person
Posted by pauline (ex pat in Thailand) on November 16, 2007 6:45 AM
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Its simple. This country is no longer a land of
opportunity for anyone who wishes to work hard.
The more you invest in your future in sheer hard
work, the more the government regards you as a
cash cow to milk in order to fund their own
inept, lavish, wasteful spending plans and create
an army of officials to implement more and more
EU legislation.
Is it any wonder that the middle classes enjoy a
little more than the odd tipple? These Socialist
robbers are enough to drive anyone to drink – if
you can still afford it.

As a well known TV character used to say- Long
Live the Revolution!!

Posted by Kelly James on November 16, 2007 6:42 AM
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No bulldogs leaving?
Stand and fight.
Posted by dave on November 16, 2007 6:41 AM
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This is from another article in your newspaper today – and a main contributory factor in people that love this country wanting to leave it…

Lt Col Carver said his men had fought conventional trench warfare, engaging a well-trained enemy from, at times, 15 feet away.

“There was some pretty fierce fighting in conditions you would sometimes see in World War Two, clearing buildings and trenches.”

The enemy was highly trained and well equipped, although others were poorly trained fanatics.

“The good ones are extremely good, religiously motivated and will stay and fight until the last,” Lt Col Carver said. “Sometimes they had to be winkled out of buildings at the point of a bayonet.”

He said the Taliban mounted more than 350 attacks on his troops.

“By the end of the Anglian tour, three quarters of shop fronts had been restored to Sangin, which had previously been a ghost town. A school for 500 boys and girls had opened and the population had electricity. The security threat had also dropped to ‘Northern Ireland levels’.”

Despite the heroism of the tour, one third of the battalion received no recognition for the fighting they experienced.

Although General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the Army, had indicated that a “Southern Afghanistan” clasp would be added to the Afghanistan campaign medal, it appears the MoD is dragging its feet over the issue.

The entire back row of three on parade at Pirbright Barracks, Surrey, did not get a medal as they had already received one during the “benign” Anglian tour of 2002.

Yesterday, the soldiers called for a recognition of the fighting they had experienced.
Posted by Paul Case on November 16, 2007 6:38 AM
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Why look for negative reasons for emigration? Obviously the idiots will cite the arrival of foreigners as the reason they themselves go and live amongst foreigners. This country is simply the most wonderful place to bring up children and enjoy a huge amount of personal freedom. Why move away?
Posted by John on November 16, 2007 6:36 AM
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I assume from the name that Chang Park, who comments here, is possibly from Hong Kong or China. I couldn’t put better my reasons for leaving the UK and going to China to make a living – Xie Xie Chang. I am one of the UK’s highest skilled 5-axis CNC machining technicians and a good business man (Regional Business Executive of the Year 1996), yet still unable to be successful in Briton. All the reasons why are better stated by others. I left in July 2005 and within months had set up my own business in China and was making more money than ever I had in the UK. Now, more than 2 years on I can tell you that I am an extremely well respected member of the Zhongshan community, give jobs to more than 200 skilled Chinese workers, have a community of wonderful friends, enjoy hot/warm weather most of the year, play basketball 3 times per week, cycle to work in the sun, have lost 2 stones, am tanned, and only have to work about 6 hours per day – oh, and earn an obsene amount of money. I give my warm and genuine thanks to Blair and Brown for so badly wrecking Britain that it gave me the insentive I needed to go elsewhere and have my wonderful new life. thanks Tony…
Posted by Gordon Styles on November 16, 2007 6:32 AM
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Most of the comments above have a degree of accuracy, and the theme running through them is a simple one – Britain is not a good place to be any longer. To those of us born and brought up in UK it has become an alien, unwelcoming place. Too many immigrants? It’s not the numbers which cause the problem, it is the fact that most of them want to change the country they are so desperate to come to. They want to enjoy all the (free)opportunities of the country which welcomes them, but change it so that the “indigenous” population becomes the outsiders. Not for me I’m afraid. I now live in Western Australia, enjoy the lifestyle, and pray that the Oz government learns its lesson on immigration from the UK mistakes – which are now irreversible.
Posted by david smith on November 16, 2007 6:31 AM
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There will be even more emigration in the next ten years. the next brain drain. Everyone who cannot afford a house will take their skills off shore. England will then be full off low skilled immigrants. R.I.P. England, god bless that once great country.
Posted by david (Madrid) on November 16, 2007 6:31 AM
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Never Have I read a more interesting collection of letters. I got out in 1950 after 7 yrs army W W 2. 57 yrs in Oz, no have not made my fortune but my three children and 6 grandchildren enjoy a very high standard of living. At age 90 I live in a little paradise midway between sydney and Brisbane.I would execute all British Prime ministers from Ted Heath onwards. Traitors all.
Posted by doug Jacques. on November 16, 2007 6:29 AM
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One trip round the World was enough to convince me that the UK was a toilet…..Even the poorest Pacific Isanders had a better lifestyle than us and I speak as a well healed lawyer!!
Posted by james rea on November 16, 2007 6:27 AM
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One trip round the World was enough to convince me that the UK was a toilet…..Even the poorest Pacific Isanders had a better lifestyle than us and I speak as a well heeled lawyer!!
Posted by james rea on November 16, 2007 6:27 AM
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We left the UK because Enoch Powell was right! The England I grew up in no longer exists. How sad.
Posted by Paul Blears on November 16, 2007 6:26 AM
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Racist fools: you go out into the world and encourage people to come to the Uk and then you whine.
For centuries you pirates plundered and troubled the world: this is your karmic justice.
However I still love the British and think all these foreign forces will finally help to civilize you.
Other great powers are on the rise in Asia, finally recovering from your helping hand, and I have met many English immigrants living there. But of course white migration is justified. Hypocrites.
Remember the words of that great English man: no man is an island entire of itself each is a part of the main.
When you come to my country we shall treat you with respect.

Posted by sue on November 16, 2007 6:22 AM
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Its quite simple socialism is the root of all evil in the
UK. They have destabilised our country, ruined our
culture are destroying our heritage and created a
broken society.

Posted by Richard K on November 16, 2007 6:21 AM
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Louis Hamilton can’t get out fast enough…
Posted by Nigel Wroe on November 16, 2007 6:17 AM
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We left last February, and now live in Spain. Two things prompted our move – a better quality of life for our young family – for all the reasons already stated, and also the fact that we were impotent in the UK.
Alledgedly we had the power to change things (by voting) but in reality until ‘none of the above’ is a serious election choice, then the politicians on all sides of the house will remain unaccountable. So we said goodbye to Animal Farm (UK).
Posted by Chris Davenport on November 16, 2007 6:16 AM
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I would love to have a pair of the Rose Coloured Spectacles that Mr Elwood P Dowd
wears.
Posted by Mildly Rightwing on November 16, 2007 6:13 AM
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Steve Jones says that if you don’t like the government, vote a new one. Perhaps he will explain two things; how to vote a new Government when the present rabble can cling to power for another four years and what to do if the scum get re-elected. Just because they win the election doesn’t mean to say that they are any good, or that everyone agrees with them. Minorities have rights too, or had you forgotten?

Answers please, Mr Jones.
Posted by Le Beauf on November 16, 2007 6:09 AM
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My family and I migrated to Australia in 2004, I’ll
never come back. I’m deeply committed to my
English heritage and values with out left wing
luvies telling me what to think. The life style,
personal respect and family values are the
central aspect of life in Oz. Nu Labour have
ruined England with their social engineering. The
main issue for Australia is the drought and
climate change.

A proud Englishman who loves Australia and its
people
Posted by David Kokke on November 16, 2007 6:04 AM
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The UK I knew died when so called new labour came to power. the problem stems from the do good lefties when they decide to give someone who’s just stepped of the boat more rights & priviledges than someone who has contributed all their working life towards a welfare system for the less fortunate you have to ask yourself why, what’s the point why should I work to pay for someone who came to england purely to grasp as much as they could free house, free food, free health care… yes please & on top of that they are given more rights than someone who was born & bred in England, is law abiding contributes by paying all stae & local taxes & struggles to make ends meet.
Since I left England 4 years ago I’ve had a life not just survivng but life.
and before anyone says you should use your vote I did, I voted against Labour because I knew this was the sort of situation the country would get into…. Tony Blair (aka the smiling assassin) but no one realised until it was too late.
I’m glad I moved it’s best decision that I ever made.
Posted by new life down under on November 16, 2007 6:01 AM
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The level of consistency in the comments makes it clear why many people have either already left or are considering leaving. The posting by david on November 15, 2007 7:49 PM particularly resonates with me. I have been living in Hong Kong for 20 years and love it here. I find it hugely ironic that this former British Colony has kept intact all the good things that the former administration worked so hard to establish – clean and fair government, super efficient, helpful and polite civil service, fantastic infrastructure, highly motivated work force, low taxes, very low crime, efficient, polite and very visible police force, and the list goes on….. Why can British ideas of administration work so well here, and yet back home they make such a total cock-up of it astonishes and saddens me, and the plain truth is that in what used to be Great Britain the indigenous population has been so marginalised by successive governments, but none more so than by this utter disgrace now led by the unelected Gordon Brown, whose total disregard for the democratic tradition that safeguarded freedoms for centuries has resulted in a level of political “correctness” that is ruining this once proud nation. The latest bombshell in the not so slow march to a full police state announcing “Fortress Britain” with further curbs on freedom and blatantly illegal demands for sensitive financial information in the name of battling terrorism is just another swipe at criminalising ordinary folk and further buttressing the power of the state over every aspect of our lives. I’ve often thought about returning to England, the birth country of my ancestors going back at least 800 years, and a country I’ve been less and less proud to defend thanks entirely to the absolute incompetence of Blair and Brown and the gaggle of muppets surrounding them. I would not even consider moving back to England to live as things stand, and I even hesitate to visit the place nowadays with the frightening yob culture that pervades society. The unrestrained immigration of muslims into the UK and the concomitant pandering to their prehistoric views on life will undoubtedly lead to a serious rift in society. Britain NEEDS to find it’s balls again, throw out this traitorous government and start to review and roll-back countless curbs and injustices established by NuLabour. Everything has to be reassessed, starting with our membership of the EU and the taking back of decision making to Westminster from the unaccountable freeloaders in Brussels to stopping any further immigration immediately, and actively and aggressively rounding up and deporting all muslim extremists, be they hate preaching Imams or others who do not wish to live by British standards of dress and behaviour. I consider myself totally non-rascist, and love engaging with people of all races and creeds, however I am conscious in Hong Kong of being a guest in a predominantly Chinese society, and I respect and uphold those values as theirs by right, and expect my birthright to be equally upheld back “home”. Unfortunately HM Government prefers to uphold rights and values of the criminal classes and new immigrants above those of it’s majority white, christian, law abiding population who may one day rise up against the thugs in power. When that day comes, I may consider returning to a country rebuilding it’s core values, but for now it appears to be flushing itself down the lavatory of police state rule and undemocratic, dictatorial governance. And so I happily continue my stay in a very free and safe society here in Hong Kong, China.
Posted by Simon (Expat) on November 16, 2007 6:00 AM
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I left the UK after 20 years two years ago – born in Australia, raised in England & Germany. We could not afford to save on two salaries in the UK; now I can save 1000 GBP a month without problems. We now have a housekeeper and are starting a family. My career has taken off like a rocket. I miss some things about the UK and Ireland, but not much any more. A shame really
Posted by Christian on November 16, 2007 5:57 AM
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I worked in the Public Sector for thirty years, and was fed up with the Government constantly limiting what I could earn, and yet continually raising taxes and giving themselves above inflation pay rises.
I also became totally disillusioned by the total failure of Government to tackle the problem of benefits, giving away money I had earned that had been taken in tax, to people that are too lazy to find a job or to immigrants who have made no contribution whatsoever, and know how to play the system. Where is the justice?.
At least now I can afford to live without worrying about my finances.
Posted by Phil Sale (Ex Pat) on November 16, 2007 5:57 AM
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Main reason for a person such as me is work. Where does a 60 year old find a position in the UK relative to his experience. Why should I be forced to take a lesser position or become one of the vast army of ‘consultants’ in the UK because of my age. Overall the country does the best it can with what diminishing finances it has available. Over the years as with all former countrys that once had great empires the situation will only get worse. It will not be long before the UK government will start to tax people like me. I have no problem with that as long as they pay me all that would be due if I was to stay in UK as an unemployed person.
Posted by Pedro on November 16, 2007 5:56 AM
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I have had enough of being ‘positively’ discriminated against.
Posted by Nick O on November 16, 2007 5:52 AM
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England is a small island and therefore with open borders, less immigration control and less expensive air fares, people are spreading their wings. it is human nature to look for greener pastures. Regardless of where one chooses to live, there are pros and cons; do not find scapgoats for emigrating, Britain istoo small and there is a whole world out there waiting to be discovered, so why not.
Posted by z.hudson on November 16, 2007 5:51 AM
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Why are so many Britons emigrating?

I think the answer is because we can.

Emigration is now easier than it has ever been and the cost and availability of travel is no longer a barrier to change. Furthermore, we are all able to arbitrage by trading in our over-valued houses in the UK and then use the equity to buy superior properties elsewhere to take advantage of a quality of life that is both better and, more importantly, valued by the nationals in the countries in which we choose to live.

A leisurely 2-hour restaurant lunch of 4 courses plus wine and coffee for £10 is I regret infinitely more pleasurable than some offering in cardboard box which is the UK equivalent.

Don’t get me wrong. The UK has many advantages and is still a great country but there are better places to live.

Roger M, SW France
Posted by Roger Mortimer on November 16, 2007 5:50 AM
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Our continued membership of both the EU and
the Commonwealth, the former an enormous
drain on our national resources, a creeping
danger to our national identity and a politicians’
‘gravy train’; the latter an obsolete, private ward
caring for corrupt dictators looking for another
dose of British cash.

Sorry but to put the above into perspective,
being in the EU is what gives us British expats
the right to go and live in countries such as
France and Spain!
Posted by louise on November 16, 2007 5:49 AM
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No way would I move back to bring my children up in the gutter that is now the United Kingdom. The young people are now the ‘Trailer Trash’ of Europe.

What a bloody mess Gordon!!!!!
Posted by Wheely on November 16, 2007 5:48 AM
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Melbourne:
Bright & Sunny Cloudless Spring Day – 28C
Forecast:
Saturday Min 16 Max 24
Sunday Min 13 Max 29
Monday Min 18 Max 33
Tuesday Min 18 Max 35

And you need to ask, “Why?”
Posted by Steve Symmons on November 16, 2007 5:39 AM
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I would just like to reiterate all the above comments about lunatic politicians, uncontrolled immigration and political correctness. If only we had listened to Enoch Powell!

The royal family and the “knock on effect” of the establishment and class system hasn’t helped either as peerages are handed out to inappropriate idiots for political gain and posturing whilst we hold on to the past and the Empire and Commonwealth instead of moving forward.

My father and father in law were second world war veterans and sadly say they would never fight for the country again as it is not worth fighting for. Unlike in other countries like the States they are given little respect for the sacrifices they made.

For those of you who call us cowards for voting with our feet. Wake up – there is no point fighting a battle when the war has already been won. The UK has been changed forever – if you want a better life get out quick!
Posted by Carol on November 16, 2007 5:35 AM
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Can things get any worse? I used to think Brtain was the greatest country on earth bar none,(prior to becoming a European citizen an event in which I had no real say) in recent years successive inept governments, law makers and chancellors have finally bought this great country to it’s knees, we the middle / working class of this once proud nation have seen our taxes increased year after year after year,our pensions decimated and now they are going to tax the amount of rubbish we are allowed to put out for collection.
I for one will probably never leave the country again I tried once with disastrous consequenses, but if my children asked me for my advice I would tell them to get out now while they have the chance, in five ten years time there will be nothing here for them, they will not be able to afford houses,and will not be allowed to get assisted housing because like everything else it will be means tested and they will be punished because I earn reasonable a salary.
It is time this country started to block immigration and stand up for it’s own citizens.
Posted by taxedtothehilt on November 16, 2007 5:29 AM
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To those ex-pats that came to America, we’re glad to have you. 🙂
Posted by Mary on November 16, 2007 5:21 AM
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The polical parties in the UK should take note and not keep their heads buried in the sand. There is more discontent that ever seen before. I am sure that millions of Brits would emigrate if they could. However, the vast majority have no choice but to stay and suffer in their country whose politicians have failed them and continue to fail them. They will not hear the people until it is too late and the consequences will be catastrophic.
Posted by sandradalton on November 16, 2007 5:13 AM
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It has been several times in the responses and needs to be highlighted ” my country has left me ” I have already got one foot in a European country and have learnt the language. If you move to a small town and become one of them it is surprising how they welcome you with open arms and still regard you as an englishman as we ourselves want to be thought of i.e not socially engineered into an alien culture.
Posted by john chambers on November 16, 2007 5:10 AM
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I now live in Moscow. However when I go back it feels that the totalitarian state is now in London.

In the UK you are constantly tracked by cameras , all phone calls and e-mails are recorded, guilty or not, the authorities can enter your home, look into your affairss and even deatin you without reason or just cause, salaries are taxed out of sight, normal peaople are presumed guilty and can be fined at any given moment , people are afraid to speak what they feel in fear of being considered a racist or worse and people are now leaving in their thousands because they feel that if they do not go now , they may not be allowed to go with all their possesions soon.

