UK The Worst Place to live in Europe

[Sten Guns]

According to uSwitch.

 

http://news.sky.com/home/article/16078953

[Chester™]

According to uSwitch.

 

http://news.sky.com/...rticle/16078953

 

I notice its only a ten country study. Can much credence be put on this research?

[Debtor]

I suspect the UK is better than Moldova....

[topcat]

I notice its only a ten country study. Can much credence be put on this research?

 

Here's the source material

http://www.uswitch.c...rope-900002286/

 

And Infographic

 

[topcat]

Given that they include hours of sunshine as a positive factor they should probably have a seperate list of best places to live in Europe if you're Ginger.

 

 

 

 

[Chester™]

Again though, those factors are all well and good but to only use 10 countries and say its the 'worst' in Europe is surely a bit misleading. Not that im saying we have it great in the UK but 10 seems too small a sample size to make such bold proclamations. Surprised Sweden featured so low. In other studies you see, that usually comes quite high with Stockholm being seen as one of the better cities in the world to live in.

[Regal Kingston]

So to climb the table we need to lower the price of fags, leave work earlier and take more holidays.

Like the sound of the 30 hour week - Might move to Holland.

 

 

I'd like to see a culture factor. I've seen the Polish x-factor - its sh*t.

[jambovambo]

Albania, anyone ?

 

[Boris]

 

I'd like to see a culture factor. I've seen the Polish x-factor - its sh*t.

 

I've seen the UK version.

 

It's sh*t too.

[kingantti1874]

I think of the "developed" or wealthy nations we are most likely the worst.

[i8hibsh]

Simple answer to this thread (although there wasn't really a question posed)

 

If the UK is that bad then why do people queue up to live here. Why are there millions of Clandestines in lorries coming through Dover every year.

 

Why is our population increasing at an alarming rate each year (immigration not birth)?

 

We must have something.

 

Yes, many Brits do leave for overseas each year but this is pretty much due to our awful climate.

 

Rule Britania!

[fabienleclerq]

Having visited a few of the nations above us i beg to differ.

 

I like the uk.

[i8hibsh]

Only 10 countries were surveyed or analyzed

 

 

And here is the clincher ? The UK out of ALL European countries had the 3rd highest foreign nationals (those not born in the UK) living in it.

 

 

If it is the worst country this is surely a paradox.

 

 

foreign-born population

Germany 10.1 mil

 

France 6.4 mil

 

UK 5.8 mil

 

UK?s immigration has the fastest growth out of ALL European countries and it is projected that by 2060 the UK will be the most populous (EU) European country.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2626853/Immigration-to-make-Britain-the-most-crowded-country-in-Europe.html

 

 

 

Here are some interesting articles

 

 

http://www.meforum.org/2107/europe-shifting-immigration-dynamic

 

 

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4615213.ece

 

 

 

In conclusion we must have something that attracts them all.

[fabienleclerq]

 

In conclusion we must have something that attracts them all.

Wonder what that is...?????????????

[Prince Buaben]

 

 

In conclusion we must have something that attracts them all.

 

 

Free council houses and benefits.

[Bert Le Clos]

Only 10 countries were surveyed or analyzed

 

 

And here is the clincher ? The UK out of ALL European countries had the 3rd highest foreign nationals (those not born in the UK) living in it.

 

 

If it is the worst country this is surely a paradox.

 

 

foreign-born population

Germany 10.1 mil

 

France 6.4 mil

 

UK 5.8 mil

 

UK?s immigration has the fastest growth out of ALL European countries and it is projected that by 2060 the UK will be the most populous (EU) European country.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2626853/Immigration-to-make-Britain-the-most-crowded-country-in-Europe.html

 

 

 

Here are some interesting articles

 

 

http://www.meforum.org/2107/europe-shifting-immigration-dynamic

 

 

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4615213.ece

 

 

 

In conclusion we must have something that attracts them all.

 

Does that figure for France include those who move to France from French speaking colonies? If so then you can probably move us up to 2nd.

[dobmisterdobster]

France, seriously?

I've lived in France and my dad lives there now.

I've always sensed that they are a few years behind us in a lot of ways.

[kingantti1874]

Wonder what that is...?????????????

 

Exactly it's because of out ridiculously generous welfare system, and the Nhs ... (my criticism dent extend to those people who have moved here and made a valid contribution) but Maybe if this country operated on a fair basis, rewrding those who do contribute it's would maybe score higher.

[dobmisterdobster]

Simple answer to this thread (although there wasn't really a question posed)

 

If the UK is that bad then why do people queue up to live here. Why are there millions of Clandestines in lorries coming through Dover every year.

 

Why is our population increasing at an alarming rate each year (immigration not birth)?

