Boris - how much longer will he suvive?

[irie]

I've got plenty to say about all this, it's entertainment for me, but it's hard for me to try and get into a UK mindset, because I can't figure out why anyone would stay living there under this type of leadership. If I was living in the UK now and paying 25-40% of my salary in tax every month for this then I'd pack up and leave, there is no way I'd be mugged off like that.

I do appreciate it's a mindset thing and it's not in everyone's DNA to just up and leave, but it's a circus at your expense and I couldn't stomach it, if they were doing this with my money then I'd be off.
This is honestly not a wind-up, I just couldn't sit there paying out for something this ridiculous.

It is a mistake to believe as you do the shite in the popular press, life pretty much continues with the Government and Parliamentary muppetry as background noise. Plus ça change.

[weeksy]

I've got plenty to say about all this, it's entertainment for me, but it's hard for me to try and get into a UK mindset, because I can't figure out why anyone would stay living there under this type of leadership. If I was living in the UK now and paying 25-40% of my salary in tax every month for this then I'd pack up and leave, there is no way I'd be mugged off like that.

I do appreciate it's a mindset thing and it's not in everyone's DNA to just up and leave, but it's a circus at your expense and I couldn't stomach it, if they were doing this with my money then I'd be off.
This is honestly not a wind-up, I just couldn't sit there paying out for something this ridiculous.

2 questions then.

1. Where do 'we' go that we're allowed to relocate to easily ? taking into account things like jobs, children, schooling, house sales, purchases.
2. Where do 'we' find the £20,000-40,000 whatever it costs to relocate ?

[DefTrap]

I upped and left. I didn't do it because of political dissatisfaction though, you meet plenty of moaning, miserable expats who have though, amongst other things. Most of them immediately find fault with their new host country and bang on about that forever. If anyone can provide me with a list of countries where the political system isn't pretty fecked and your tax money is genuinely being spent wisely, I'm all ears. The point is, moving abroad isn't a massively big deal and folk shouldn't be afraid of it.

It doesn't have to be super expensive. We left with no more than would fit in a car boot and a small trailer and basically started again, just winged it.

Obviously brexit is now limiting your options to some extent but it's not insurmountable, it's mainly effing boring paperwork.

[Yorick]

I paid a lot of tax in the UK, but was earning plenty so was OK. After I left we paid a shitload in CGT which stung, but it was planned for.

I still pay tax in UK but get absolutely zero benefit from it

[JackyJoll]

I've got plenty to say about all this

Yes.

[Count Steer]

I paid a lot of tax in the UK, but was earning plenty so was OK. After I left we paid a shitload in CGT which stung, but it was planned for.

I still pay tax in UK but get absolutely zero benefit from it

Wot? No pension?

[Dodgy69]

Think I'd only relocate in search for better weather and financial sense. Wherever you go in the world, those making the rules are generally horrible, corrupt types who have little interest in the needs of planet sustainability and the welfare of us common folk.

[Mussels]

I've got plenty to say about all this, it's entertainment for me, but it's hard for me to try and get into a UK mindset, because I can't figure out why anyone would stay living there under this type of leadership. If I was living in the UK now and paying 25-40% of my salary in tax every month for this then I'd pack up and leave, there is no way I'd be mugged off like that.

I do appreciate it's a mindset thing and it's not in everyone's DNA to just up and leave, but it's a circus at your expense and I couldn't stomach it, if they were doing this with my money then I'd be off.
This is honestly not a wind-up, I just couldn't sit there paying out for something this ridiculous.

You pay little tax there because of oil money and a much reduced welfare net, once oil revenue dries up and they find democracy you won't like it.

[Yorick]

I paid a lot of tax in the UK, but was earning plenty so was OK. After I left we paid a shitload in CGT which stung, but it was planned for.

I still pay tax in UK but get absolutely zero benefit from it

Wot? No pension?

I fully qualified for that many years ago.

[JackyJoll]

I still pay tax in UK but get absolutely zero benefit from it

Direct taxation in the U.K. is usually on profit or something you earn in the U.K. Those earnings or profit are a benefit.

Edit: from the above post, is your “problem” that you pay tax on your old age pension, like everyone else who reaches the threshold?

[Mr. Dazzle]

If anyone can provide me with a list of countries where the political system isn't pretty fecked and your tax money is genuinely being spent wisely, I'm all ears.

Norway seems alright. They make billions in oil revenue, but it's invested in a sovereign wealth fund for the benefit of all Norwegians*. It means no-one is mega rich, but it also means everyone can be assured of an education, health care and care in their old age. I think they actually have the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world, it's also written into law that the money can be invested anywhere except in Norway.

Weather probably ain't that great

*Novel idea that. Dig up part of a country and sell it, then give the money to the entire population of said country. Smells commie to me.

[weeksy]

but it also means everyone can be assured of an education, health care and care in their old age.

You mean like the UK then ?

[Mr. Dazzle]

Yeaj, but better. Would you want to survive only on what you get from a state pension? Education also ain't free here, not like in Scandinavia anyway.

[Horse]

Education also ain't free here, not like in Scandinavia anyway.

TBH, I don't know what the differences are, could you elaborate?

[Yambo]

Pretty much nothing is free.

HTH

[Mr. Dazzle]

Education also ain't free here, not like in Scandinavia anyway.

TBH, I don't know what the differences are, could you elaborate?

It's free up 'til the end of A-levels/6th form. Beyond that you'll pay something or other, depending on your means. University is the obvious one, it costs tens of thousands to go now. 'course, many of you will remember when the government would pay you to go to Uni.

I'm not sure about Norway, but I know in Denmark you can go as far as a doctorate on the government ticket and also get grants for living etc like you used to in the UK (my wife is half Danish and I've got loads of Danish in laws). Apprenticeships are also much better funded in Denmark AFAIK. Sweden is the same AFAIK - my cousin did a degree and a post grade in Denmark, he's doing a doc and post doc in Malmo - and I'd be very surprised if Norway is different.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

And how much tax do they pay in Denmark and Sweden?

[Horse]

Education also ain't free here, not like in Scandinavia anyway.

TBH, I don't know what the differences are, could you elaborate?

It's free up 'til the end of A-levels/6th form. Beyond that you'll pay something or other, depending on your means. University is the obvious one, it costs tens of thousands to go now.

Ah, ok. I thought you meant nursery / infant / secondary.

Uni course fees is a massive financial mess that will start come back to bite whichever government is in once to 30 year limit ends. A huge amount of debt is unpaid, with ridiculous interest rates applied.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I'm fairly sure before/after school childcare is provided by the state too.

[Mr. Dazzle]

And how much tax do they pay in Denmark and Sweden?

Loads. Loads and loads, probably the highest in the world IIRC.

Doesn't stop them consistently topping the charts for highest living standards and happiest populations though. ISTR Sweden is the world's most charitable nation in terms of private donations per capita.