I am afraid that whilst other countries decided to embrase the free market and personal choice for the UK , 1984 is just around the corner.
Posted by chris downing on November 16, 2007 5:10 AM
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My father’s father and all their fathers before them suffered for a thousand years or more to get some semblance of justice and freedom in this land. My fathers father was a professinal soldier who survived the trenches of the Western Front. My father came home from Dunkirk, the North African Campaign and the Battle of the Bulge to a country ripe for full blown socialism.
Since then, politicians puffed with power extracted more and more of the country’s resources to buy votes from the voters who were willing to sell. It was a Faustian exchange of power for entitlement. The consequence was that the word went out to the third world that if you could cross the channel you too would be a beneficiary of this largesse. An example. In 1977 I worked as an architect renovating terrace houses in Small Heath and Smethwick in Birmingham for Housing Associations providing free housing for families that had just arrived from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

Fast forward thirty years to September 2007 when I returned to the center of Birmingham on a Saturday afternoon and was stunned by the crowds of young people and in particular the number of non whites. In fact I did an unscientific survey of people of child bearing age going down an escallator in one of the new shopping malls and found that 55% were non white. With current birthrates I will return in 18 years, about one generation from now and find the number is in the 75% range. Do I blame people from overseas trying to take advantage of socialism? Of course not. If I were in their shoes I would do the same. And the irony of it all is the immigrants think that we are fools.

The unintended consequence of this mass migration is balkanisation. When the economic cycle worsens as it inevitably will, and jobs become scarce and people can’t feed their families and authority continues to erode then violence will erupt along the fault lines of race and culture. This is what the authorities fear and why they are bending over even more backwards to appease the sub groups. This in turn leads to more entitlement with resulting resentment fear and anger. An anecdote. As I walked in the streets and studied the passers bye I had a sense of alienation, of discontent. Rarely was eye contact made. …..it never used to be that way.

I think this is why, like myself the indiginous whites are leaving the country. The other reason is that it really does rain a lot and the skies are often cloudy.

Posted by Robert on November 16, 2007 5:07 AM
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My company assigned me temporarily to work in Brisbane, Australia three years ago. I can not wait to get back to the UK. I have not met a more genuine, humour filled, honest nationality than the Brits. Even the weather won’t stop me going home!
Posted by Neil on November 16, 2007 5:05 AM
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Why ?
The foreigner currently squatting in no.10, that’s why.
But then this was probably his plan all along.

Posted by M P Telkman on November 16, 2007 4:52 AM
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The figures for emigration are actually much higher. Many people live abroad and have not notified authorities in the UK, for they go back to use the NHS. I even know of some couples whom get their coal allowance and live in the Canaries!
Posted by Martin on November 16, 2007 4:50 AM
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I will be going to live in France when I retire. Why?. Simple!. I am treated less like a foreigner there than I am in my native England. I can also afford to live better there as the total I pay for “council tax”, bin tax and tv licence is 325 euros (approx £200) instead of £1200 or more.The miserly UK pension, the lowest in europe, will go a lot further there than in this over-governed, crime-ridden, over-priced country.
Posted by Ira Rose on November 16, 2007 4:48 AM
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No moral values just about sums it up. That is why our family have left UK
Posted by mavis leigh on November 16, 2007 4:42 AM
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Brits are emigrating today for the same reason that I did 35 years ago: to get away from a class society, to give my children a better opportunity
and education of my choice, and to live my life in the manner I wished,
not as dictated by an uncaring bureaucracy.

Posted by Albert Richards on November 16, 2007 4:33 AM
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No mention of foreign nationals leaving to return
home or elsewhere?
Posted by Quietzapple on November 16, 2007 4:22 AM
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my mother lives a beautiful village in the “country side” not far from Sevenoaks in Kent. The houses on her road were built in the 20’s on quarter acre lots and probably sell for well over 400k. Virtually every house has been broken in to once if not twice. Cars stolen and broken in to.
I live in the US now, in a semi rural community similar to hers … we leave our house and cars unlocked … I don’t think there has ever been a house burglary here.

Posted by Nick on November 16, 2007 4:20 AM
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The top five percent live the life of Reilly. As for the rest…I think it was summed up by Austin Mitchell who once reportedly said, ‘They live in sheer hell and don’t even know it.’
Posted by James gregory on November 16, 2007 4:14 AM
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Too much immigration, too crowded
Over control by Labour,taxes, intrusive laws.
Handover over of powers to Soviet European
Union’s
unelected foreigh commissars.
Continuing problems for decades never get
resolved.
Over taxation

Posted by jon on November 16, 2007 4:13 AM
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As someone urinated on my gatepost in a drunken state at 5 in the afternoon and I was threatened for the umpteenth time walking back from the tube station to my house, it was the last straw! The offer came to live and work in Asia and I jumped at it – my media working, Guardian reading friends just like me report little to me that would bring me home. I’ll not be seeing you soon.
Posted by GO on November 16, 2007 3:59 AM
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Posted by Chang Park on November 15, 2007 8:46 PM
The post by Chang Park should be framed and placed on Mr Browns wall! I totaly agree with every bit of it.
Posted by Hugh Mc Hale on November 16, 2007 3:57 AM
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Those who have means and don’t want to be swamped by floods of unwanted immigrants just jump off the board of Britannia, as she has been topeadoed by New Labour, before she sinks
Posted by James Wong on November 16, 2007 3:55 AM
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I’ve left the UK (MSc. and PhD in hand) and have shared quite a few of the complaints heard in many of the posts on this page – I guess the principal reason for me was job opportunities, though other factors such as lower crime were also of importance.

In all honesty however, I don’t think that the UK is that bad and what you can read in the press is often a far cry from actual reality. On a recent business trip, I thought it was rather nice and from the statistics presented in the article a 50% return rate amongst emigrants doesn’t seem that bad really. I can guess that amongst younger emigrants they can return to the UK with some good skills that they can then capitalize on. I might do similar.
Posted by richy (in Japan) on November 16, 2007 3:53 AM
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I’m one of those – went to the USA, and finding it impossible to return. Why – as soon as a recruiter/employer learns I’m in another country, they drop you like a hot potato – Help! And heck I’m a more capable and useful Manufacturing/Operations Exec than when I left, so dear old Blighty whats up?
Posted by David on November 16, 2007 3:52 AM
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Most of us left in order to get away from the likes of Elwood P Dowd (see his posting below). The word “ignorance” is related to the verb “to ignore”. Britain has been steadily declining and nothing is being done about it because ignorant fools like Elwood P Dowd can see nothing wrong with it. He finishes his post with “I honestly believe that some of the doom mongers posting here would not have stayed in the UK even if they had been allowed to flog the servants and shoot Johnny Foreigner like in the old days.” What does this sanctimonious moron take us for?
Posted by Lee Jakeman on November 16, 2007 3:40 AM
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Umm, simple, the weather is cr*p !
Posted by Johnny Brit on November 16, 2007 3:40 AM
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Left UK for Oz 15 years ago for all the usual reasons. I go back every year and have seen the mood change recently. The UK, and a lot of Europe, now appears to be a crisis or two away from some serious upheavals of the violent variety. It is like a boiler with the safety valve welded shut – quiet and passive now, but ready to blow!
Posted by ThatPom on November 16, 2007 3:39 AM
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I often wonder if the people who fought in two world wars for the Britain they loved would have done so if they had any idea of what it was going to become. They didn´t fight for this did they?
Posted by David Watts on November 16, 2007 3:36 AM
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Who in their right mind would want to live in a society with an eroded rule of law, have schools that are not allowed to control discipline and instil education, that reward the slackers and penalize those that work and want to make life better for themselves and their families? Doesn’t take you to be a rocket scientist to figure this out…………
Posted by Max on November 16, 2007 3:36 AM
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I got recruited by a foreign university, and I’ve
not come back yet because I’m put off by the
work culture of meaningless targets and quantity
over quality. Too much time spent doing
paperwork and looking at graphs, too little time
spent doing purposeful work.

The other thing that puts me off is the level of
crime. It’s probably the same all over Europe,
but not enough is done to clamp down on
particularly juveniles, because the whole culture
is too indulgent towards them and their bad
behaviour.
Posted by hubert on November 16, 2007 3:28 AM
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Generations of politicians and the so-called “Great and the Good” have heaped up the funeral pyre and now the flames are starting to lick the putrid, maggot-riddled, gangrenous, moribund carcass of the England I would once have willingly laid down my life to protect. God defend New Zealand from such “trahaison des clercs”.
Posted by Elendil on November 16, 2007 3:26 AM
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Here in Brisbane, the major reason people I talk to have emigrated is quite simply that they are racists. As far as they are concerned, there are far too many black people in the UK and (apparently) it’s become illegal to sing the National Anthem, or something.

The irony that they then become immigrants in another country appears to be lost on these people.
Posted by Nick Waddell on November 16, 2007 3:17 AM
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I’m an ex-pat living in Australia, I left 8 years ago because of being in fear walking down my own street!! Not being able to walk around Manchester on my own in the dark, people being stabbed, people being mugged, I love it over here at least you’re not in fear everyday and you can have a conversation with like minded people. However the health system at home is excellent as is the way our government look after people who need it, the english also all have a great sense of humour that you can’t find anywhere else in the world, I just wish everyone would calm down on mugging each other and trying to ‘pull a fast one’ and it’s actually not such a bad place to be (apart from the fact its also freezing) lol.
Posted by louise on November 16, 2007 3:12 AM
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We left for Canada in 1969 because We saw what was coming. In Canada my wife got cancer and died two and a half years later. In the interim the government bent over backwards to give us every help they could during her illness and after her death. As she was terminal, half of her future pension given to her in monthly installments so I could stay home and nurse her. We were given morphine for her on the honour system and a nurse came every day, no charge. Hospital time was $8 per day; one major operation cost the state $75,000 for that day. When I became a pensioner, the remaining balance of her pension was tacked onto mine. I even had money left over from what the govt. gave me to pay for the funeral. What could the UK possibly offer to match what Canada did for us? My loyalty is owed 100% to this country, which helped us and looked after us. There is nothing you could offer me to induce me to return. The kids are all well-paid professionals and my grandkids are tall, healthy, true blue Canucks with pleasant manners and no attitude. The best decision we ever made was to leave and we never went back, not even for a holiday, known here as “The $1,000 cure” the cost of a trip home to cure homesickness. I don’t even draw my UK pension; you need it more than I do, was my reasoning as I’m in fair shape financially. I feel sorry for hose without the qualifications needed to get into Canada and I thank God we had the brains to make leaving the UK a project and working to save the fare and getting out when we got over 40 – yes forty! – job offers from Canada after sending resumes to some 75 companies.
Posted by Michael in Vancouver on November 16, 2007 3:03 AM
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I left the UK ten years ago. The reason I left was because I’d married an Australian girl who after six years living in London with me, wanted to return home.
I cannot claim that any one thing drove me out but numerous aspects of life in Britain will prevent me from ever returning.
Firstly, I do not want to live in a country where the ‘rights’ of criminals are placed above the law-abiding and where the police are a craven bunch of form-fillers and the judiciary, a joke.
Nor do I wish to reside in a country of mosques and muslims, where terrorists are given sanctuary and trained to kill their hosts. This is not the country I grew up in.
Lastly, it’s too damn expensive and the weather sucks.

Posted by Nowinoz on November 16, 2007 2:59 AM
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I can trace my family back to 1209 in the UK – all my previous generations served their country throughout the centuries- but it is no longer the same country. We left in 2002 for Australia – never looked back. Australia is the UK 30 years ago – or more. Manners mean something, it is not PC ridden, the weather is great, the people are friendly, there are jobs here and still more skilled workers are needed.
It is not easy emigrating – the year of adjustment can be hard – but it is worth it – to see your children in a safe environment, to not be constantly harangued by police sirens and noisy neighbours, to not worry about the safety of your family when they go out, to be able to live in a decent house in a safe neighbourhood for half the price. Yes there is crime here, taxes, every country has its problems and yes there are many nationalities here – this is how Australia is made up – but the quality of life and the opportunity for the next generation is superb. It is a smaller market and you have to work hard to succeed as a result, but the upsides far outweigh the downsides.
Posted by Andy on November 16, 2007 2:58 AM
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Moving to France or Spain may turn out be going from frying pan to fire, because of their very low birth rates and, at least in France, high Moslem immigration. Read Mark Steyn’s book “America Alone” soon to become available in Britain.
Posted by Lionel Albert on November 16, 2007 2:58 AM
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I am English and when I was working in the Middle East I was being helped by a Palastinian agent to progress my resident visa. The official said to him “Why are you helping this man, his country gave your country to the Jews” I feel that we are giving our country to all and sundry thus changing its very nature. Visit east London and I could well be back in the east. It is not a question of race. It is a question of balance. Let it swing too far one way and you provide recruits for the BNP and we could end up with a Nazi britton. Yes it could happen. I do not suppose they thought it could happen in Germany. I love to have a multi racial society but I feel we are in danger with the exodus of upsetting this fine balance and mix. I would urge a greater degree of monitoring and control. This would benifit UK and foreign residents alike.
Posted by John Clark on November 16, 2007 2:50 AM
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I suspect that a large number of people leaving this country are doing so on the basis that if they are going to have to live in a foreign country, it might as well be one which they themselves have chosen to live in.
Posted by Jim Dandring on November 16, 2007 2:46 AM
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The attractions to other places (e.g. France) include: less expensive, better overall value for the money, more open space, far more sun, less (and more predictable) rain, greener grass, some new adventures, pleasant locals whom we can generally ignore, decent fellow ex-pat community, great cheap local wine and spirits (and produce), no effing smoking bans, plenty of other people who speak sort-of English, relative anonymity about what we were (and were not) back home… a new life if you will, political systems we don’t even try to understand….. and fewer people belly-aching about everything under the sun and doing nothing about it.
Posted by Henry Cave Devine on November 16, 2007 2:42 AM
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Sammy Lane said earlier “WE ARE A DEMOCRACY.” I am afraid you are wrong. In England at the last general election more people voted Conservative than Labout but the latter got a thumping majority.

THERE IS NO DMOCRACY IN BRITAIN – IT IS A CASH FOR HONOURS BANANA REPUBLIC!
Posted by Christopher Larmer on November 16, 2007 2:37 AM
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I left 13yrs ago because I saw what Britain was becoming. However I will return to fight once the revolution starts and I truly believe that will be quite soon. Many expats are coming together in our host countries, we are a successful bunch and are doing well financially and gaining influence in politics. Eventually we will raise money and political support for a regime change in Britain and if it needs to be violent, so be it. Gordan Brown seems to forget what happened to the last Scot that used the English as his personal piggy bank, King Charles I.
Posted by Paul on November 16, 2007 2:36 AM
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“Because the good parts of being British (Radio 4, Marmite, Mark Kermode…) are on the inter-web thingy.

And the bad parts (24 hour surveilance, taxes, Gordon Brown) are not here.”

Never a truer word spoken. The UK’s media is its greatest asset, and you can now get it abroad easily. I left for Canada five years ago. Would I go back? Not a chance. Every time I go back to visit relatives I’m stunned by how bad the infrastructure is, how crowded and tatty the place is and (especially) how rude and aggressive the kids are.
Posted by Phil on November 16, 2007 2:35 AM
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As a practicing Catholic I wanted my children and their children to grow up as a part of their society.

I don’t think Britain now allows that. We are marginalised and vilified by a society smugly assured by its militant atheism.

If however the demographers are correct, and the net immigration figures you provide seem to support this, militant atheism will only be a passing fad.

In not too many years Britain will be an Islamic country .

Perhaps the new world will wake up to the narcissistic nature of militant atheism before it’s too late for it as well.

Anyway this family is going to give it a darn good try.

