Britain's brain drain

Cuffleyburgers

And, just in, the pope has admitted to catholic tendencies and a bear was reported disappearing into a wood with a roll of loopaper...

But seriously, I live in Italy which is a bot tinpot in some respects and frustrating from time to time.

I sometimes think about a further move to NZ or Canada although it is unlikely - we'll see.

I haven't thought seriously about returning to Blighty, although I would say that a competent tory government reducing tax, and standing up for British individualism could conceivably change that - we'll see.

Fatbloke on tour

Trevor

Partial analysis looking towards the headline and not an understanding of the issue.

What about the inflows of graduates and professionals into the UK?

And do we really want all those who scarper to Australia to return? Moaning about the weather, the cricket and why isn't Rugby League the national sport.

No thanks, they can stay where they are.

Frederick Chichester

Many people leave because of the weather and the relative lack of space. Short of invading France in the cause of lebensraum, any government can do precious little to "solve" either of these problems.

steve

I emigrated one week before the Iraq war started, because I will not live in a country with a government that does that type of thing.

Hopefully I will be back to my homeland, England, in a couple of weeks time. Can't wait.

Steven

I left the UK in '97 after Labour won the election and headed for the USA. I have been self employed for ten years and earned several million dollars in that time. I have paid low taxes on it all so I have saved and invested for future (tax paid at an average rate of 24% p.a.). I get excellent healthcare and don't mind paying for insurance rather than paying taxes. I get to choose whichever doctor or treatment I need. Minimal crime, safe to walk in the street, I don't get my car scratched just because it's nice and 'you' don't have one. Can still watch English Premier League and read the papers thanks to the Internet. Fly to England regularly to go walking in the countryside, drink beer and eat good fish n chips but don't miss living there, it's just too hard, too nasty and to dreary and you can't build an independent life. It's no surprise that graduates leave the UK and leave behind the millions who just want to live off other people's hard work. The UK is a country obsessed with material wealth and the media fosters an environment that maximises spite and envy of success. Can't think of why it would be worth returning to actually live there. Oh and I got two iPads before you get to even buy one!

Hawkeye

My wife and I are both graduates and we are leaving. The disposal of assets is a big delay in the schedule but everything else is sorted and soon we will be off abroad. This is our last UK election and that gives it an added extra frisson.

Why are we going? Because this is a country that penalises effort, that calls enterprise "tax evasion" and that assumes every man is a paedophile and child molester. Combine this with the current lunatic social legislation such as giving employees huge amounts of time off with pay and you can see that to anyone with initiative this is not a good country to reside in.

It is become so difficult to do anything with the kids without having to prove that I'm not Ian Brady in disguise. Suspicion of everyone by everyone else seems to be the order of the day. It is heartbreaking.

I've always been proud of Britain but in the last decade we have become a nation of complete idiots fuelled by indiscipline, selfishness and a me-me-me-me attitude.

Our politicians are hapless and spineless and we seem to have an electorate which is made up of a large percentage of people who think you can spend your way out of difficulty using other people's money.

What is there to stay for? That's what we asked ourselves? Why stay here where everything is being devalued and where dirtbags and lowlives seem to have more rights, benefits and money that anyone who can be bothered to get off their a*se and create businesses and jobs.

Honestly. WTF is the point?

When we realised that, the solution was obvious. A new life beckons in a land elsewhere where you are not monitored by CCTV 47 times a day, where everything you say, write or email is not tracked and where taking responsibility for your life still means something.

I'm not trying to talk anyone into going. It's a personal decision. If you like it here then stay here. Good luck to you.

I've had enough.

boulay

I moved to Switzerland to work primarily but was also pleased to get away from the madness that is the uk. The amount of stupid laws, stupid people and crushing taxes turned the country I love into a basket case. You do not realize how messed up it is until you leave and realize there is more to life than the culture in Britain where everyone expects everything to be given to them where here people get on with it and work or pay for what they need.

Little Britain was supposed to be a joke but it is not far from re truth. When they interview school children on tv I don't understand a word they are saying - they all seem to have a strange caribean/ London accent.

