Why are so many people leaving Britain?

[FrancisB]

As an undergraduate, I did my disseratation on why so many people want to leave Britain to start a new life abroad.

It is estimated that thousands are leaving Britain each year; the most popular destination being Australia. Canada, America, New Zealand and Spain are also popular.

In your opinion, why is it that so many people want to leave here, to go abroad? Some of the common reasons I came across were: overcrowding, cost of living, crime rates/fear of safety, the impact of immigration, youth culture etc. What other reasons can you think of?

[Ethel]

I find it laughable really.

British people are dissatisfied with our way of life because they have at least a smattering of knowledge of the goings on. They read the papers and vote.

I know Spain very very well. The Spanish are sick to death of the corrupt politicians, the crime rate, the illegal immigrants from North Africa, the influx of legal immigrants from Britain, Germany and Holland, the sharp rises in the cost of living, the smoking ban in bars, the drug culture...

Exactly the same reasons as the British give for their reasons to leave the UK. The difference is the majority of Brits are not aware of the reality of life abroad and think they are escaping problems.

Older people may move to Spain for the climate - but then complain about the high cost of running air conditioning in the summer, the cold solid floors in the winter, and the high cost of water.


New Zealand also has a huge drug culture.

[jake-the-peg]

I've found some figures for 2003

"Estimates produced by the Office of National Statistics reveal some 190,000 British citizens left in 2003.

Approximately 105,000 British citizens returned in the same year - a net outflow of 85,000 people."

So over half those leaving come back again! Rather backs up what Ethel says!

[waimarie]

Don't fret FrancisB, This is not a new phenomenon, people from these islands have been emigrating for the last couple of hundred years. Half the world is populated by Scots (even Westminster!)
There is nothing sinister in this nor necessarily any increase in the number of people moving out.
You may be interested to hear that NZ is a bit concerned at a nett loss of population to Oz, though that seems rather a drastic course of action to me.
As to reasons, they are the same as they have always been. The grass is greener being the most common.
Any study of population movement over the centuries clearly illustrates this as quite a normal human occupation.
You can thank your lucky stars you live in a country where (in most cases) you can readily move overseas. There are many millions who do not have this privilege.

[jno]

New Zealand is upset because all their best and brightest are moving to Australia, where they can earn more money. Australia is upset because all theirs are moving to Singapore, for the same reason. Money is a big reason for moving. Climate and overcrowding are others - Australia, New Zealand and Canada are very empty. But even if you don't take your individual problems with you, it's possible that mass migration means a whole communities' social problems can be exported. So emigration isn't the answer to everything. It may be there's a perfect society somewhere. If so I'll go and live there (but I won't tell you where it is).

[jake-the-peg]

I think theres a New Zealand joke that every time a kiwi leaves to live in Autralia the average IQ of each country goes up

[heathfield]

Climate's a good reason. Why live in a country where you have to spend 11 months a year heating your home?

[jno]

nice one jake