We’ll be praying for you
Posted by peter hart on November 16, 2007 2:28 AM
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The contry is being over run by people who want to change to where they came from. Although the UK has a tradition, although recent in historical terms, of tolerating other religions we need to remember that it is needs to be tolerant but it is a christian country.
In saying that I’ll not be back, I’m happy down under.
Posted by Robert on November 16, 2007 2:15 AM
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You must be mental, to ask why citizens leave- any opinion contrary to the loony left who couldn’t get a place in a mental institution because they are so full of themselves and you are immediately pooh hood as racist, fascist or any ist you could think of!
Truth has been sacrificed for spin- the old adage that “bulls**t baffles brains” – and we have had our share over the last 10 years. Tony Blair left the job and we don’t hear about him – so much for the respect he generated during his tenure- to correct the years of mismanagement will need a “hard heart and a sharp knife” to cut out the rot. The BBC respect for our sovereign indicates how low we have sunk- coupled with the fiasco over Norther Rock and Banks has brought England to an unprecedented low
Posted by Oliver on November 16, 2007 2:14 AM
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Oh dear where to start. It all boils down to a few things really.
Quality of life and freedom from oppression from an over regulated nanny state. I owned my an Electronics design consultancy but was getting more and more bogged down and frustrated by petty rules and regulations and over-taxation.
The end came for me in 2004, my wife is Thai and my daughter is Thai/British, we were living in a sleepy, peaceful Suffolk village population 235. Then in the space of just one month we were invaded by 95 East European immigrants who started working for a local food processing plant. From there on life just became one nightmare after another, they turned the quiet leafy lanes into a racetrack using old bangers which were not taxed or insured and with no MOT’s. My local pub was turned into an East European working mans club, the foul language was appalling and Friday and Saturday nights were hell and normally resulted in drunken brawls. My wife was subjected on a number of occasions to extreme racism at the hands of these immigrants. My daughters school was overrun by East European kids and English was no longer the prevailing language.
So in one short month in May 2004 our lives had been totally destroyed and my wife and daughter were distraught.
So I made the decision to move to my wife’s country which we did in February 2005. Do I regret it? no way my life now is so much better freed from the shackles of petty bureaucratic rules and regulations.

to George Brown 6-44pm
The answer to your question is that the people who are leaving are generally the Brits who have been successful in life and they are taking their wealth away from the UK in ever increasing numbers and are being replaced by unskilled low paid migrants. If 200,000 Brits are leaving each year and they take a minimum of £250k with them then £50 billion is leaving each year. This exodus of wealth and people must very soon have a serious impact on the UK economy which is already seriously in debt to the tune of some £560 billion.
When I left I was the first one of 15 very close business associates to do so, now there is one couple left in the UK and they are just waiting to sell their house before moving to France. R.I.P UK.
Posted by mike williams in Bangkok on November 16, 2007 2:10 AM
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I’m living in the US. Americans talk about illegal immigrants with anxiety. The difference here is that the (mainly) Mexicans aspire to the American dream. In the UK, so many of immigrants hate us and despise our way of life but take take and take again. I feel sick to my stomach about the destruction of British values and my inability to comment without being called a racist. In the US, there’s freedom of speech; in the UK, you can’t say boo to a goose.That’s not why my two uncles gave their lives in the service of their country. I cannot help but wonder wonder how many of these new immigrants would even cross the road for the UK if it didn’t suit them.
Posted by Martin on November 16, 2007 2:06 AM
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Apart from a couple of really stupid comments, the answers here do seem to have a certain consistency, don’t they.
Posted by jon livesey on November 16, 2007 1:57 AM
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My hubsand and I are emigraitng FROM Australia TO England precisely for the reasons you all identify as being problems in your own country. You’re not alone english natives- we’re leaving Australia because we can see the Labor government will get in and open the flood gates to a frightening socialist ‘democracy’ our already steep taxes will be increased to cover. At least the UK has far less flies and sun- skin cancer ain’t healthy!
Posted by Lee on November 16, 2007 1:54 AM
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High crime, high cost of houses, high cost of living are the main reasons that britons leave their own country because england deserted them allowing too many immigrants in and giving them more rights etc than the people who lived there. I recognised these problems nearly 20yrs and migrated to Australia with my family and have never looked back, its the oppersite of the UK with lifestyle and sunshine !!! Its the lucky country.
Posted by Glenn From Adelaide on November 16, 2007 1:51 AM
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I left England because it is miserable, the food sucks, the people are uncultured, it stinks, it has the highest crime rate and alcoholics in europe, corruption, and finally I can not find a good looking person if my life depended on it.
Posted by William on November 16, 2007 1:48 AM
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There are many reasons why so many of the indigenous population are leaving Britain. All are the consequence of the incompetent NuLabour Nanny State Government. Some are:
1. Stealth taxation that is extortionate
2. Nanny State dumbing down of life, e.g. education, TV, Elf & Safety
3. The Big Brother Labour Gestapo prying and interfering in peoples’ everyday lives
4. The flood of immigration destroying English culture especially the influx of Muslim barbaric fanatics
5. NuLabour incompetence – billions of taxpayers’ money wasted through incompetence.
6. The lies and deceit of Government Ministers, i.e. WMD & the Iraq invasion, the Kelly affair, lies about National Statistics (immigration, budget over-runs, etc.), cash for honours, etc

I could go on and on and on.

That’s why I left!

Posted by Christopher Larmer on November 16, 2007 1:41 AM
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Why are so many Britons emigrating? A host of reasons, of course. Though I don’t know the statistics, I can’t say anything about the trends. Still I know enough from visiting relatives and friends in the Britain that the quality of life (including living space and other creature comforts) compares less favourably than in many parts of the world, including of course, boring, steady-as-you-go Canada. Britain does have its pluses, mind you, and if you have a decent job, own your home, and live in the suburbs or the countryside, all the better. But the majority of the working class lives in cramped, grimy cities. Job opportunities for the young are limited, a situation caused in part by the decline in manufacturing. Except Marmite (my favourite spread and in defence of which, I get into much lively discussion in the office), what other product proudly says, Made in Britain? No wonder Britain boasts a large presence in the Arab Gulf states, where the ordinary Englishman is treated like royalty, can enjoy a better standard of living, and save up some money, at least for a while, I know this from working there. The small size of Britain is also a disadvantage. You pick a point in the middle of England, drive east or west, north or south, and soon you hit coastline. Island people are restless by nature, and with the Viking genes, the English will forever be sailing, which by the way, continues a proud tradition made famous by people such as Sir Walter Raliegh, Sir Francis Drake, Captain John Smith, and, best of all, Captain Morgan.
Terence (Ontario, glorious Canada)
Posted by Terence on November 16, 2007 1:37 AM
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I emigrated recently.

I earned a (not vey good) salary by being inventive, creating jobs for other Brits, creating wealth.

I was taxed ridiculously.

Those taxes were given to the bureaucrats, lawyers, welfare claimants, EU immigrants and politicians etc who do basically nothing much constructive, ie, to the ‘parasites’ in Britain.
Education and hard work, & constructive talent are not much valued in the UK now.

The weather didn’t even enter my calculations to leave!

There is no significant reason I can think of ever to bother to return to the UK.

Posted by Bob – enjoying the fabulous life of southern California. on November 16, 2007 1:33 AM
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Well,very interesting!
Britain,England in particular, has become,according to millions of brits,hell on Earth,the worst country in the whole world,a communist dictature,a decadent and degenerated society full of drunkards and lazy immigrants!
I know a country that finds all this very amusing,very enjoyable and very orgasmic!
This country is every englishman’s dream:FRANCE!
Posted by Guéroult Jean-Pierre on November 16, 2007 1:27 AM
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My daughter (British) recently had to contact the National Insurance office. The young man on the other end of the phone remarked that it was a nice change to speak to someone who spoke English. I think that says it all.
Posted by P. Vizor on November 16, 2007 1:22 AM
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I’ve seen more than one post call people who are unhappy with modern England “xenophobic”. Its not a fear of foreigners at all, its the feeling that the government doesn’t know about or care about the lives of ordinary people — so long as they don’t complain too much they’re just left to cope with whatever they have to, to muddle through in the traditional English way. This approach really only works while you’ve got a captive population, though. Everyone I’ve met who has moved here from England (especially those who arrived in the last few years) has nothing good to say about their mother country. A pity, really — it used to be a really nice place.
Posted by Martin on November 16, 2007 1:17 AM
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so, all the jingoistic foreigner-haters have moved to become … foreigners. Very funny. And where are these wonderful countries with all the services you expect in the UK but without the taxes? Not Australia, that is for sure. I have a feeling most of you just like to whinge, and move overseas to lord it over the ‘locals’.
Posted by Megami on November 16, 2007 1:11 AM
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left England for California 26 years ago. I visit twice a year as my mother is in a nursing home. I would love to return, but , its a police state. In camera form only. After driving around the UK for 2 weeks , didnt see one cop! WE need to get out of europe, triple the police force , arm them , and bring back the death penalty. I miss England a great deal and it breaks my heart to see what it has become.
Posted by greg cheeseman on November 16, 2007 1:08 AM
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My, you all must of had a terrible wet Summer this year!
Posted by fairweatherperson on November 16, 2007 1:06 AM
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My husband, my self and our youngest son emigrated to New Zealand five years ago. We followed after our oldest who went to seek a new life there. We gladly went as we felt a stranger in our own county, far too many immigrants who brought an era of cheap wages. Our cost of living was too high to compete with them. Also too many spy cameras and speed humps and an obsession with punishing the motorist.
We have never looked back and enjoy our life in NZ. Lots of freedom and clean green image, we wish we had done it years ago. No we are in our 60’s
Posted by Elaine Cradock on November 16, 2007 1:01 AM
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I am a Sydney Sider, Australia. The many reasons you posted here about the UK I find more applicable to Australia. Our current lunatic Prime Minister has shifted our culture – he got us involved in invading a country we have nothing to do with (a great first for our young country, hey?), created a xenophobic environment based on his strategy of fear, built an alliance with the worst ever President of the US and he calls himself a Christian. Go figure.
I love the UK. I travel there at least three times a year and find it to be very inclusive, rich in history and beauty. I walk down Regent Street with my jaw on the ground. You poms deserve to be snobs! You have a wonderful country that I respect hugely.
Con
Posted by Con on November 16, 2007 12:55 AM
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I left the UK 38 years ago to live in the States. I always intended to retire to England, but my last visit there showed me that it is not the country I left, problems with crime, immigration, etc. and everything costs twice as much as it does here. I have been trying for nearly a year to get the 25% State Pension owed to me and have encountered nothing but rudeness and inaction from the International Pension Centre. Here I applied on line and had my Social Security all confirmed within 2 weeks and they could not have been more polite and helpful. This sums up the problem with the UK, people have forgotten how to treat people with courtesy. They told me that they have no obligation to process my pension in a timely way. I don’t want to return any more and be treated like that.
Posted by Julia Brayne on November 16, 2007 12:54 AM
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I left in 2001 and came to Australia. I won’t be going back to the UK in a hurry. I miss my family, friends and the Arsenal but that’s about it.
Posted by Al Manchester, Sydney on November 16, 2007 12:53 AM
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I didn’t so much emigrate as drift over to Japan 30 years ago, since then I lived in Bali for 2 years and for the last 18 years have lived here in Thailand. Over the years I realised that the reason I was so happy during this period was that I had escaped the high taxes, miserable weather and the dispirited people. Also the feeling of being an outsider isn’t altogether a bad thing, no responsibilities for what happens in the country one lives in. In fact I have been an observer for the last 30 years and it has suited me fine. I have been back to Britain 6 times on fleeting visits and suffered reverse culture shock each time, and couldn’t wait to return to my home here in Asia.
Posted by Tony Ball on November 16, 2007 12:50 AM
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You need to understand how the world really works – what you are observing are skillfully engineered events in a much wider agenda. I have not worked it all out but in the West its effectively an oligarhy but not by the complete turkeys who claim to be politicians you see on the sheeple tv. However I think their uber plan is about to be derailed. Effectively we have a system of money which requires exponential growth but the earth has finite resource esp. oil. so there will be economic collapse quite soon I expect. My mantra buy gold and live in a low population area with fresh water and arable land. Interesting times…
Do some research with these links.
link (how money really works)
link
link
link
link
Posted by a on November 16, 2007 12:46 AM
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Is there anything more tiresome than the whinings of ex-pats?
Posted by phil72 on November 16, 2007 12:38 AM
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In 1993, I gladly departed the UK for a new life in the USA at the age of 47 years.

Why did I leave the UK, you may ask:

(1). Lack of employment opportunities for what were then considered ‘old f**ts’ like myself.

(2). Increasing bureaucracy from the EU … which we should never have joined in the first place.

(3). Substantial hand-outs to life-long malingerers that could but wouldn’t work. At taxpayers expense I might add.
Consequently; and in retrospect, my decision to emigrate was the best decision I’ve made in my life.

Since then, America has been good to me, even though starting a new life was not easy. Over here, if you are prepared to WORK and not SHIRK, the opportunities are boundless! And the quality of life is far superior!!
Posted by Stuart in Sunny Ohio on November 16, 2007 12:38 AM
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House prices.
Posted by L Hardy on November 16, 2007 12:35 AM
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I left England for Australia 2 years ago with my wife and kids(both of us are dentists but will probably be replaced by a couple of dentists from Poland)
we have been welcomed with open arms and have recently become australian citizens, wild horses would not drag me back to the overpopulated, overgoverned, overtaxed UKLABOUR PLC
Posted by MATT on November 16, 2007 12:31 AM
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The US is no nirvana, but the best thing my grandparents ever did for me was to take that boat out of Chester in the late 1800s. England is a nice place to visit, but I would hate to live there.
Posted by Shr_Nfr on November 16, 2007 12:26 AM
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Immigration. But above all the EU and the European constitution.

This land of such dear souls, this dear, dear land,
Dear for her reputation through the world,
Is now leased out, I die pronouncing it,
Like to a tenement or pelting farm:
England, bound in with the triumphant sea
Whose rocky shore beats back the envious siege
Of watery Neptune, is now bound in with shame,
With inky blots and rotten parchment bonds:
That England, that was wont to conquer others,
Hath made a shameful conquest of itself.
Ah, would the scandal vanish with my life,
How happy then were my ensuing death!

with apologies to the Bard
Posted by Colin Miles on November 16, 2007 12:19 AM
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All the reasons that should make anyone wish to leave have already been listed.
We are actually planning to move as well, a few years ago. Then came 7/7 and all that: that made me decide to stay, to stand up to terror, to PC gone mad, to councils who ban Christmas, to hoodies who used to spray graffiti twice a week on our end-of-terrace, etc.
I hope everyone like-minded will make their voice heard at the next elections, and if that will not help let’s organise marches, let’s go and pay traitor MPs a visit, let’s force a referendum on the EU, let’s pull out of Afghanistan and Iraq and use the money for our NHS, railsystem, to put bobbies back on the beat, etc.
“We shall never surrender! Never, never!”
Posted by Joe on November 16, 2007 12:15 AM
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Reasons:- No national identity, No representation, No justice, No pride, No respect and sadly the way things stand no future…
Posted by Andy on November 16, 2007 12:13 AM
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I have, until the last few years, been a passionate Englishman. Proud of my heritage, proud of my birth place, proud to be English. But now, as a middle aged, white, educated Englishman I have no place in the ‘British’ society. Tell me about a current form that has a tick box that gives the Ethnicity as ‘English’ and I’ll call you a liar. My birth certificate states that I’m ‘English’. I speak ‘English’. I live in England. I support the English football and Rugby teams. But can I be English? No- not anymore – we don’t exist – its official government policy. I was born into a English working class family and have worked hard all my life (as did my parents), and it hurts to realise how anti English this country has become. Will I leave what was England? Yep – soon as I can.
Posted by Paul – Kent on November 16, 2007 12:10 AM
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Why leave the UK? It’s over priced, overcrowded, overstressed, over materialistic and short on opportunities for young ambitious well qualified nationals. I was funded to do a PhD by a national research council only to find it impossible to secure a suitable academic job in which to build on the research I started. That’s why I’m on my way to the airport, to move to a more progressive country where young scientists are welcomed, encouraged and given the opportunity to develop professionally, not squeezed out.
Posted by On my way to the airport now on November 16, 2007 12:03 AM
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There is a feeling of powerlessness which pervades this country. The whole superficial celebrity ‘culture’ if not started by Blair then accentualted by him (‘Cool Britannia’ and all that rubbish) signalled the continuing dumbing down of education. Yes, it would be nice to be able to change it. I just fear that we are moving towards Stalinism – ‘the war on terror’ – doesn’t that sound like Orwell? Dangerous times in the UK.
Posted by Ian Burgess on November 16, 2007 12:02 AM
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Go to Youtube and type in “Walsall Mayhem” to find out why so many Brits (largely skilled and professional) are leaving. Combine that with incompetent government and an out of control tax system and the case for relocating becomes overwhelming. Why suffer more than you have to?
Posted by evasio barbero on November 15, 2007 11:57 PM
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Rats leaving a sinking ship.

A sinking socialist ship.

Not to worry; the captain, present and previous
and their lamentable crew that’s steered us onto
the rocks will make damn sure they have a place
on the lifeboats.
Posted by Pinkie on November 15, 2007 11:56 PM
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The other day, on another subject I wrote that I despair at politicians being able to understand anything. Now, government agencies have nioted that immigration is having an adverse impact on the social services.

On which planet do these people live? The aboriginal people of Britain have been shouting this for years.

The PC brigade which think that everyone elses’ culture is better than ours, increasing crime and sympathy for criminals rather than the victims. Binge-drinking, litter and all the rest are sickening the hard-working people of Britain.

My wife and I moved to France years ago. The French have their faults too, but (so far) they do not kow-tow to political correctness. They are not afraid to be proud of being French either.

Howard
Posted by Howard on November 15, 2007 11:53 PM
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I am always amused by the irony of people complaining about immigrants who then become immigrants by moving to another country.
Posted by Clevers on November 15, 2007 11:51 PM
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I started making plans to leave when Blair got in. Around him, I could sense a strong impulse to destruction and indeed, it came to pass that he destroyed our civil society including our (previously much-admired) police force – now renamed a “service”, our ancient Constitution, our ancient Bill of Rights, our gold standard educational system, sold off our huge gold reserves at the bottom of the market and encouraged mass immigration from a culture that is hostile to the advanced West and our notions of individual liberty, then forced the indigenes to kow-tow through thought Fascism – “politically correct” reprimands -because we resisted. Then there’s the corruption of all these interrelated quangoes and “independent” research bodies and the government – with taxpayer cash sloshing back and forth through the troughs.

And the car crash of the NHS, where more than 200 people can die in a hospital of an entirely preventable organism and the chief executive quits and walks away with a bonus. I can’t think of another country in which this would happen, bar Zimbabwe.

The intention was always to destroy our national identity in the service of the New World Order agenda.

But at least I was watching the destruction of my country from afar, and not forced to experience it personally, which would have been unbearable.

P. LeClerk puts it very well. As do many other posters. Feelings run very strong among those of us who felt forced to flee the thought Fascism and alien agendas.

Tony did all right, though, didn’t he? Nowadays, commandeering the Queen’s Flight wouldn’t be good enough for him.
Posted by Verity on November 15, 2007 11:51 PM
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UK natioanls are leaving because, like many of us they can see the inevitable catastrophe that is ahead. This situation has been brewing for decades.

Cutural and social relativism, has created a new hybrid society, which is both decadent. weak, and lacks purpose and value, and more importantly an ability to defend itself.

Globalisation has allowed free marketeers and ideologues to deconstruct civilasations like the UK and put in its place a facsimile with only the smallest regard to the values and history which made this nation once great.

Our nations are being disolved in the name of abstractions like the free market and “Human Rights”. Britain is more like a hotel, comfortable has pretty much what you need to live, but it is not a home, it lacks a heart, it lacks a soul. Into the vacum come the untold millions like moths to a light bulb, banging themselves against the surface until they either die of exhaustion or decide to leave. when the economy crumbles, when the system collapses, when the poltitical class falls silent, and if the blood god forbid starts to flow, Britain will be a dream an illusion talked of like we now speak of the Soviet Union. The movement of people today is now unprecedented in its speed, and volume, multiculturalism is a sham, a lie it instills fear into many Britons, Political correctness has robbed individuals of the right to free speach, Islam has ignited the fires of barbarism and superstition in the heart of Europe, brining fear of the future.