And yet, if they got rid of the Stalinist mind control, the iliberal law, the professional offended class and made the taxes vaguely reasonable I would love to move my company back to the uk and pay large taxes in the uk as I miss what it was and hope that it can be again.

Zoo keeper (Elephant House)

Fatbloke.

"What about the inflows of graduates and professionals into the UK" ?
What about them ?
It's not them you want to be asking us to consider. It's the rest.

"And do we really want all those who scarper to Australia to return" ?
Probably not. They wouldn't vote Liebour.

Torontory

I moved to Canada about a year ago. More housing for the buck; barely any impact of the financial crisis; low cost country; good cultural availability theatres, galleries, etc; stable economy; low crime rates; etc etc. Not sure what will induce me to return!

HCTroubador

My wife and I moved to Canada (my home) in 2003. There is no comparison in the quality of education and opportunities for our children upon graduation. We both miss England in many ways, but would not go back for anything. What has befallen a once great nation is nothing short of a tragedy. Labour has much to be called to account for.

echo34

Well, i'd jump at the chance to go.

Unfortunately like most of the rest of the population, i'm not a graduate and haven't quite got enough equity in my property to buy my way in somewhere nice.

My job's not recognised on those nice little lists countries put out detailing what they're lacking in the way of skills.(do we have a similar list? it would make interesting reading). For the majority of people the situation is that it's quite easy for migrants to come here but you have jump through hoops to emigrate.

The way we're dishing out degrees in all sorts these days, graduate Brits are not the attractive job-seeker they used to be either.

Steven, give us a job.

James Silver

I'm curious, Hawkeye, where are you going?

Noa Zrk

Putting it bluntly the outflow is of the people one wants to stay, intelligent, educated, of UK origin and inherently patriotic. They represent 25-30 years investment, by both taxpayers and themselves, who being largely replaced by un-educated, self-interested non-contributing third world peasantry and euro-trash.

To any sane UK citizen that represents an accelerating and extremely alarming nett national deficit.

Alexandrovich

I don't blame one of you for leaving and wish you all the best. Too late for these old bones, more's the pity.
It saddens me, that's all.

Robert Taggart

Why the surprise ?
The more educated / able among us are less likely to vote for let alone support Liebour. Result - those who know better no where they can do better... and it be not Blighty... well, not with Liebour governance !
Result - all the 'divs' stay (and vote in Liebour) and all the brains go (and support 'conservatives' elsewhere).
We are doomed !

Ian Walker

Not sure that going abroad for a better education is a good idea - one high category of migrants is teachers, because British teachers are highly sought after in most English-speaking countries.

The main exception is Canada, which has a truly world-class education system, and doesn't need to poach our best.

Olaf Rye

I left Canada in those dark days of debt, and now am facing the same situation here. I would go back to Denmark were it not for my fondness for the Anglo-American perspective on life, so I am contemplating the US or Australia.

Mucker

Is "fat bloke on tour" Charlie Whelan?

Bob Cat

What about those who would leave but can't ?

Actually if the personal circumstances allowed, I would seriously consider it. But the other side of the Coign, is that it would be an admission of defeat. A retreat. An ignominy and humiliation beneath this downfall. So I would not.

But I have every sympathy and understanding with those who do.

Major Plonquer

In order to retain qualified people like myself the United Kingdom will need to offer at least the same quality of life, opportunity for furtherment, personal security, business climate and freedom of the individual that they do here in Communist China.

smell the glove

To go or not.I am not a rabid my country right always. I was a miner in 84 first son born 87.Sent all three of my kids to private school, sweated blood.Oldest now a teacher totally dissilsioned, no 2 lastyear uni youngest in grammer. This country is finished .Shakespeare Dickens who dat cole cowell gods

A. Watson

Fatbloke on tour said:
"And do we really want all those who scarper to Australia to return? Moaning about the weather, the cricket and why isn't Rugby League the national sport.

No thanks, they can stay where they are."

My husband and I regard ourselves as political refugees from the EUSSR and so we're quite happy to stay here in Australia, thanks.