 

We must have something.

 

Yes, many Brits do leave for overseas each year but this is pretty much due to our awful climate.

 

Rule Britania!

 

This. /thread

 

For all you UK haters. Piss off to some irrelevant Scandinavian country and enjoy your "better lifestyle". Good riddance.

[Zico]

To be fair, if I was doing a survey of something as subjective as ''happiness' in Europe, the first thing I'd do is exclude most of the countries and include the price of fags as a happiness indicator.

 

But then I currently live in Macedonia, where I can get 200 lead coated Regal king size for ?1.50 so I'm as happy as the proverbial pig in a fecal mudbath.

[Boris]

Wonder what that is...?????????????

 

 

Free council houses and benefits.

 

 

Exactly it's because of out ridiculously generous welfare system, and the Nhs ... (my criticism dent extend to those people who have moved here and made a valid contribution) but Maybe if this country operated on a fair basis, rewrding those who do contribute it's would maybe score higher.

 

Can you back these claims up with figures please. Otherwise they are just spurious words, passed off as "facts" that have no basis at all.

 

Personally, I doubt that the welfare system is particularly generous and, as the survey showed, everything seems to cost more in the UK so I don't understand how it can be profitable to come here, live off benefits yet have to pay more for stuff. That said, no doubt all the immigrants are Muslamic and as such won't touch the bevvy as it's against their religion and they may or may not like a ciggie so they're quids in!!! But hang on, they come from a warmer climate so will no doubt have the heating on all the time so their fuel bills will be massive!!! Cui bono?

 

Re king antti's last point, viz."rewrding those who do contribute"...the way I see it is that things like the NHS, knowing that there is a welfare system that can help you when your down, free education, a whole raft of public services available to you ARE the rewards for contributing.

 

What we have now though is the systematic dismantling of these things by the Coalition, all in the name of deficit reduction. Mind you, once everything has been stopped, or sold off the that might stop Johnny Foreigner coming over here as, it would appear, these are the things that they are here for.

[i8hibsh]

To be fair, if I was doing a survey of something as subjective as ''happiness' in Europe, the first thing I'd do is exclude most of the countries and include the price of fags as a happiness indicator.

 

But then I currently live in Macedonia, where I can get 200 lead coated Regal king size for ?1.50 so I'm as happy as the proverbial pig in a fecal mudbath.

 

 

They didn't even have a demographic of puntang!

 

That is what makes us all rise in the morning. (arf arf)

[I.J]

I like BNP threads.

[Boris]

I like BNP threads.

 

Was the survey sponsored by the Banque Nationale Paris?

 

[I.J]

Was the survey sponsored by the Banque Nationale Paris?

 

 

DIRTY FOREIGN SCUM. BRITISH JOBS FOR BRITISH PEOPLE.

 

Y'know, and stuff.

 

 

[super_vlad]

I like BNP threads.

 

Some how a thread about sticking up for Britain turned full circle blaming immigrants for everything!

 

Just a few things i like to throw into the mix, France is basically a socialises country, as is Spain. The benefits these guys get out strip us as they actually look after their own people. Germany is in the top 3 countries for Medical tourism, thats how good their health service is.

 

Was it not the BNP that claimed that France would be a Islamist country by 2015, due to all the Muslim immigrants to the country.

 

As for people giving a feck about a survey, its laughable, but don't kid yourself in thinking we live in a paradise and everywhere is a 3rd world country compered to Britain,.

[i8hibsh]

I like BNP threads.

 

 

Wow!!!

 

I didn?t think anyone could be so ridiculous

 

It?s a BNP thread as the dirty word ?immigration; is mentioned?

 

Come on dude eh!

[topcat]

It?s a BNP thread as the dirty word ?immigration; is mentioned?

 

When it's mentioned in an alarmist manner and backed up with such spurious eveidence IJ can surely be forgiven from drawing that parallell.

 

It may be an exageration but compared to your conjouring millions of clandestine lorries he seems restrained and serious

[portobellojambo1]

I suppose it depends very much what you want from life as to whether or not that survey means anything at all. As far as I can see the major differences between us and other European countries is that we get less sunshine than countries further South (don't really think you have to carry out a survey to work that one out), it is more expensive to purchase cigarettes and alcohol here, and we get less holidays than some other countries, but not all.

 

I'm not sure any of the above four are things I would take into consideration if I had any inkling to move elsewhere. Most of the other things in that survey show the UK isn't a million miles different from the small sample of countries used.

 

All in all, totally inconclusive, unless you want to read anything sensational into yet another survey proving nothing.

[fabienleclerq]

Can you back these claims up with figures please. Otherwise they are just spurious words, passed off as "facts" that have no basis at all.