People are losing grip on the concept of home, so they are leaving to find another.
Posted by Freshfield on November 15, 2007 11:42 PM
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Exodus? Who is surprised? Why would anyone with the means want to stay in this badly governed, overtaxed, overpriced shadow of the former “Great Britain” when the England we dreamed to grow old in is now on the other side of the world.
Posted by Ron on November 15, 2007 11:40 PM
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So all these Britons leaving the UK, what are they doing with the properties they own selling up, may be not. Renting them out to foriengers sounds more like it!
Posted by Kris on November 15, 2007 11:35 PM
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Do not think of going to Australia, as they are just about to elect a Tony Blair clone. Kevin Rudd, same generation, all spin, silencer of dissent, churchgoer, even has the annoying hand movements when speaking and most importantly the same politics. The unsuspecting Aussies don’t know what they in for, just because they are bored with the good times.
Posted by Chris Andrews on November 15, 2007 11:35 PM
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Simple, this once-great country is being systematically destroyed by a cowardly, incompetant, backward-thinking bunch of idiots we foolishly appointed to be our government, the very people who are supposed to be taking care of us and standing up for our values are stabbing us in the back and selling off everything our ancestors fought and died to preserve.

We deserve far better than these traitors.
Posted by John on November 15, 2007 11:34 PM
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What will happen is, with so many people from third world nations populating what is a very small island that cant sustain them…we will see crime poverty and begging much like they have in the Asian countries. Native britons hands are tied, we are all sick of but if you speak up the UK press and other call you a rascist. I now live in Australia and would never go back to the UK now. But it is a shame
Posted by GREG on November 15, 2007 11:29 PM
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How long will the british media pretend to scratch their collective heads over this?

When will someone, or some media channel, be able to stand up and speak about the astonishing rate at which immigration is impacting this country?

My family are emigrating to the US because immigration under a naiive socialist regime has caused:

Broken communities that once policed their own standards, disciplined each others children and collectively kept their streets free of crime and yob culture.

A steady decline in education standards, driven by the lowest common denominator. This has set the biggest time-bomb of all: an under educated future generation, who will have respect for everyone elses cultures, but can’t read and write good english.

A patronising and deceitful political media system, manipulated by the government to its own advantage.

Social breakdown due to a densely popluated country being pupmed full of immigrants, with differing backgrounds, standards, prosperity.

A disillusioned native population, with no national pride or identity, who know nothing but to drink until they’re sick on a Saturday night, and be proud of it for the rest of the week.

Good luck Britain, you’re better of without traditionalists like us.
Posted by bob on November 15, 2007 11:29 PM
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What will happen is, with so many people from third world nations populating what is a very small island that cant sustain them…we will see crime poverty and begging much like they have in the Asian countries. Native britons hands are tied, we are all sick of but if you speak up the UK press and other call you a rascist. I now live in Australia and would never go back to the UK now. But it is a shame
Posted by GREG on November 15, 2007 11:28 PM
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Why? Because my country has been transformed into a multi racial-cultural-faith monstrosity that nobody dare object to for reasons of political ‘correctness’.
Much better here in New England. More opportunity, better standard of living, nicer people……… oh! and I have just bought a great house with seven acres for less than a hundred thousand quid.
Our politicians should be tied to the railings of Westminster, disemboweled and their bodies left to rot as an example to others.
Posted by John Hall on November 15, 2007 11:27 PM
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Recently I was cycling along Cross Street in the centre of Manchester in the early afternoon. A man (a complete stranger) walked in front of me and, as he did, he lifted the sole of his foot and tried to put it on the tyre of the front wheel of my bike. I assume the aim was to make me fall off. You can imagine the possible consequences.

Just one little incident out of many. In the last few years I’ve been robbed at knifepoint in the afternoon, had a friend punched in the face for no reason as we walked into town, had a number of other friends robbed and assaulted. You can’t even safely cross on a pelican crossing here as motorist drive through red lights and literally force themselves through people who are crossing on some occasions. Police are nowhere to be seen of course.

The centre is a complete no go area on Friday and Saturday nights. Drinking is out of control and anti-social behaviour is a way of life. Last Christmas a fight broke out as I waited in the queue at Sainsburys at 7pm. I was hit in the head by a pound coin as they started flying. Tesco Metro Market Street stopped opening 24 hours after a member of staff was almost kicked to death when he went to help a customer who was being attacked.

I feel that, if I don’t leave soon, it is only a matter of time before something much worse happens to me. I don’t want to be here when I get old and can’t run. Off to live abroad I hope!
Posted by Robert on November 15, 2007 11:22 PM
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Its the English language. Despite recent commments to the contrary we are more mobile culturally and linguistically than most other Europeans, we can easily go to more attractive places (USA, Australia, NZ and Canada) than most other Europeans. The retired in Spain and France are a special case, they just want a sunnier Isle of Wight. In July of this year my eldest son became one of those emigration statistics. He doesn’t think he emigrated, he just went to the USA for a job. Might come back, who knows. The English speaking countries have become destinations of choice for the the third world. That’s good, the only thing we should worry about are those people coming here who don’t want to join in.
Posted by Clive Sterling on November 15, 2007 11:21 PM
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I met a friend for a (non-alcoholic) drink and a chat in Leeds city centre earlier this evening, walking back from The Headrow to the main University of Leeds car park at around 8.30pm. During that half-mile walk I had unprintable abuse yelled at me twice and was pushed and spat at. The various yobs responsible were both male and female, and ranged from late teens to mid-40s. The reason, I suspect, is that daring to walk around the city centre after dark wearing a suit (I had met my friend straight from work) is sufficient by itself to attract that sort of unwelcome attention.

If someone who does not feel the need to get abusively drunk finds themselves on the receiving end of that level of abuse simply for walking through the middle of a major British city in the middle of a mid-week evening, no wonder so many young working professionals are deciding that Britain is not the place to make their home. Add to that a tax burden which is rapidly heading towards 50% (a proportionally increasing burden of which is being moved from the old to the young), unaffordable housing and spiraling rates of violent crime, and it’s not difficult to work out why those who have no major ties to the UK and can leave without major family or professional implications are doing so.

One thing’s for sure: it’s not the benefit-subsistent chavs who are leaving in their droves.
Posted by Leo Enticknap on November 15, 2007 11:12 PM
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I moved to Taiwan. Cheaper, nicer people, harder-
working students, safe streets. To paraphrase Lear,
I am never never never never never going back.
Posted by Cuthbert Scholes on November 15, 2007 11:09 PM
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I left the UK seven years ago for the USA. If the dollar wasn’t the worthless Monopoly money it’s become and the USA housing market wasn’t the worst its been since the Depression I’d be on the first flight back home.
Posted by S.Mariner on November 15, 2007 11:08 PM
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I moved to Asia. Cheaper, nicer people, harder-
working students, safe streets. To paraphrase Lear,
I am never never never never never going back.
Posted by Cuthbert Scholes on November 15, 2007 11:08 PM
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Well off/educated Brits use cheap travel to see the
world and sometimes don’t return shock!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Posted by Adrian on November 15, 2007 11:06 PM
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I’m American not English but the comments on this board are very much in tune with
the conditions in the States. If there is an answer for us in America its:

link

He has the answers for your problems as well as ours. If we only had the sense to put away our selfishness and
greed.
Posted by Warren Holub on November 15, 2007 11:04 PM
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White flight.
Posted by S.Mariner on November 15, 2007 11:03 PM
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NewLab made this country a miserable place to be, with their endless interference and punishing the middle classes with more and more tax. Most people I know are skint and have had enough, and are seriously thinking of quiting the UK for good.

The ministers who rule us seem to have no experience of real life. They all seem to have spent most of their time (Brown included) playing around in the Nulab kindergarden. Why would anyone want to hang around in a country run by these immature imbeciles?
Posted by Percy on November 15, 2007 11:03 PM
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Obviously there is immense dissatisfaction at being in the UK. The laws are skewed against the indigineous British granting unearned favours and acclaim to the rush of uncontrolled people from other states.
The quality of life is poor, the lifestyle is third world, the taxation is high and value for money is exceedingly low.
The politicians are completely out of touch and are not allowed to represent their constituency’s views. Is it little wonder that the Great British people treat these individuals with such cynicism and the turn out at elections is so low.
Having lived and worked abroard for many years I am returning to country that I no longer recognise.
It is fragmented into diferent cultural and racial areas non of which are becoming integrated with the British values.This then leads to faction unrest and mistrust.
So the Brits are leaving the sinking country that is no longer great but mediocre. But the grass is not always greener on the other side of the hill!

Posted by P. Thompson on November 15, 2007 11:01 PM
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Someone said it well here. All the xenophobic comments are coming from those who live in a foreign land.

I thought travel makes your vision broader!!!
Posted by Dont Blame Me on November 15, 2007 11:00 PM
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Because to be ‘horribly white’ or, worse a ‘pale, male’ in Britain essures you can stay at the back of the queue for health, housing, schooling, jobs etc.

Of course, you are very welcome at the front of one queue – paying the skyrocketing tax that feather-beds everyone coming into dustbin-Britain!
Posted by Colin Soames on November 15, 2007 10:58 PM
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Does anyone else on this forum find it appallingly ironic that the xenophobic commentators among us have emmigrated to a land of foreigners?
Posted by Michael Starr on November 15, 2007 7:57 PM

Yes, but they went to Christian lands for the most part that have similar views as Old England
Posted by el Bee on November 15, 2007 10:58 PM
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The biggest problem is the cost of living in Britain. It’s insane. I have been in NY and LA since 1989 and each time I come back everything costs even more than the last time. Those in power don’t seem to understand that for many people a better life can be had for the same price elsewhere. Throw in crime, crappy weather, tax and overcrowding and suddenly the place is only appealing to millionaires who don’t notice those things. California, although not perfect, is twice the size of Britain with half the population and almost everything is cheaper. Beaches, ski resorts, wine country, San Francisco and beautiful Pacific coastline make it hard to leave. No wonder I hear more and more English accents here.
Posted by Mr. Taylor on November 15, 2007 10:55 PM
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Maybe people just need a change in life, or maybe people are doing what the “so called foreigners” are doing, moving to a place where they think they will have a better life.. isn’t that what Brits are doing, by going to France, Spain and Australia.. It’s the same thing.

Every country has its downers, even places like Australia (droughts, violence, lots of immigrants, isolation) and France (stressed out, lots of immigrants, etc).

Ponder these points:

1. The UK has the most powerful currency in the world, if you’ve got the squids, wouldn’t you move?

2. Surrounded by foreigners in your own country, feeling like your going to be extinct?? – Welcome to the world – it’s everywhere.

3. Europe’s on your doorstop, oh so many choices… well lucky you.. try being out in the middle of the ocean in nowhere land.

Posted by JH on November 15, 2007 10:53 PM
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I left because I feel freer living abroad where I am not expected to conform to the narrow-minded expectations of fellow British people. I was looked on as being abnormal because I had no TV and actually did sports, Open University courses and hobbies in my free time rather than watching mindless TV and boozing.

I also can work freelance all year round here (I used to do English-language and German teaching) and yet I needn’t earn a great deal of money to have a decent lifestyle. My rent in the centre of town is GBP 200 a month (inc. rates, water, cleaning lady for the stairs etc. but excl. electricity). My sister and her fiance in North Wales pay a crippling mortgage of GBP 750 excluding everything. And they need a car, whilst I don’t.

Housing is substandard and overpriced in the UK. Transport in London is now vastly more expensive than when I lived there in the late 90s. Going out requires a bank loan. Last Saturday I went out for a lovely meal in a classy-looking restaurant right on the most expensive street in town and with dessert, coffee, wine, water and even with a good tip it wasn’t more than GBP 12.

Ah, yes.. I remembered the other horrible thing about life in the UK. Snobbishness. “Oh, you come from the north”, “Oh, you went to a comprehensive”, “Oh, you went to a red-brick university”, etc. etc. etc. As if they are better than me. Not.

I tell you.. these days.. when I read the papers … you couldn’t pay me to live there. I’d rather live in China.
Posted by Tina on November 15, 2007 10:50 PM
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When you live abroad for a while and only get information from the English papers or news you can get a distorted view of the UK as the news is only ever negative.
I found this to be true and was quite worried to return, fearing that I would never be able to venture out after dark, would have to watch my (then) young children every second of every minute because that was the message the papers relayed.
Life back was somewhat different, thankfully.
What I’m trying to say is, yes, we do have problems, some big problems but there still is no place quite like the Uk and I’ll not be driven out by some socialist thugs who have lost the plot.
They cannot stay in power for ever.
Posted by Annie Burns on November 15, 2007 10:40 PM
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Having run our own business and saved hard all our lives we now have enough to retire abroad. While we are guests in another country we will pay for our own home, medical services etc..

The irony is..we can’t afford to retire here and enjoy the same standard of living!

When all the decent, hard-working tax-payers have gone who will be left to pay the welfare bill?
Posted by sue on November 15, 2007 10:35 PM
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I became an expat becuase I just couldnt stand the BBC we know best culture, and becuase I didnt want to be European. For me to even considxer returning the county would have to stand for something again, and cease being second rate. I now live in Batam Indonesia and work in Singapore.
Posted by Paul Robinson on November 15, 2007 10:34 PM
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Why?

New Labour’s legacy.
Posted by simon on November 15, 2007 10:33 PM
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When will CNN news reports cover the ethnic cleansing of England and urge the UN to intervene?
Posted by EnglishBob on November 15, 2007 10:31 PM
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Too many Telegraph readers is probably the reason by the sound of it.
Posted by sidders on November 15, 2007 10:30 PM
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Why? Climate, opportunity and lifestyle. I left England for Australia in 1991 and while I still love the country, I could never live there again. It is almost embarrassing to be told by so many UK friends that my decision was the right one – had their kids been younger/older/left etc etc, they would emigrate too. Indeed, one friend arrived in NZ this year with his family and another has papers with the Australian High Commission now.
Posted by Andrew NSW on November 15, 2007 10:30 PM
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Because gimpboy Miliband is selling us down the river to make ‘an EU army” and Dear Leader Gordon wants to introduce a police communist state as per the Stasi,

Why has it taken the labour government so long to introduce this “fortress britain”

if they had been so concerned when they first came to power we wouldnt be over run with people who have no right to be here, let alone half the terrorists today.

So really the people we should be putting on Trial are Gordon and his band of wet weekends.
Posted by Barry on November 15, 2007 10:30 PM
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As a recent emigrant (July 2006) I’m one of the statistics referred to. Why did I leave? Reducing quality of life, increasing taxation, increasing cost of living, increasing regulation, increasing spin, deceipt and lies from Government, decreasing faith in the UK political system, increasingly ludicrous housing market and a complete lack of prospects for the next generation.

What would bring me back? Nothing I’m afraid – my kids have adjusted well to their new life in Canada and have far greater prospects here rather than in the UK.
Posted by Ex-Pat Andy on November 15, 2007 10:28 PM
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Posted by Norman Harris on November 15, 2007 8:49 PM

“Why do so many choose Republics?”

The majority do not, note of the top five choices only France is a republic, three are Commonwealth countries, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the other top choice being Spain another monarchy. There do seem to be a lot of ex-pat postings every week from Thailand & Malaysia as well.
Posted by Very Happy Ex-pat on November 15, 2007 10:26 PM
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Probably people are leaving because they feel strangers in their own land. We have always had people coming to live in the UK, but allowing unlimited entry to the UK and giving immigrants housing, jobs, and benefits give rise to a feeling of ‘unfairness’. The balance of our nation is shifting, with people moving to the UK who have no intention of either integrating, or adopting our culture. I have often wondered why they don’t simply stay in their own countries. The only answer I can come up with is our over generous benefit system which gives people money for doing nothing. This system is bad for the state and bad for the people. We must start limiting immigrants from all areas, including the EU. It is not a ‘black and white issue’. We simply do not have the space to fit in more people unless we want to see the British Isles completely concreted over to suit the needs of what are quite frankly ‘outsiders’. I have no doubt that some immigrants will integrate and adopt our culture, but there just is not enough space in our small islands, sorry Britain is full.
Posted by sylvia evans on November 15, 2007 10:24 PM
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Michael Starr,7.57.pm The difference between the British people who are emigrating and the people who are immigrating here is money.The emigrants are taking THEIR money that they earned,the Immigrants are coming to take OUR money, in many cases, that they have not earned.Which country in their right minds would accept a load of non-English speaking third world peasants and give them free health,education,social security?And continue to let them bring their cousins in,marry them and bring in the next generation so that they will never fully integrate into our community.Only the British…I mean how many minicab drivers do we need in Bradford?That is why so many people are emigrating.Have you seen our northern towns?Why do you call these people xenophobic?They have every right to say what they think.The British have been quiet for too long.Or should I say the English.When Brown and his fellow communist Celts have managed to push all the English out,with their politically-correct claptrap,they will go and live in the Highlands with the midges,where nobody else would want to live.
Posted by Jan on November 15, 2007 10:20 PM
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Because everything is beaten down to the lowest
common denominator in a sort of reverse elitism.
What happened to aspiration?
Posted by Tom on November 15, 2007 10:12 PM
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My parents emigrated to New Zealand in the
early 70’s, so I have been born and raised a kiwi
and for that I am eternally grateful.
I have had a quality of life and opportunities far
beyond those of my cousins raised in the UK.
Why? Because I have taken opportunities (as new
immigrants to the UK are now doing). The self
belief system carried by many in the UK that it’s
bad to get above yourself and that a person
should stick to what they know holds many back.
I have a degree, my own home and lots of
opportunity. None of it is gven to me, I have to
work for it, That’s life.
I spent 5 years in London a couple of years ago
and my own children were born there. I am
proud to hold both a UK and NZ passport and I
am proud of my family’s heritage but the London
I saw was in need of more control. The health
system lacked leadership, the youth seemed
threatening and there was a lack of empathy and
intelligence that I found frightening. London has
always had a transient society but it was clear
even to me that it has been undertaken at a huge
rate with no thought or consideration. I can
understand why many are upset.
NZ is not perfect but the good outweighs the bad
we have space, clean air, great schools and a
growing pride.
Many english families have arrived here recently
and some are unprepared for the differences. I
think if you are considering immigrating,
whereever you go be mentally prepared for the
changes, you will need to put in a big effort to
make friends and become familiar with systems.
I recommend New Zealand to any english
migrant, there are a lot of similiarities but just
think hard about what it is you are looking for.
Ps/ New Zealand is not a tropical country, except
for top of North Island weather is similiar to UK.
Posted by Kath on November 15, 2007 10:08 PM
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Get out while the going is good. I did and have
never looked back. Quality of life, security and
financial independence (or the lack thereof) were
the reasons I left and I am happily settled
elsewhere. Only my accent gives me away and if I
could ditch that, I would. I am embarassed to
acknowledge the country of my birth. To think
that the UK has sunk to the depths that it has is
very sad. As one weekly journal stated:
“England’s Shocking Decline: The Queen’s once-
proud subjects now lead Europe in illiteracy,
unemployment, teen pregnancy, divorce, drug
use, obesity, alcoholism and STDs.”

‘Nuff said???
Posted by Kevin Foster on November 15, 2007 10:06 PM
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Posted by steven jones on November 15, 2007 7:48 PM

“People obviously like the government, otherwise they wouldn’t keeping voting them in.”

Good point, they did, after all, get almost 25% of the eligible vote in the last election! And therefore 207,000 Brits per year should stay and pay for it.

As for you accusation of cowardice, are all those French, Belgians, Poles, etc. who left their countries in 1939-40 rather than live under a regime they did not vote for cowards?

I left so that I could own a gun if I wanted, yet do not have MP5 toting policemen on the street.
Where I do not feel it necessary to lock my front door.
Where I could read out the names of the War Dead, without being arrested.
Where I could protest outside of the “House of Parliament”, without being arrested as a terrorist.
Where local taxes require a 2/3 vote from those to be taxed.
Where my pension fund is allowed to grow tax free.
Where the returning military are welcomed and given the support they need.
Where the garbage is collected every week, as is the recycle without sorting.
Where 90% of purchases are half the cost of UK.

Posted by V Happy Ex-pat on November 15, 2007 10:05 PM
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My husband and I returned to England 11 years ago after many years living in Canada. While we felt that we contributed as much as we could to our life back in England, in the end, we felt that the quality of life was too low and the cost of living was too high. We returned to Canada in August of this year and feel an overwhelming sense of relief to be back in a sane and wonderful country. It is terribly sad to see what is happening in England and yet, it has all be created through a lack of attention on the part of a lot of people. To reward people for doing nothing can never be a viable policy without serious consequences. The serious consequences are being felt now.
Posted by Ellen Riches on November 15, 2007 10:03 PM
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Having entered Government to the tune of “things can only get better”, New Labour have actually made things much worse with every new piece of Legislation.

To give just one example of the bunglers at work, tens of millions of pounds are being squandered on IT systems for the NHS, while Labour fails to ensure that Hospitals are cleaned properly.

The direct result of this Government stupidity is the deaths of thousands of people from MRSA and other bugs caught in Hospitals.

Perhaps computer systems are more important than people?
Posted by Joe McT on November 15, 2007 10:01 PM
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I am Christian, English, white, male, educated and law-abiding – all things the Government despises in fact. I feel there is no place for me in Britain so now live in Switzerland. I cannot go home even if I wanted to – the country of my birth no longer exists.
Posted by Martin on November 15, 2007 10:01 PM
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JILL calls the EU “the toilet”. Actually the water-closet is a very useful and peaceful place to consider mankind and the reason for our existence with or without OIL from the mid-east. To be English is to be European in a cultural sense…not American: They can be subdivided into three parts: East coast sharks/mid-westerners plus Texas: Hillbillies /West coast space-cadets (PLANET X) living on a fault-line. Small is beautiful. Governor Jerry Brown said that in California some years ago. The French are still French…on strike as usual. The Germans are still German….and now on strike too. The English on the other hand have a permanent identity crisis. However they do know one thing that the quality of life in Britain today is the equivalent of a public toilet.
Posted by jack daniels on November 15, 2007 9:58 PM
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I left the UK to live in NZ as soon as I graduated. Having spent a year in the USA on an academic exchange I realised how nice it was to live in a country where which possesses a sense of national pride. I had been destined to join the Royal Navy as an officer, but returned to a recruitment office which had ‘murderers’ scrawled across the window and to find that many of my friends in the military had been deployed to conflict that appeared to lack democratic support. I then spent my final year struggling to extract a good degree from an overcrowded and shambolic university as my student debt grew to 13K. Every evening I attempted to park within a one mile radius of the tiny 250K ‘starter home’ that my friends and I rented, to then watch traffic wardens queuing up at 7.59am in the morning to place tickets on the vehicles parked in overnight zones. No doubt the revenue from these tickets was then used to take the heroin addict who stole my car radio to a theme park.
Posted by Chris on November 15, 2007 9:58 PM
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I left in 1968. Not because I hated the UK I just wanted to travel and see the world. I had then a wife and two small children and no job prospects and little money. But never the less I took a chance and went to first Rhodesia. Then further north to Malawi and then after some years RSA. During this time I gave the kids a good quality education had a great job and enjoyed Africa. I was then forced to return to the UK because my then wife wanted to go home. I found it impossible to find a good job in the Uk so I took off for the Middle East. Mostly batchelor postings. During this time I got divorced and remarried. I now live in Poland and have done for nearly 20 years. I used to visit the UK quite often mainly to see my mother but when she passed I found less reason to go. I’m sorry to say that I don’t find the UK much fun these days. I recently went by car for a week and couldn’t wait to get back home. I feel that UK society doesn’t care too much about others and even themselves. There is definately a feeling of fear when walking late evening. It’s very expensive and I can only wonder what Polish actually feel about living in a country that is so different from their own. I won’t go back to live in the UK mainly because my life is too full where I am now. I have many interests I have a small but busy business, in short like other contributors I’m too content to face the brash society that the UK has become.

My best friend happens to be an American born and bred who lives in Nebraska. He has told me many times how much he would like to leave the US because he cannot stand the way the country has gone politically and economically. He has travelled and has a wide appreciation of the world outside of America which is somewhat unusual. There are many more like him who are not immigrants but people of many generations who are fed up. So as they say it’s horses for courses.

I have no hatred for the UK I wish em well I did my bit when I was there. But I found a better style of life that suits me.
Posted by Alan,Warsaw on November 15, 2007 9:57 PM
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how’s this for barefaced cheek,

from roger jones; “We now live in Spain and there is absolutely nothing that the present government could do that would persuade us to return to the UK. Britain is now a totally fragmented society with the immigrants taking control.”

maybe those without any sense of irony are fleeing the country…..or can’t you see that you are ‘an immigrant’. So who the hell do you think you are lecturing others about being part of this group?

don’t bother coming back…
Posted by bob mellor on November 15, 2007 9:57 PM
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I’m in my early twenties and have just moved to Western Australia to work. As has been mentioned before; I do not feel ‘English’ anymore as I’m white, Christian-ish, and have a Grammar School education.
The stealth taxes in the UK are horrendous and the government seems intent on preventing any accumulation and retention of wealth.
Engineers are not appreciated like they are else where in the world and because of the mass of university degrees being undertaken due to government ‘push’ those degrees which used to have value are being undermined.
One cannot raise the English flag nor even the Union Jack for fear of creating ethnic tension (Over hear every school and large bridge proudly displays the Australian flag). The cities are becoming seriously rough and crimes are just not being solved Immigration into the UK is uncontrolled and even in the little market town of Boston where I grew up there are bars that do not allow in English people.
The government are bending the statistics but most switched on people realise what is really happening. Any other country would have revolted by now but we British just sit back and generally take it!
All you have to do is read the Telegraph and one can see the mess England has become.
I wish I could feel proud to be English but the truth is that I have very little to be proud of.

Posted by James Durrant on November 15, 2007 9:55 PM
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Dirty overcrowded streets, grey skies, miserable grey faces, a two week summer, spy cameras everywhere, ugly estates of identical tiny flats & houses, the national diet of ready meals, the lack of fresh food, the dominance of Tescos..etc etc
Posted by rick on November 15, 2007 9:54 PM
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Posted by MAPA on November 15, 2007 8:47 PM
FYI celts originated in central Europe and Normans were norsemen. If you are thinking of fleeing back to your roots you need to select the right routes.
Posted by mike mines on November 15, 2007 9:52 PM
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I emigrated to Canada in 1967 – when it was still a vibrant and energetic country. Since that time the various weak willed and fuzzy thinking, francophone in government have dragged this ponce rightly proud nation into the mud. We are controlled by the so called ‘first Nations and the Quebecois and, on top of those two huge hindrances, we endure multiculturalism and political correctness ad nauseum. The British Welfare state is alive and well in Canada – to all the people who shouldn’t be receiving State aid. Those who deserve it, don’t get it, but you know all about that there. Our Health care is as bad, if not worse, than yours although we pay a huge percentage of our wages towards it. Like you, we don’t support our Military and politicians are more corrupt than many other places more renowned for it! I note Canada isn’t on your top lists to emigrate to. In this you show great good sense.
Posted by Roy Anderson on November 15, 2007 9:48 PM
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I left England last year, I needed to get out of the rat race to a slower pace of life and it has worked well for me….. however, what I dont understand is this… all of these ‘expacts’ (of which I am one), that have posted comments on here are actually ‘immigrants’ of another mans country. I am thankful that I have not been pre-judged in the country that I have relocated to, unlike the ‘immigrants/expacts’ moving into my English homeland who are pre-judged and treated poorly. Dont forget England was built on the backs of ‘foreigners’ (I dare you to check your history).
Posted by d on November 15, 2007 9:48 PM
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Ten years of Labour have turned this country in to a divided cesspit of druggies, criminals and drunks. Hard working families are over taxed, over charged for everything from housing to food and energy. There’s nothing left to be proud of. Life in this country is truely desparate
Posted by Bruce Mcaaw on November 15, 2007 9:46 PM
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When I was growing up this country was a pleasant, tolerant place where the people had a good sense of humour and life was enjoyable. Now it is a bigoted intolerant place run by spiteful jobsworths and bureaucrats. The bigotry and spite is inflicted upon those who used to form the decent core of society. I reckon this has come about by the government empowering low grade idiots by giving them non jobs which allow them to inflict their unpleasantness upon the rest of us. Just go through any airport and you’ll be bossed about by gormless yobs who delight in making you jump through hoops, and woe betide you should you dare to remostrate with them. You’ll be arrested by an equally yobbish policeman. Transpose that situation to the rest of the country and you have a picture of life in modern Britain. Hardly surprising people are leaving. I am tempted to join them but don’t see why I should effectively be driven out of my own country by these ghastly aparatchiks so I stay here and do my best to confound them at every opportunity.
Posted by Simon on November 15, 2007 9:46 PM
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Given the current state of the Union, shouldn’t the figures be shown for each of the 4 home countries and the Irish Republic.

1. Despite the desire for Scottish independence anecdote suggests there is still inward migration from Scotland to England.

2. 15 years ago there was a much stronger Irish and Welsh presence in London than today. The Irish seem to have returned home due to the growth of the Irish economy. Where have the Welsh gone?

3. Many of the “British” emigrants are more often than not English. I haven’t come across many Scots or Welsh accents in France.
Posted by Man of Kent on November 15, 2007 9:44 PM
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After serving England for 22 years in the Royal Navy, I felt that my country was not the same as when I first joined up in 1959. My wife and I left for America 10 years ago and have been completely happy for all of this time. Do not be afraid to bite the bullet.
Posted by Brian Davies on November 15, 2007 9:42 PM
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I left the UK nearly 10 years ago. In my opinion there are serious flaws in the statistics. It was clear 10 years ago that immigration into the UK was out of control. I am for immigration but there was no selection criteria then, and none are apparent now. As long as you have a pulse you are in. My chosen emigration destination put me through a tough but meaningful application process and even asked for proof that I could financially support my family for a period of time while I settled, and rightly so, why should the tax payer foot such costs.

I am surrounded by expats who tell similar stories and reasons why they left. What is really noticeable is the level of qualifications, experience and quality of people that has left the shores of Old Blighty.

My hunch this that this not being matched by those being allowed into the UK.

Yes, I miss certain things that the UK has to offer, but it gets harder and harder to identify with the UK and I think that has more to do with the lack of identity Britain now has than the fact I just do not live there anymore.
Posted by TerryB on November 15, 2007 9:42 PM
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I left in 1970, for the same reasons as Ian T cites in his mail of Nov 15 at 8.54pm.
Wild horses wouldn’t drag me back.
Posted by Victor (Elford) USA on November 15, 2007 9:37 PM
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When you have a freespending marxist and rabble in power,why be surprised.Broon has proved to be the worst chancer, come prime mucker we have ever endured,and that voice it just grates through you.I read his latest wease is to offer the Palestinians £500 million of taxpayers money also we learn that Scotland will hold council taxes as they are,yet in England they are going up again next year,that should send a few more pensioners to prison. If this evil dictator is allowed to carry on with his madness of police searches, and mass immigration we are finished as a country.Over to you QUIETZAPPLE you were proved wrong on your 95% go to BBC website,”have your say”they hate him, and his policies, as much as we do,your silly assessment was based on what you think,not on fact.No wonder the guardian no longer wants you posting.
Posted by banachech on November 15, 2007 9:37 PM
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Thanks to the Labour Party, England has become the ‘Sewer’ of the world. David Smith, Cannes
Posted by David Smith on November 15, 2007 9:36 PM
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Britons that are leaving include immigrants who lived here and got nationality.

Who doesn’t want to live in a nice weather. Britain is a lovely country but it is difficult and depressing to live here all the time. Having connection with the UK is enough.

You don’t have to be white to
leave Britain. Standard of living
including small houses and damp
weather are the main reasons.

I will soon leave too and I am of Asian descent.
Posted by an immigrant on November 15, 2007 9:35 PM
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When I was a young lad, one of our teachers usd to tell us that we had won life’s lottery by being born English/British. Obviously people from all over the world heard about this and wanted to win the lottery as well, so everyone from Timbuktu to Hong Kong is in the process of being given British passports and apparently they all have rights…something we knew we would never have, despite living here, serving in the army, bringing up and educating our families into the British way of life – another outdated concept…
Posted by jonathan montmorency on November 15, 2007 9:32 PM
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“I feel that I no longer belong in this country because I happen to be a white,christian,heterosexual male with a grammar school education.
Posted by Ian T ”

almost exactly what my own comment was to be but you said it first

It is so sad, all my three children live in Australia now, they too feel that england really isnt england anymore.

Yes IMHO the problem is immigration on a scale not witnessed before in British History at a rate which makes assimilation unattainable and in numbers which makes it easier for them to maintin their own culture instead of adopting traditional British vlaues, mind you they are rapidly declining.

Is there a solution for this ? I dont think so, its gone too far and sadly the england I knew, loved and grew up in will never be seen again. Thats not nostalgia, just realism and if you want a British Culture and lifestyle,your next best option is Australia or New Zealand

Funnily enough even the little pockets of ex-pats in Spain provde you with a more traditional Brit Culture, having said that, living in spain I am more than happy to do my best to assimilate into the spanish culture one which I admire
Posted by Richard from Spain on November 15, 2007 9:30 PM
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The answer can be summed up in two words “Had Enough”

Posted by Dick Schrader on November 15, 2007 9:30 PM
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what a lot nonsense, all of you are blaming immigrant people what you have to do perfect idiots is blame yourselves.
Posted by fredy prada (from spain) on November 15, 2007 9:29 PM
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PS The government could hang themselves, and I might come back to gloat.
Posted by Robbed by a nasty regime on November 15, 2007 9:27 PM
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Seemingly there are a thousand and one reasons to leave the UK. I have been in the States for 17 years (ball and chain) and still dream of moving back, but that’s probably because I come to England every summer and generally have a great time.
I would say however, that you should really do yor homework on the country of your choice. I disagree with McManus and Long Gone who sing unreserved praises of this country, and I agree with Pat McGrane that there are some downsides – such as sky high health insurance costs, high homicide rate and of course, rampant political correctness. And if you are close to your family, the distance is often the biggest reason to return.
Posted by Toni Summers Hargis on November 15, 2007 9:27 PM
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I am writing this from France. I dont think that I will be a British homeowner again. My life savings were seized by the state. Other Western democracies do not treat their own citizens in the same way.

I left the UK in January. There is a lot of agression amongst many Britons. The French children and adults say bonjour when I pass them. Unthinkable in Britain. The French and others are lucky because they dont get their assets seized by nasty regimes, seeking political gain.