 

Personally, I doubt that the welfare system is particularly generous and, as the survey showed, everything seems to cost more in the UK so I don't understand how it can be profitable to come here, live off benefits yet have to pay more for stuff. That said, no doubt all the immigrants are Muslamic and as such won't touch the bevvy as it's against their religion and they may or may not like a ciggie so they're quids in!!! But hang on, they come from a warmer climate so will no doubt have the heating on all the time so their fuel bills will be massive!!! Cui bono?

 

Re king antti's last point, viz."rewrding those who do contribute"...the way I see it is that things like the NHS, knowing that there is a welfare system that can help you when your down, free education, a whole raft of public services available to you ARE the rewards for contributing.

 

What we have now though is the systematic dismantling of these things by the Coalition, all in the name of deficit reduction. Mind you, once everything has been stopped, or sold off the that might stop Johnny Foreigner coming over here as, it would appear, these are the things that they are here for.

I think you missed the but i would assume most of the foreigners here were economic migrants therefore money would be the answer.

 

R.e benefits, i dont know what assylum seekers get but regular benefits are too high, hence why people who can work chose not too at our expense.

 

And who mentioned "muslamics" feel free to get off your high horse, Just because people have an opinion about the immigration to the uk that's differant from yours doesnt make them islamaphobes.

[Boris]

I think you missed the but i would assume most of the foreigners here were economic migrants therefore money would be the answer.

 

If they are economic migrants then there is obviously a demand for them? And assuming they are economic migrants then they will be working and not claiming benefits. Fair? In that case money would be the draw, but not as perhaps was implied by later posters that it was money in the shape of benefits

 

R.e benefits, i dont know what assylum seekers get but regular benefits are too high, hence why people who can work chose not too at our expense.

 

pretty much a sweeping generalisation there! You ever tried living on income support? But these will be a different set of migrants i.e. not economic migrants as discussed above? You see that's one think that is part of traditional British culture and values i.e. a safe haven for the oppressed. To not allow asylum seekers into the UK would be rather, er, un-British!

 

And who mentioned "muslamics" feel free to get off your high horse, Just because people have an opinion about the immigration to the uk that's differant from yours doesnt make them islamaphobes.

 

I was being facaectious, I suppose, and I take your point re immigration not equalling islamaphobia.

[super_vlad]

I think you missed the but i would assume most of the foreigners here were economic migrants therefore money would be the answer.

 

R.e benefits, i dont know what assylum seekers get but regular benefits are too high, hence why people who can work chose not too at our expense.

 

And who mentioned "muslamics" feel free to get off your high horse, Just because people have an opinion about the immigration to the uk that's differant from yours doesnt make them islamaphobes.

 

Surly the answer is to charge people to live here, maybe thru a higher tax bracket for a certain amount of years.

 

The main problem is the amount of people here who aren't willing to work rather than people stealing their jobs

[Guest Just Came To Say Kello]

Spain's gash as **** tbf. It should automatically be bottom.

[fabienleclerq]

1.If they are economic migrants then there is obviously a demand for them? And assuming they are economic migrants then they will be working and not claiming benefits. Fair? In that case money would be the draw, but not as perhaps was implied by later posters that it was money in the shape of benefits

 

 

 

2.pretty much a sweeping generalisation there! You ever tried living on income support? But these will be a different set of migrants i.e. not economic migrants as discussed above? You see that's one think that is part of traditional British culture and values i.e. a safe haven for the oppressed. To not allow asylum seekers into the UK would be rather, er, un-British!

 

 

 

I was being facaectious, I suppose, and I take your point re immigration not equalling islamaphobia.

As im useless and cant use multi quote im getting numbers oot!

 

1.Your right, and i was pointing out i never mentioned benefits.

 

 

2.I have members of my family that live on income support.And at some stage before i was 15 i would probably lived on it.Since then i have never been out of work.I am of the opinion they get too much and this stops them looking for work.Like i said im not sure what benefits assylum seekers get. On the British values i feel they are disapearing amoung brit's anyway(which is a shame).I think the problem people have with assylum seekers is figuring out those with a genuine claim, ( im literally watching a immegration program here! a man of at least 30 claiming to be 15, got placed in a house till his case came up and he dissapeared!).

 

3.I think we agree on.

[fabienleclerq]

Surly the answer is to charge people to live here, maybe thru a higher tax bracket for a certain amount of years.

 

The main problem is the amount of people here who aren't willing to work rather than people stealing their jobs

I think you missed my point big man, im not talking about assylum seekers stealing jobs/benefits i was talking about brits not working.Probably my bad grammers fault!!