Brown is a despot like Mugabe.
Posted by Robbed by a nasty regime on November 15, 2007 9:24 PM
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It’s interesting isn’t it ! Very many of the reasons
given by people as to why they leave the UK are
applicable to the countries to which they move.
Yet hardly anybody has said that in fact the
completely over-valued housing market in the
UK has actually made it possible for the majority
to move and had that not been the case then
most probably the numbers leaving would be
significantly lower. A relatively modest and
unimpressive British townhouse could buy you
something beyond your dreams in some parts of
the world. Something then to be grateful about
in the UK …..;

I live in France now and am loving it, yet I am
not unaware of the problems facing this country
which are arguably worse than those facing the
UK.
All countries have their problems and mostly they
are the same problems; is all we’ve done is move
to another space on the board. And in many
cases just buried heads in the sand decided to
have a go at Britain because everything is Oh, so
much more wonderful out of the country.
And just to up the “anti” a bit, is it not true that
many ex-pats are ignorant of the cultures of the
countries to which they move ( and don’t learn
about them either ) and that British ex-pats are
famous for sticking together like no other
nationality ? They form little tea-groups and
have little social evenings, recreating a part of
the country they left behind ……not applicable to
all, but applicable to a great number. In the same
way we might reasonably expect an immigrant to
integrate and learn the language ( some of us
have been saying this for decades but our
arrogant politicians just never listened ), so
should emigrants act accordingly. Without
exception.
Britain is not all THAT bad.
Posted by simon on November 15, 2007 9:22 PM
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It’s interesting isn’t it ! Very many of the reasons
given by people as to why they leave the UK are
applicable to the countries to which they move.
Yet hardly anybody has said that in fact the
completely over-valued housing market in the
UK has actually made it possible for the majority
to move and had that not been the case then
most probably the numbers leaving would be
significantly lower. A relatively modest and
unimpressive British townhouse could buy you
something beyond your dreams in some parts of
the world. Something then to be grateful about
in the UK …..;

I live in France now and am loving it, yet I am
not unaware of the problems facing this country
which are arguably worse than those facing the
UK.
All countries have their problems and mostly they
are the same problems; is all we’ve done is move
to another space on the board. And in many
cases just buried heads in the sand decided to
have a go at Britain because everything is Oh, so
much more wonderful out of the country.
And just to up the “anti” a bit, is it not true that
many ex-pats are ignorant of the cultures of the
countries to which they move ( and don’t learn
about them either ) and that British ex-pats are
famous for sticking together like no other
nationality ? They form little tea-groups and
have little social evenings, recreating a part of
the country they left behind ……not applicable to
all, but applicable to a great number. In the same
way we might reasonably expect an immigrant to
integrate and learn the language ( some of us
have been saying this for decades but our
arrogant politicians just never listened ), so
should emigrants act accordingly. Without
exception.
Britain is not all THAT bad.
Posted by simon on November 15, 2007 9:19 PM
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People want to live like a 15th century King in highly competitive 2007.

They just cannot compete with other countries eg Rolls Royce went to Germany
How many Investment bankers want to move to NZ, Australia, and Spain?

People are able to move to other countries because of high value of pound.

If you reduce the value of pound, UK will not be an attractive destination for any sort of immigrant (Skilled, Unskilled, legal, illegal etc).but then we have to spend our holidays in Cumbria and Bpool .How many of us are ready? There is a price of we need to pay for anything in this world.

Posted by John Smith on November 15, 2007 9:16 PM
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1984 is coming true here in the UK – that’s why people are off. Wars that never seem to stop. People being dumb downed. Big Brother (CCTV etc.), newspeak (spin), thoughtcrime (political correctness?), oldthink (a country that people used to know that has disappeared), terror, facecrime, hateweek (speaker’s corner etc.?), federal states (Oceania/EU), doublethink and the Ministry of Truth (Beeb). Oh well, I did try to tell you! I’m off to haunt room 101 (Downing St.).
Posted by Winston Smith on November 15, 2007 9:12 PM
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I emigrated (for the opportunity) and returned (family ties). I highly recommend emigrating – its a small world so why stay in 1 country? Kudos to those who move and learn about other ways of living!

I wonder what the net loss/gain in tax revenues is for emmigration/immigration. I bet its high rate taxpayers leaving and low rate taxpayers arriving. I’m surprised that’s not a headline statistic…
Posted by Paul Vincent on November 15, 2007 9:12 PM
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When my husband and I went back to England to
live, after he’d been away for 20 years, everyone
– even perfect strangers – asked us: “Why on
earth would you come back here?” Immediately
followed by “as soon as I can I’m out’a here.”
What a sad indictment on a once great country.

We’re no longer there. The taxes, the stifling
qualification based work culture, the congestion,
and the fact that no one appears happy drove us
out. Instead, we bought a house where we could
afford one. In Montana.

England is a bit like a depressed relative: Okay to
visit, but no fun to live with.

Posted by Christina on November 15, 2007 9:10 PM
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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I believe that too many of our brilliant people have left. There are not enough left here to give good leadership and take this country forward. We are left with weak, stupid, woolly minded leaders.
Posted by Karen on November 15, 2007 9:09 PM
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As an American wishing that I could return to my family origins and end my days in wonderful London, you can imagine the depth of my disappointment to learn of The Exodus.

My consternation could be more poignant if I should learn momentarily that they were wise.

I was relieved that these good Anglo souls were not seeking refuge on American shores that presently defy description. These emigrants could possibly by genetic cousins, and going to the Americas would be a mistake of incalculable measure.

Why France? Having been episodically and legally a London resident without permanent moorings for some time, I have learned sufficiently about France to have serious reservations.

New Zeeland? Maybe. But I have sufficient knowledge of that tiny island to know that the probabilities are far more compelling to remain in England.

Australia? Though I love my distant kin there, I would never recommend emigrating from England for that limited shore.

Spain? I must admit ignorance. Perhaps my unstisfactory experience in Mexico, though of no exemplary comparison, colors my imagination. Of course, if I were compelled to expect to meet my exemplar, Sancho Panza, somewhere on that rainy plain, I could be induced to give it a try.

I suppose I am an expat of all expats that only Cervantes or his Dr. Pangloss could have created.

Well! Perhaps my temporary status will be sufficient until the Islamic Council assumes power. Then we shall see.

I suppose I will toss a buffalo nickel to see whether I am ruled by someone named Hillary and Obama or someone who certainly will forbid my old Benny Hill videos.
Posted by Saintosos on November 15, 2007 9:09 PM
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You are wondering why so many are emigrating. Why is so much of our country’s infrastructure falling apart. For me the answer lies on a website EUTruth then look at the link Common Purpose. When you read that everything makes sense!
Posted by Pat Bailey on November 15, 2007 9:09 PM
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So! the anglo-saxon race is in self-destruct,good riddance, they were the bane of the earth.
Posted by Tom Bowden on November 15, 2007 9:07 PM
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We are leaving because it is no longer our country and we no longer feel any loyalty.

It is terribly sad that the land of my birth has been confiscated by high-handed politicians who refuse to respond to the concerns and desires of the public. Politicians are supposed to be public servants who carry out the wishes of the electorate. In Britain they not only ignore the populace, they contravene our views at every opportunity. The people have made it abundantly clear that they want a referendum on the EU. The people have made it abundantly clear that they do not want a multi-cultural society. The people have made it abundantly clear that they want tight immigration controls and the removal of illegal and undesirable immigrants. These are only a few of the areas where we have been systematically ignored. In addition, our freedom is being curtailed – indeed, I would go so far as to say that our freedom of speech has already gone – and we are daily being subjected to more and more petty rules and regulation by a bureaucracy that is completely out of control and Big Brother is watching us from CCTV cameras on every street corner (there will be one in your living room very soon!)

I’m with Jill. I’ll be back for the revolution – see you!
Posted by H. D. Burns on November 15, 2007 9:05 PM
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To David Nov 15, 2007 7:49 PM
What an exceptionally good rant. It’s all true and there is so much more to add. God, I wish I could leave this cess pitt.

Posted by Karen on November 15, 2007 9:03 PM
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Agree with most of these comments .. especially Sammy … Nu labour get away with their stalinist rubbish because as a country we LET them … we need to organise / stand up and say NO !!bwt I have an Australian passport too and am sorely tempted to go there but actually I love England .. but England stand up for your rights !
Posted by shi on November 15, 2007 9:01 PM
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if you need to ask you’re not noticing much – or
you’re rich and don’t need to notice.
Posted by Robert on November 15, 2007 9:01 PM
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Apart from the terrible weather, how about this? It’s too expensive. Some of you may be home-owners who are cashing in your substantial chips. Others, such as myself, are considering leaving because there’s not a hope of houses prices becoming realistic if ever, certainly not in two to three years. I’ve been waiting for 4 years. AdEnuf! And to the fellow, who feels he doesn’t belong as he’s white, male middle class and a christian. Bless!
Posted by Robert B on November 15, 2007 9:01 PM
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I live in Russia, which exported to the rest of the world trhe evil that is socialism and the horrendous ideogies it has led to. Poor England is as it is because the idiot socilaists have won in the west – anti-God, anti-western, anti-common sense. But we are to blame – we stopped believing in God. When we lost Christianity, we lost ourselves. Listem to Pope Benedict on the subject. He’s the only one nowadays who makes sense.
Posted by Benedict Carter on November 15, 2007 9:01 PM
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At 45 years old, I am now trapped in this filthly socialist hellhole,
too old for Australia or NZ.

However, I can’t blame the asylum-seekers and immigrants themselves for
coming here. After all, when you are given a free meal ticket you have
to take fullest advantage.

Where the blame lies is with this evil & disgusting socialist regime.
I personally believe thhat the problem cannot be dealt with even by
the BNP. We have to start considering radical alternatives and to me
that means the National Front.

If only the nationalist organisations could drop their fixation with
race as an issue and concentrate on the betrayal by Socialist Traitors
together with the appropriate judicial penalty, we might begin to
have some hope.
Posted by phil_ossifer on November 15, 2007 8:59 PM
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I feel that I no longer belong in this country because I happen to be a white,christian,heterosexual male with a grammar school education.
Posted by Ian T on November 15, 2007 8:54 PM
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Why do so many choose Republics?
Posted by Norman Harris on November 15, 2007 8:49 PM
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More British live abroad than any other nationality

Why ?

it’s in the genes as sons & daughter of celts (spanish), vikings (norway), german (saxons), norman (french) plus now we can afford to leave as it can be ‘grim’ up north!

Just of to Lisbon soon!
Posted by MAPA on November 15, 2007 8:47 PM
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I came to this country as a 5 yr old immigrant and despite the recent increasing trend for xenophobia still genuinely believe that the UK is the most inclusive multi-cultural state in the world. I am immensely grateful for the opportunities that my life here has given me, but now many of the qualities that made Britain great are disappearing, so much so that I am considering leaving, despite adopting UK citizenship many years ago.
We have allowed society to slowly disintegrate, the police are no longer respected and have their hands tied by bureaucracy and a neurotic government that seeks to micro-manage everything, whilst ferral children shoot-up drugs and each other on our streets.
Once world class educational standards have become crippled by the misguided pursuit of league tables and a Marxist destruction of competitiveness amongst students all in the name of educational equality. Our would-be plumbers/mechanics/electricians now obtain degrees in media studies and end up in cold-calling centres or work as estate agents, making a living basically ripping people off.
Our vain political leaders wage costly and deadly wars that serve little or no domestic interest and ignore public opinion.
Our once over-stretched but excellent-value health service has become a cash-haemorrhaging bureaucratic monstrocity that basically sums up the bloated public sector these days. Low unemployment is a myth, the mass creation of state debt-funded non-jobs is basically an extension of the welfare state – which incidentally has also mushroomed.

In short, Britain has become a miserable place for people who want to make an honest living and enjoy a decent quality of life, they are taxed till kingdom come, can only afford to live in a shoebox and are accosted by hoodies. It is these economically productive and aspirational people who I think are now leaving in droves and we are all in big trouble.
Posted by Chang Park on November 15, 2007 8:46 PM
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The comments posted here by archetypal Telegraph readers (60 something retired headmasters living in the Dordogne)are truly laughable. Britain is still one of the most tolerant and pleasant places in the world to live. Yes, our somewhat eccentric insistance on abiding by the laws we make and our sense of fair play occasionally allow people to take advantage but on the whole things are pretty good. I honestly believe that some of the doom mongers posting here would not have stayed in the UK even if they had been allowed to flog the servants and shoot Johnny Foreigner like in the old days. Sad people.
Posted by Elwood P Dowd on November 15, 2007 8:41 PM
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I was one of the five million The Iron Lady told to get on their bikes.
While she blue all the revenues fron the north sea Oil, on unemployment benifits,and an unwinnable war in N Ireland.
Since then we have had Mr Blair and his New Labour, (Thatcher in drag)
more wars, mass immigration, rich getting richer, everythibng else falling to bits. I live in oz, and would not return to the UK now at the point of a gun.
The Britain I knew, loved,and fought for is stone dead. killed off by political pigmies, Good bloody riddance I say. Welcome to Londinistan you deserve it.
Posted by Happy little ex Pom. Perth.WA. on November 15, 2007 8:38 PM
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I am an Italian national who recently returned to his native country after 20 years in the UK.I liked your country at the beginning,very little later on,for the same reasons amply illustrated in the other letters.Italy is in the same situation if not worse and with the additional burden of a prosperous mafia.My guess is that at the first big international crisis,be it economic or military,the whole European castle of cards will collapse and each country will have wake up separately to the ugly reality that present day idiots in power are determining.
Posted by Carlo on November 15, 2007 8:36 PM
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Simple. Over populated, over taxed, over governed.
Posted by Colin on November 15, 2007 8:36 PM
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WE left 40 years ago – after Suez – went back for 16 years ,started a business and when retirement loomed we thought of the standard of life – the immigrants pouring in and being better looked after than pensioners – then left again !
Posted by Tom Canning on November 15, 2007 8:35 PM
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I left many years ago and now live in Switzerland,all of the reasons posted on this site made up my mind.I remember i used to jog a lot and i could feel the tension in women when they heard me approaching from behind them,they probably wondered if i was going to steal their bag or something worse,and that was fifteen years ago,here you walk past a group of teenagers at night and the wish you a good evening,at first i thought they were taking the piss,it just shows how bad things are at home,I would like to come back but i cant see it,I blame all of the politicians for the huge mess we are in,they should all be hung,we need a revolution,to those who may be contemplating leaving i would say do it,even if you come back its a great experience,but i fear things can only get worse,I am not racist in any way but everyone needs to vote BNP,they seem to be the only party who can get us out of this huge mess.For many years now i have often thought that their is a huge conspiracy to destroy England,starting with those great patriots Burgess,Mc Clean and company, and when you look at the track records of the politicians we have had for decades i may have a point,the things the Engish people have had to put up with the past fifty years are a total disgrace,I am very proud to be English,its a huge privilege,but when i see how we are being treated i get very mad.
Posted by Mr Barnett on November 15, 2007 8:34 PM
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We are emigrating because we can. Exchange control was ended by Margaret Thatcher in 1979, which means we can now take our assets with us.
Posted by Freddie on November 15, 2007 8:33 PM
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I am an expat living in New York for the past 40 years. Although I emmigrated I’ve always considered myself proud to be English born and raised, and would always keep my UK nationality and passport. After looking at the nanny state created by various governments, an apathetic and ignorant public, and society sinking to it’s lowest level, I’m only now proud of the England I left.

I am now in the process of giving up my UK citizenship and disgusting European passport. I was born into a democracy, and I live in another. I was born English and became an American. No one ever asked me if I wanted to be European, and as far as I’m concerned the present Labour governemnt has demonstrated that England is no longer a democracy. If you don’t listen to the majority of people who want a referendum on the toilet they call the EU, then it’s akin to a dictatorship.

I will come back only to fight in the revolution. Remember to all who love your country, we may be slow to act, but we’ve beheaded kings before now.

To all previous Prime Ministers of the past 40 years, I consider you all traitors and liars.

Wake up people before it’s too late.
Posted by Jill on November 15, 2007 8:32 PM
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Damian Green, Tory shadow repopulation minister, is failing to tell the truth. It is utterly obvious that many norma UK people are now oppressed in their own land by the arrival of non integrating cultural groupings, who are favoured in every kind of way by local and national government. People feel aliens in their own land, and if they have the cash, are quitting. Ten years of Labour hatred of English culture has worked very well. They are repopulating the island, fast.
Posted by T on November 15, 2007 8:32 PM
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Unfortunately I am a Pensioner and could not get in any other country(unlike Britain who will let even terrorists in willy nilly)if I could I would not be able to get away fast enough
Posted by syd on November 15, 2007 8:31 PM
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I left in 2000 and wild horses wouldn’t drag me
back to the socialist mega state. The lunatics really
are running the asylum these days!
Posted by NickT on November 15, 2007 8:30 PM
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“Why are so many Britons emigrating?”

An interesting question, but not as interesting as “How many affluent Britons would emigrate if they could?”.

Based on what I heard from all of my friends on my last whirlwind visit to the UK, the answer is: ALL OF THEM.
Posted by Jon Leigh (safely tucked away in beautiful rural France) on November 15, 2007 8:27 PM
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These are a few of the reasons why I am considering overseas retirement.

1. This is no longer the country I was raised to respect. In 1940, the Nazis stood poised across the English Channel. It was the last time someone tried to invade this country by force of arms. Nowadays, all they would need is an EU passport to achieve the same result.

2. Too many laws, too little justice.

3. A society riddled with avarice, bad manners, drunken loutish behaviour, envy, gratuitous violence and indiscipline, where the elderly are shown little respect and the worship of ‘celebrity’ non-entities is paramount.

4. The ‘victim’ politics employed by ethnic minorities and pressure groups, which is destroying freedom of expression in this country and discriminating against the indigenous population.

5. The ‘money for nothing’ handouts to the bone idle.

6. Our continued membership of both the EU and the Commonwealth, the former an enormous drain on our national resources, a creeping danger to our national identity and a politicians’ ‘gravy train’; the latter an obsolete, private ward caring for corrupt dictators looking for another dose of British cash.

7. In the past decade, the most inept government I have had the misfortune to witness.

8. An economy built upon a financial deck of cards where debt is no longer regarded with trepidation.

9. Growing price inflation.

10. Mounting taxes, combined with an almost total lack of accountability regarding government spending.

11. A health service which was once the envy of the world and can now kill you.

Finally, on a personal note, if I stay, will I be able to afford to feed myself and heat my home in winter, or will I be joining the thousands of others who are already struggling to make ends meet in this ‘civilised’ country?
Posted by TC on November 15, 2007 8:26 PM
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I’m one of those who has left. I’m not sure that I have quite the venom that some people are keen to express against the UK. I now live in a small ski town in the Canadian Rockies. We live on 5 acres, that cost one third of our pokey London flat. Our kids play in the yard, don’t have lots of electronic toys and marvel at what nature has to offer. We don’t queue to get places in our cars, people are incredibly polite and helpful. Canada is a land of immgrants, so I’m not sure that all the anti-immigration thing is quite right. Britain is too small and crowded and expensive to offer us the way of life we wanted for our kids (and us). Also articles like this almost personify what is wrong with the UK – people never stop complaining, and it’s so miserable to listen to it. Read the front page of the Daily Mail today (I haven’t seen one for 5 years, thankfully) – I can guarantee there will be one of those misery/scandal/disaster type headlines (interest rates up – misery for homeowners / interest rates down – misery for savers) and it’s the same every day.

There’s nothing wrong per se with the UK, but when you live there, it feels like everything’s awful.
Posted by John Ercep on November 15, 2007 8:25 PM
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So? Life isn’t perfect. How many of you are doing something about it? If you don’t like the prime minister, don’t vote for him anymore. WE ARE A DEMOCRACY. God knows the system isn’t perfect, but at least we have one. If you think that life should be better, go out there and make a difference. Enter politics. Organise marches. Set up petitions. USE YOUR INITIATIVE and make a difference instead of just running away and taking the easy way out.
Posted by sammy lane on November 15, 2007 8:25 PM
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Because the good parts of being British (Radio 4, Marmite, Mark Kermode…) are on the inter-web thingy.

And the bad parts (24 hour surveilance, taxes, Gordon Brown) are not here.

So long.
Posted by T Sparks on November 15, 2007 8:24 PM
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The interesting thing is that 1.8m left and 979000 returned on finding that “the grass is not greener on the other side”. So Mr Pratt! left because Labour got into power. How come he did not leave sooner when the Tories were involved in all their sleaze and putting 4m out of work. He is like all those who condem Labour for a lot of things. ie Poor accommodation for servicemen,Lack of the right medical services, Lack of equipment,High fuel costs, poor Gov Pension rises, lack of N.H. Dentists and stealth taxes. Think about it!! All instigated by Tory governments over 18 years.How many have forgotten that under Mrs Thatcher the Toll road was approved.(Personally I think thats the best thing she ever approved)Point these things out to the wingers and straight away the hippocrits say” Oh well thats alright then.” Mr Pratt stay away your not missed. The people who stay behind will Vote out this Government if they dont improve things and listen to the people. Remember the look on John Majors face when he lost. Did he not admit that he never thought his party would be voted out.I wonder if the present Prime Minister will make the same mistake, he has said he will stay the full term. Looks like you wont be returning for sometime Mr Pratt.
Posted by Happy Pensioner ( I have private& Gov Pension) on November 15, 2007 8:20 PM
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I could write a whole book on the many reasons I and my young family packed our bags and left the UK for good, but it’s easier if I summarise in just 3 words:-

QUALITY OF LIFE
Posted by Jon Leigh (safely tucked away in beautiful rural France) on November 15, 2007 8:19 PM
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Dear Sir,
I emmigrated from the U.K.40 years ago and one year before Enoch Powell’s ‘rivers of blood speech’in 1968.The country was becoming a banana republic at that time and now is firmly established as one.I have been 5 years retired from the practice of Medicine in Canada,which for 35 years allowed me to practise to the betterment of my patients,and my family.Nothing would induce me to return.I made Canada my home,and will be eternally grateful to her.
Posted by James Dunlop on November 15, 2007 8:19 PM
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Far to many peolpe are fleeing Britain in fear MacBlair and MacBroon have made England a very unsafe place for White Working Heterosexuals.
Nu-Lab have made clear their intention to wipe out the conservatives. Just like Millibans grandfather did to the White Russians. It’s not funny but very serious because very many conservaties are white working heterosexual who have rights. So stay and fight for them.
Posted by mike on November 15, 2007 8:19 PM
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It’s immigration stupid.How can hundreds of thousands be eligible to live in the UK-are they all doctors,nurses,engineers?
Until they have a visa system the UK will accelerate down until only the chavs,old,sick,disabled and uneducated
are left in the UK.
Blair ,Brown et al will have long gone by then.
Posted by mike reading on November 15, 2007 8:18 PM
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Indigenous population leaving because immigrant populace coming in and swamping us. Simple!
Posted by Judith Chisholm on November 15, 2007 8:18 PM
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Too many immigrants that end up on social benefits and do not intergrate to our way of life.
High crime rate with no effective punishment for deterence.
A welfare state that encourages dependancy plus childbirth from those who can only bring up even more antisocial unemployable troublesome people.
A Labour goverment that has wrecked the country in EVERY way.
Posted by George on November 15, 2007 8:16 PM
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we are fifteen and sixteen years old and go to a private school. We are terrifed that we will be prejudiced against for the rest of our lives, simply becuase our parents feel that it is important for us to recieve the best education possible, which we don’t feel that the state provides. These are meant to be the best years of our lives, yet we are spending them utterly crippled by constant, government-enforced examinations, which will give us completely worthless qualifications.
Really, I’m just desperate to spend the rest of my life here, which is a real pity because I really passionately feel that England was and could be again the best place in the world.
Posted by Amelia Jones on November 15, 2007 8:13 PM
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I left with my family in 1969. That was when socialist Harold Wilson was in power. There has been nothing at all that would convince me to come back (except for a holiday). What a mess socialism has made of the country… immigration, devolution, taxes, Inheritance tax, the high price of housing.. still I don’t see the Tories doing much about things anyway
Posted by iek on November 15, 2007 8:13 PM
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Ordinary people now live in a persecution style society – step a foot wrong in any direction and a fine or a copper will appear on your doorstep the next day, it’s a matter of live how we tell you to or else. Intolerance, crime, not living a life but an existence and if you are white and English, forget it you will be screwed by everyone. Come and live in rural Spain like us, the people are lovely, the taxes are fair, a 3 course meal of the day including a beer and a coffee costs 8 euros and the sun shines most every day. I feel sorry for you lot who are trapped there and can’t get out – but keep trying!
Posted by Bob Pratt on November 15, 2007 8:10 PM
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I left 7 years ago and now live in the middle east with low taxes, opportunity, respect for the law, an intollerance of yob culture and appreciation of hard work and application of good education.
Posted by Pete on November 15, 2007 8:04 PM
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The ONLY thing which prevents my wife and I hot-footing it out of this dump is that we have a handicapped son in residential care here. (If able to go we would choose France)

And the treatment he has had here over the years has, at times, been truly appalling. Nine years to get a diagnosis, over a year fighting an LEA to get appropriate schooling, he lost £18k in DSS benefits because we were given the wrong information, he was given a massive injection of an anti-psychotic depot drug which went a long way to ruining his life and neither the GP nor the specialist would take responsibility for the action, complained to the GMC – a completely pointless, at that time they took the doctor’s side on every occasion! (I’m told that since the Shipman inquiry they have changed a bit)

Our disillusionment predates Labour coming to power but 10 years of spin, public money waste, etc etc
Posted by Nemesis on November 15, 2007 7:58 PM
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Ever since Enoch Powell uttered those prophetic words, the United Kingdom that I was once proud to be a part of, has vanished……..
It is hardly surprising that sensible people are leaving in droves and successive governments have done nothing to help alleviate the social problems which will just get worse and worse.
The UK is fast becoming over-loaded with foreigners who take as much as they can and give little if anything in return, and do not adopt our culture.
I decided a long time ago that I would not subscribe to a system that favours non-english speaking, poorly educated immigrants, that get free housing and assistance at the tax-payers expense.
The criminals who barely get a reprimand for committing serious crimes; a public transport system that falls far short of normal expections; a national road network that is a joke particularly considering the amount of taxes taken from the motorist; and finally the stealth taxes and all the other taxes that suck the lifeblood out of those that work the hardest.
It is a country which is obsessed with political correctness and frightened of upsetting the minorities by celebrating Xmas and leaving some mosques to engender an atmosphere of pure hate against the unsuspecting public.

I will never go back and be a part of a culture that will surely be lost forever.
Posted by James Turner on November 15, 2007 7:58 PM
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Does anyone else on this forum find it appallingly ironic that the xenophobic commentators among us have emmigrated to a land of foreigners?
Posted by Michael Starr on November 15, 2007 7:57 PM
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Why?

Are you bloody stupid or living in a different country
Posted by john on November 15, 2007 7:56 PM
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I started to list all the reasons why I no longer feel England is my country but after a dozen headings I realised I was wasting my time… things will not get better while we have Thug Brown who likes to bully the English but who can’t do anything about the real problems which make Brits leave these (now) alien shores.
Posted by Tricia on November 15, 2007 7:55 PM
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Unlike most of the other commentators I am not in political exile in New Zealand awaiting a change in government in the UK (!). Rather I emmigrated there for quality of life issues, such as slightly better climate, lower population density and the great outdoors, and also to experience the culture of Pacific peoples. You must be a strange and rather anal lot who espouse the hanging of members of the Labour government?
Posted by Michael Starr on November 15, 2007 7:51 PM
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The UK is dangerous, bad value for money , politically correct and unsafe.

Those were the reasons I left and I ain’t coming back.
Posted by JG on November 15, 2007 7:50 PM
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Well we only live once, so i guess we have to make the most of it while we can. It seems the other man’s grass is always greener, but it comes down to up keep of the actual lawn. Upkeep is something that has been sorely neglected in the past decade the lawns have been hacked into and rampaged over by this seemingly self perpetuating mob of ignoramuses we have to refer to as a government. Now the bare patches are starting to show, the future will be concrete and clay. Good luck to all those who have the mind to leave. Now just answer the 53 questions and you will be free to leave.
Posted by Unit 4 on November 15, 2007 7:50 PM
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Isn’t it obvious why Britons are emigrating? It is because life in Britain is becoming unbearable for indiginous British people,treated with disrespect and contempt by their own Government in their own land. Who would be a white, middle class, middle aged male in Nulab’s Britain? The PC preferential treatment given to all miniorities and alien cultures, coupled with the total disrepect shown to people who have worked all their lives and paid all their taxes and dues, is staggering. Let Labour’s UK Multilticultural, freeforall, house party continue while the guests start fighting amongst themselves, breaking up the furniture and demanding their squatters rights! Those who want to live in a more civilised environment will long have abandoned the country. Sample recent http://snaphanen.dk/wp-admin/news:the trial of youths allegedly responsible for kicking a 47 year old man to death for remonstrating with them over their behaviour;a humanist service for a girl kicked to death for dressing like a ‘Goth’; the growing unchecked youth knife crime; Headmaster Stephen Lawrence’s killer undeportable and free to walk the streets;a nurse given probation for giving an illegal, potentially lethal, injection of insulin to a baby because she was ‘distressed’ at the time; 24 hour drinking and the rape debate – young women sprawling or throwing up in the street after continuous unchecked binge drinking,then having bleary, sordid,sexual encounters ending with accusations against young males of rape;Councils reporting all public services overloaded by the demands placed on them by unchecked,unplanned immigration;in education -A levels having been reinvented twice in eight years to be abolished in more Year Zero political games while standards of literacy and General Education fall;teachers overwhelmed by having to teach classes of children speaking a dozen different languages -but not English; England ruled by Scots whose Nulab devolved Parliament creates privileges for Scotland denied to the English and nothing can be done about it;the House of Lords -instead of being sensibly reformed ,neutered and turned into a ‘nice little earner’ for the Governing party with bought peerages; the Armed forces, forced to fight impossible wars,run into the ground through neglect and underspending with ancient aicraft exploding and falling out of the sky.All this and a Government with virtually dictatorial powers on the basis of the vote of 22% of the electorate pushing through mountains of pointless, ill-thought-out and unnecessary legislation.Only 60% of voters could be bothered to vote at all. Add to this The lowest calibre of ministers and Paliamentary members ever seen with no incompetent minister ever resigning and even incompetent Police Chiefs now taking their cue and holing on to their jobs and perks.Is there any area of British life which is not a total disaster? Now of course the economic bubble is about to burstwhile draconian new ‘Fortress Britain’ security measures are announced.it doesn’t get any better. What is there to be proud of in the messs of modern Britain? What is there to stay for if you are lucky enough to have the choice to leave?
Posted by david on November 15, 2007 7:49 PM
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I’ve never read so much nonsense in my entire life as the majority of the above comments… this is Britain in the 21st century, not communist Russia. In reply, if you dont like how things happen here, dont run away and hide you cowards. If you dont like the government, vote a new one. People obviously like the government, otherwise they wouldnt keep voting them in!
Posted by steven jones on November 15, 2007 7:48 PM
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It’s clear to me that most people are leaving the UK because of the high levels of immigration into Britain. I suppose I’ll be called a racist for making this comment ( in fact I’ve actually recently started learning Polish for those who think that) but I’m afraid it’s true. When the government publish their list of reasons for people leaving this country immigration isn’t mentioned. How absurdly PC. Of course it’s the main reason,come and take a look at Birmingham and the surrounding area. It really is quite unbelievable.
Posted by A foreigner in his land of birth on November 15, 2007 7:48 PM
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Brits are leaving in droves because they are being suffocated by Political Correctness, Community Cohesion initiatives which is PC Speak for doling shedloads of cash out to ill deserved newly arrived migrants who very often are here simply to take advantage of our soft welfare system. Lets not forget the feeling that one dare not speak ones mind for fear of being branded racist, but hey, if you belong to some communities say what you want about your hosts, their traditions, history and culture;you will be ok, because the boot is always on the other foot. Or perhaps it’s the feeling that the UK Plc, or at least part of it,is being ran for the benefit of a bunch of shysters who can make laws smug in the knowledge that their constituents will never suffer the consequences of it. Then again, one might care to reflect on the EU, and the lies that were and are told to us regarding it’s formation, use and future intentions and the fact that the referendum is being denied to us by the Thief in Chief, Boredom Bottler Brown. Maybe it is the taxes, and the relentless pursuit of all things green in order to screw another shilling from me. Perhaps the mantra that is Diversity has also played it’s part. The loss of control of our borders, the sense that our country is being lost for ever in pursuit of a project known only to politicians and the irrevocable changes occuring in consequence and the fact that for millions of us the UK just does not feel like home anymore. Then again, one might want to reflect on the absurdities of the Human Rights Act and the mischief that has caused in courts across the land. I despise New Labour. But not as much apparently,as they despise me, an ordinary hard working guy trying to do my best whilst being made to feel guilty for my culture, my salary and my kids. After all, I am the Milch Cow that provides for New Labour. And if I could leave I would because the UK is being run by a complete bunch of time serving jobsworths.But look on the bright side,it will soon be Christmas, ooops, sorry, Winterval.
Cheers, Have a Nice Day.
Posted by TG on November 15, 2007 7:47 PM
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I left the U.K. in September 1998 for San Francisco as I spent 3 months trying to find a job after finishing my PhD in Biochemistry. All I kept getting was “you don’t have a 2.1” event though I had an MSc and a PhD, people were fixated with the lack of a 2.1 batchelors degree. I came to the U.S., worked in the Biotech industry, got my MBA from Berkeley, and now work at an Investment Bank doing Biotechnology/pharmaceuticals analysis. No-one in the U.S. has even asked about my BSc. The Brits need to change their way of thinking. I never wanted to leave the U.K. but was forced to.

There is a big difference in mentality between the U.S and the U.K. I’m not surprised the largest talent pool is here in the U.S.

Having said all that I now am missing the U.K. terribly.
Posted by Tony on November 15, 2007 7:46 PM
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I am working/middle class,married with two children,pay my taxes,respect the rule of law,grammar school educated,and pretty much Johnny Average. Time to get out and quick,this country’s got no time for me.
Posted by David Sutherst on November 15, 2007 7:45 PM
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Easy to answer: even the Conservative Party is socialist, though they seem to have move a little to the right.

Posted by jorgen on November 15, 2007 7:42 PM
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Why are so many people leaving this country?
Does anyone really need the answer spelling out to them?
The Weather. ’nuff said.
Overcrowding.
Too many immigrants who have a way of life and culture alien to Britain but who seem to enjoy priveleges and protection by the law that native British people do not.
Politicians who treat the electorate with contempt and utterly ignore our wishes, being more concerned with fulfilling the wishes of big business.
Useless and expensive public transport.It is inconvenient, slow, unpleasant and usually late.
Clogged roads. See above for reasons.
Motorists treated like a cross between a milch cow and a criminal by cynical, money-grubbing, self-serving and dishonest politicians.
Lack of land for recreation. There is nowhere to go for any activity in the countryside other than footpaths.
Housing is unaffordable for a whole generation.
The police have been rendered ineffective by a government more concerned with political correctness than with “nicking villains”. We need fewer social workers and more “thief takers”.
A youth orientated culture driven partially by business chasing the disposable income of the under-25’s, and partially by the I.T. revolution which means children are running the world. These two facts translate into a lack of respect for age and experience.
The disappearance of proper jobs since Thatcher ( the worst leader of any country in the history of this planet ) killed off manufacturing industry in order to get rid of trade unions thereby leading the way open for assorted spivs, chancers and crooks to asset strip this country – enriching themselves in the process but impoverishing future generations.
A crumbling NHS. I recently had to wait – in excruciating pain with a back injury – for 1hour to be “processed” at my local A&E, then 3 hours to see a doctor, then 2 hours for an X-Ray, then another hour to have my results examined. When my wife fell during a Spanish hoilday a couple of years ago, the doctor visited our hotel within 30 minutes !!!
Expensive and low grade food in restaurants and pubs.
Poor schools with no discipline. This country started it’s inevitable decline when they abolished caning in schools, flogging in prison, and started trying to understand criminals instead of crush them.
This country has been a social experiment that has failed. We are in terminal decline and each generation is wilder and less disciplined than the one that preceeded it. The pressure of life here is getting too much for so many people. With high cost housing, food, fuel and utilities, there is no quality of life.
People are working the longest hours in Europe, with fewer holidays, benefits and less job security. And if you can ever afford to retire, will you have a pension? Probably not as our scumbag government has allowed employers to escape pension liabilities.
Rats leaving a sinking ship is a good anology for the people leaving the UK — but they are sensible and fortunate rats. I wish to God I could afford to take my family and join them.

Posted by Paul Atherton on November 15, 2007 7:41 PM
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In 2001 I went to live in Malta. great people easy going and no crime. The goverment let the people get on with thier business without any nanny state interference.Only one regret….i came home.Next time i am off for good
Posted by Keith Brown on November 15, 2007 7:41 PM
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New labour has ignored England in favour of a super European state ,I am a proud englishman in despair Scottish , Welsh and Northern Irish MPs decide our fate the English have no representation. The government votes through European legislation despite promises not to.Scots MPs vote through student fees in England but not in Scotland need I go on.
England has been destroyed every institution has been attacked, diluted
and near destroyed as though part of some grand plan- The latest include Africa in the EU – will they allow Scots MPs to decide their fate? Only in exchange for large amounts of cash
and then probably ignore the legislation anyway.
Posted by Nigel Ashurst on November 15, 2007 7:38 PM
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The government may think they have copied and improved potential earnings by charging non domiciled residents £30,000 p.a. Have they deducted the loss of thousands more leaving the country because of it (I shall be one)?
Posted by V P Mollinger on November 15, 2007 7:37 PM
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I’m emigrating as soon as I get my degree finished, Just one more year to go! why? This government punishes you if you have aspiration and work hard. Anyway labour don’t care the people leaving are generally highly skilled and educated, and thus Tory voters. The people they are letting in are immigrant populations that love a state that gives them handouts, thus Labour supporters.
Posted by Robert on November 15, 2007 7:36 PM
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Traffic jams, speed cameras, windy rainy weather, road rage, abusive people with little respect for others, increased taxes, “stealth” taxes, stupid petrol prices, stupid people, rude people, the nanny state, the police state, 2.5 million CCTV cameras, yobbish youth culture, gun crime, disgraceful overpriced public transport systems, lazy obese people blaming McDonalds rather than themselves, ignorants, bbc tv, dead-enders, coronation street, tabloid journalism reaching epic proportions, “reality” tv shows, news-tertainment, 6 billion pound biometric id schemes to reduce “terrorism” instead of researching renewable energy sources, frivolous wars in Iraq, millions spent on hosting Olympic Games when the “national health service” is falling apart…

I am no longer proud of my country.
So, like a rat leaving a sinking ship, I choose to live elsewhere.

Why the blazes would we want to return to the UK?
Posted by Ruth Tilson on November 15, 2007 7:34 PM
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We left Britain for the US fourteen years ago. It’s the best thing we ever did. We have achieved in business at a level we could never have attained in the UK and have a lifestyle that reflects our hard work. The US is still the land of opportunity for those that work hard and dream big.
Posted by M McManus on November 15, 2007 7:34 PM
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We now live in Spain and there is absolutely nothing that the present government could do that would persuade us to return to the UK. Britain is now a totally fragmented society with the immigrants taking control. The problem for Britain is that the people who make a worthwhile contribution to society and the wealth of the country are leaving and the and the immigrants coming in are carving up the country into their own independant enclaves and taking every government hand out they can and putting back nothing in return. It’s only a matter of time before all the providers are gone and only the immigrant grabbers will be left to fight over the bones of poor old Britain. Thats why anyone with any sense and foresight is leaving now.
Posted by Roger Jones on November 15, 2007 7:33 PM
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It’s quite sad, I am a very patriotic Englishman. I have left the U.K. to live and work in Grenoble. I don’t know what happened but I worked hard for 12 years and found myself unable to afford a home, unlikely to get a pension and with a mountain of student debt left to pay (although not as much as some). In Grenoble, I have an interesting job, a lot of holiday, I have bought a nice house and have a fantastic quality of life. The U.K. is about money and nothing else.
Posted by Davey Cooper on November 15, 2007 7:33 PM
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Is this what is called a ‘Rhetorical Question’?
Is there any country out there willing to accept a seventy-five year old and his invalid wife?
Our bags are already packed,and we are practising sign-language.
Posted by j.b.windmill on November 15, 2007 7:30 PM
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I left 27 years ago, as always I am ahead of the curve !!!, unless you have a serious revolution in the next couple of years my advice is abandon ship now!!. For all of you skilled hard working English speakers, please consider America, look past the Britney Spears, left wing media garbage that you get to see, this is still the greatest country on the planet and truly the land of opportunity. I work in Aerospace and there is a shortage of skilled workers at every level. If you speak Spanish and want to pick lettuce, forget it we have enough. This place still reminds me of the old prosperous powerful England…not a bad place.
Posted by Long Gone on November 15, 2007 7:30 PM
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Couldnt agree more with the comments here – particulary the first two. Now live in France , didn’t feel had ANY rights in UK being white ,male , professional and middle class. The UK is now a non policed , ethnic and women’s world.
Posted by christopher murray on November 15, 2007 7:29 PM
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People are leaving because they cannot afford to live here comfortably.

Council tax, road tax & more & more tax has made life unaffordable.

Crime is rising, health care is falling & there are no dentists.

Employers are paying ridiculously low wages that barely cover the congestion charges & petrol taxes.

Education standards are abominable & can only get worse.

Health & safety laws have destroyed centuries old traditions & Christmas is fast becoming a dirty word.

I’d leave this sorry, pitiful country in an instant if I could only have the chance.
Posted by Amanda Regan (madamspud169) on November 15, 2007 7:25 PM
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Emigrating is only one way of protesting against a deteriorting UK,
the other is to commit to six months of zero materialism, limiting expenditure to only essentials.
If enough people commited to this campaign the loss of VAT revenue would seriously cripple the present rotten excuse of a government.
This governments arrogance is fed by YOUR materialism.

Posted by wayne on November 15, 2007 7:24 PM
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Because life in the UK if you happen to be a moral conservative tax paying heterosexual family member wishing to be safe in your home and on the street and say what you like while having a cigarette in the pub which you drive to in a BMW X5 after taking your children to their private schools is utterly impossible and unaffordable. The Fabian Marxist garbage which is now the government has, since Blair was planted like a tare upon the political field, introduced laws which are if anything evil and opened the floodgates of immigration so if you happen to be a normal English patriot and want to govern your own affairs and live with your own kind whilst celebrating your history you are vilified as a nazi. The weather is not bad – but it is not consistently good and the cost of everything is at least twice if not four times that in the US and the quality of life is appalling unless you are a rich socialist political pig swilling common purpose graduate or a BBC 5th columnist overpaid socialist on State money or a Untermensch lumpen pig on State (read taxpayer) handouts. The public transport system is dire, the education system doesn’t. Anyone who remembers England as she was will be either weeping, praying or drinking heavily and possibly a combination of all three. There is no future in the country. It is dead. And the emigration will rise and continue until the remaining people who love the land and soil too much to leave will realize that there is no longer anyone left in charge with an IQ higher than 100 – and then the revolution will come. Many people have land here handed down for generations. We will stay until the civil war. And it will come. Unless Commie Ron and the “conservative” Sock Puppets get some balls.
Posted by P O Halleran on November 15, 2007 7:23 PM
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The reasons simple. Those with brains see what’s happening to this country and don’t want anything to do with it. Also if your a young professional, who’s studied and worked hard, why pauper yourself trying to afford a property in an area where your neigbours get these for free. That’s what my nephew is doing.
Posted by To old to get out on November 15, 2007 7:23 PM
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As an expat, I don’t want to return to the UK, and if I was to it would be on the condition that those *+!!*+*!politicians were going in the opposite direction. I live in a place where the politicians and officials are corrupt, there is a huge gap between rich and poor, the educational, welfare, and health systems fall well short of expectations (mainly through no fault of their own). BUT I can walk the streets totally risk free at night, no worries.
Posted by Derek Sxxxx on November 15, 2007 7:22 PM
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Could it be a combination of high taxes, low opportunities, the erosion of liberty, the expansion of socialism, with a nice big dose of cultural atrophy?

From where I stand, I’m better off in NEW England than in the original. Come on over to New England! You won’t regret it. Even the Irish-Americans are quite welcoming! LOL
Posted by Harry Douglas on November 15, 2007 7:20 PM
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There are a number of reasons why the English are leaving these shores:

1. Our society is now ruled by a dictatorial government.

2. Immigrants are pouring into the country, swiftly turning it into a third world nation.

3. The cost of living is becoming astronomical.

4. House prices are far too high.

5. The health service is beyond dreadful

6. The media is filled with left wing propaganda.

What more reason do you need?

Personally, I don’t think I could ever bring myself to leave England but I can see how some people have been driven to it.
Posted by Bree Harding on November 15, 2007 7:19 PM
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The incentives are Nulabour, NHS, Paper shifting police, CCTV’s, hoodies, cost of living, EU, tax tax tax, nobody listens.
Posted by Anglo Manglo on November 15, 2007 7:16 PM
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The reason that I will be emigrating as soon as I can afford to is that, as I no longer have the right to live among my own kind, I might as well live among others in a better climate.
I feel a complete stranger in my own country, but what I find hard to accept is that all the immigrants to England have their own countries to go back to if they so wish. Where can I go to get away from them? I feel like a refugee with no patriality.
Anywhere is better than here.
Posted by Alan on November 15, 2007 7:15 PM
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High house prices and lousy weather are two good reasons
Posted by Paul on November 15, 2007 7:15 PM
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“If you are an expat, is there anything that the Government could do that would convince you to come home?”

Answer: Resign enmass.
Posted by Rogan M. on November 15, 2007 7:14 PM
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Sure, there’s something the government could do–restore democracy.
Oh, and while they’re at it, how about making it respectable again to be an Englishman who values his own culture?
Posted by Keith James on November 15, 2007 7:13 PM
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I moved to the USA (Arizona) in 1987. Basic reasons; higher salaries, lower prices and a much better standard of living. No to mention a lot less crime.

I owned a 4 bed semi near St Albans. It was 1100 sq feet including the garage. It was worth around UKP250K in 2000. I bought a 4 bed detached home of 2600 sq ft, plus a 2 car garage and a 40 ft pool for around UKP 165K.

Most things are much cheaper than the UK. In addition,taxes are lower. I no longer have to support the crazy socialist dreams of Tony Blair and his successor.

There are downsides to living in a foreign country but they are greatly outweighed by the benefits. The big issue here is medical cover. There is no national health system so you must insure yourself of get cover from your employer.

Could the government do anything to encourage me to return? They could resign…
Posted by Pat McGrane on November 15, 2007 7:12 PM
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In the words of so many UK originated people I’ve run into in Canada; “England isn’t England any more.”

They seem to feel that the country of their birth has been sold out from underneath them.
Posted by Bill Sticker on November 15, 2007 7:12 PM
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The figures tell only part of the story. Consider the changing balance in all aspects of the remaining population. Look at the skills, knowledge, experience, monetary and other resources that are leaving and then do likewise with the arrivals.
Even if the number of departures and arrivals were equitable, all other features would show significant imbalances between the two groups.

I suspect that as the balance continues to shift, increasing numbers of the indigenous population who form much of the backbone of this country will likewise be tempted to ‘up sticks’ and go. The reasons to stay are dwindling day by day. The long list of reasons must include failures in law and order, education, public services, taxes, continuous government spin and lies, surveillance, intrusive micro management by politicians in almost everything ….. and so much more.

I, like so many others, am considering the alternatives.
Posted by Tony, Kent on November 15, 2007 7:09 PM
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when the BNP gain power in Britain, then I shall consider returning home,I left the motherland 42years ago when the labour goverment forced the infamous race relations act upon the people of Britain, and it is now obvious to the whole world that the indiginous people of Britain are controlled and suppressed by the establishment by the use of that instrument of terror known as political correctness, and you wonder why brts are leaving, it boggles the mind. David bailey from Victoria Canada
Posted by David Bailey on November 15, 2007 7:05 PM
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Why would you want to stay in a socialist hellhole.Emigrate, or change your voting habits at the next election.Vote for “non of the above”.Give a vote to the ENGLISH DEMOCRATES it is the only English party,even UKIP are joining them,they know there is nothing united about the union anymore.
Posted by peter on November 15, 2007 7:04 PM
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It’s pretty obvious why our nationals are leaving. They are responding to Government’s policies of wiping out our cultural heritage.
Most people I talk to agree with me that they too would move to a less oppressive regime if they had the chance.
Posted by Tony Collins on November 15, 2007 7:03 PM
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I received a head start by standing as a Referendum Party candidate in the 97 election. I and other members learned what was going to happen if our country was allowed to be flushed down a vast European toilet.
We tried to tell our fellow countrymen, but they were more interested in previous party affiliations, football and beer.
When Labour gained power it was obvious that nothing was going to stop the onward march of Federalisation.
I started making preparations then, and left for Canada early in 2002. I consider that I didn’t leave my country. My country left me.
Almost everything the Referendum Party predicted has come to pass so that England is no longer the land of my birth and upbringing. That has been destroyed and its government reduced to mere puppets, worked by strings pulled in Brussels. As a mongrelised, offshore province of a corrupt, self-serving State, it can never be made whole again.
Posted by Charles COOK on November 15, 2007 7:03 PM
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The lack of replies answers your question.

They are all too busy enjoying their new lives.

Spending their money, more of it as less taxes.

Drinking wine without the big brother, ‘oh you cant do that. it is bad for you’.

Filling their cars up without the government taking the largest share in taxes.

Driving on roads that are not too congested,

Walking through their localities without the fear of being stabbed or mugged.

Or too happy to be reading how gloomy we all are in the uk, just wish I could afford to join them, no, I am waiting for the revolution which will come! I will carry the banner. Well everything comes to those who wait, trouble is some of us have less waiting time left.

Posted by Sister Anna on November 15, 2007 6:58 PM
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I know one thing – a lot of people in the UK are exasperated with this so called democracy and the politicians that are supposed to serve it. The 3 main parties don’t serve the people anymore – they serve the rich, themselves and their pockets – they don’t put the country first! An unelected prime minister and an illegal war plus an endless flow of illegal immigrants and no taxes for the super rich! We need to all act together to stop this calamity going any further before it’s too late!
Posted by AverageJoe on November 15, 2007 6:55 PM
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Quality of life has undoubtedly deteriorated over the past ten years – England is now the most densely populated country in the developed world, and among the most expensive and most highly taxed, but salaries are not among the highest and public services are among the poorest. Above all it is clear that very many people are sick to death of uncontrolled mass immigration and the poison of multiculturalism and thought-control which pervade every aspect of our lives, and a government which plainly does not give a damn about its own people. Many people now have deep misgivings about the course our country is now set on. Britain now feels more alien than a number of “foreign” countries, thus one can quite easily feel more at home abroad. For the sake of the country’s future, it is bad that so many British people are leaving, but at a personal level, I have a good deal of sympathy with them.
Posted by ST G on November 15, 2007 6:51 PM
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Personally I would like to emigrate because I feel abused, oppressed and taken advantage of in this country.

I don’t feel that I have any say in anything locally or nationally and that I must work every hour of the day to fulfill the bureaucratic and taxation imposed by the ruling elite.

White man, middle class professional, middle aged, ex Grammar school, educated.
Posted by MarkS on November 15, 2007 6:51 PM
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Britons are emigrating because their way of life
has been gradually annulled, their values ignored
and their standards dumbed down. There is a
lack of decency, honour and elegance. Money
rules and and values normally upheld in evolved
civilisations have been tossed aside in favour of a
dumbing down and purported “egalitarianism”.
Crime, drug use, litter, urban decay, violence,
corruption are common currency in London,
especially. Desire to belong to heritage or
ancestral culture is denounced as racist yet
every other culture is promoted. Not surprising
Brits are emigrating!!!!
Posted by P. Leclerc on November 15, 2007 6:44 PM
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People are leaving because they are sick of being ground under the jackboot of the Labour/EU axis. That and better weather, public services, tax regimes, economies, quality of life, attitudes to work, education, just about anything. The only thing keeping me here is that I love the British people and the way they are. The Great British pub is one of the finest institutions of the world – that sadly is also being eroded by petty bureaucrats insufficiently qualified or educated to do anything else, but who must be employed on the Labour gravy train to keep them dependent on the state for their wages and final-salary-linked, taxpayer-funded pensions, so that they continue to vote to keep them in.

I would be interested to know the demographics of the people leaving and coming in. My suspicion is that the people leaving are the wealth creators and those with significant savings, or those with good qualifications and experience. Those coming in seem to be filling in the lower end of the job spectrum, which on the face of it is fine, but what is happening to those Brits who used to do those jobs? Yes, they too are now dependent on the welfare state…
Posted by George Brown on November 15, 2007 6:44 PM
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As an expat now living in Spain I can honestly say
that my life here is better in every way. The only
thing that the Government could do to make me
return – is to hang themselves … that’s right a
“hung Parliament” is what is needed!
Posted by Mike Mackellow on November 15, 2007 6:42 PM
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I left Britain a few years after New Labour came into power. My sense was that I didn’t leave my country so much as my country had left me. I have been proven correct.
Posted by Eddie Pratt on November 15, 2007 6:36 PM
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As if anyone needs to ask.
Posted by jeg on November 15, 2007 6:22 PM
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Do what the government does… deny everything. Pretend it isn’t happenening and distract the general public with… wait for it… Orange Taxes!
Posted by Joe Public on November 15, 2007 6:20 PM
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