 

R.e the tax, maybe a good idea but id rather get lazy brits off their ass! my sister inc

[topcat]

Recent economic prosperity may be a big driver in Britain attracting immigrants to these cold wet Islands where tobacco and booze are relatively pricey but the fact that we speak English, the worlds most popular second language, probably has a lot to do with it.

[shaun.lawson]

Recent economic prosperity may be a big driver in Britain attracting immigrants to these cold wet Islands where tobacco and booze are relatively pricey but the fact that we speak English, the worlds most popular second language, probably has a lot to do with it.

 

Precisely. Amidst all the constant whining about either economic migrants or asylum seekers "passing through other countries" in order to get here, the simple point that British ex-pats don't tend to be found in countries without large English-speaking communities is always missed. The UK is a victim of the Empire's, for want of a better term, success: people come here because they speak the lingo. Simple.

 

But that said, the UK is over-populated, its infrastructure is embarrassing, its cost of living is monstrous, the hours which people work are ludicrous... and above all, there is a cultural deficit in these islands which is a national disgrace. We've focused on all the materialistic benefits offered by capitalism and flexible markets, but none of the many drawbacks (at least some of which were visible during the riots last month); and forgot about spirituality, quality of life and wellbeing long, long ago.

 

In many areas, above all its arrogant, complacent, woefully outmoded "what do we need to learn from Johnny Foreigner?" attitudes, the UK represents a Third World country in all but name - and very few of its populace, let alone its leaders, are prepared to do a thing about it. At the turn of the year, I'll be travelling to South America - and my long term future will be either there, the US, or just possibly, Edinburgh. As far as Britain is concerned, only Auld Reekie, in an SNP-governed Scotland, offers even half the quality of life which large parts of many other Western countries take for granted.

[fabienleclerq]

Precisely. Amidst all the constant whining about either economic migrants or asylum seekers "passing through other countries" in order to get here, the simple point that British ex-pats don't tend to be found in countries without large English-speaking communities is always missed. The UK is a victim of the Empire's, for want of a better term, success: people come here because they speak the lingo. Simple.

 

But that said, the UK is over-populated, its infrastructure is embarrassing, its cost of living is monstrous, the hours which people work are ludicrous... and above all, there is a cultural deficit in these islands which is a national disgrace. We've focused on all the materialistic benefits offered by capitalism and flexible markets, but none of the many drawbacks (at least some of which were visible during the riots last month); and forgot about spirituality, quality of life and wellbeing long, long ago.

 

In many areas, above all its arrogant, complacent, woefully outmoded "what do we need to learn from Johnny Foreigner?" attitudes, the UK represents a Third World country in all but name - and very few of its populace, let alone its leaders, are prepared to do a thing about it. At the turn of the year, I'll be travelling to South America - and my long term future will be either there, the US, or just possibly, Edinburgh. As far as Britain is concerned, only Auld Reekie, in an SNP-governed Scotland, offers even half the quality of life which large parts of many other Western countries take for granted.

Third world? Hardly have you ever been to anywhere "third world"?

 

The UK isnt perfect but its still a pretty good place to live, and not just because we speak english.

[Boris]

We've focused on all the materialistic benefits offered by capitalism and flexible markets, but none of the many drawbacks (at least some of which were visible during the riots last month); and forgot about spirituality, quality of life and wellbeing long, long ago.

 

That's what happens when people vote for a political party based on that leader's "promises" only to have the Vics flicked in their face by the devious *******.

 

I blame you Shaun, for you were (are?) one of them.

 

Harsh, but ultimately fair, imo.

[FWJ]

Can you back these claims up with figures please. Otherwise they are just spurious words, passed off as "facts" that have no basis at all.

 

But it must be true - I read it in the Daily Mail.

[Carl Spackler]

I imagine to a Somalian reading that report it would be a bit like most of us watching Jeremy Clarkson argue the relative merits of a Lamborghini and an Aston Martin.

[J.T.F.Robertson]

Precisely. Amidst all the constant whining about either economic migrants or asylum seekers "passing through other countries" in order to get here, the simple point that British ex-pats don't tend to be found in countries without large English-speaking communities is always missed. The UK is a victim of the Empire's, for want of a better term, success: people come here because they speak the lingo. Simple.

 

But that said, the UK is over-populated, its infrastructure is embarrassing, its cost of living is monstrous, the hours which people work are ludicrous... and above all, there is a cultural deficit in these islands which is a national disgrace. We've focused on all the materialistic benefits offered by capitalism and flexible markets, but none of the many drawbacks (at least some of which were visible during the riots last month); and forgot about spirituality, quality of life and wellbeing long, long ago.

 

In many areas, above all its arrogant, complacent, woefully outmoded "what do we need to learn from Johnny Foreigner?" attitudes, the UK represents a Third World country in all but name - and very few of its populace, let alone its leaders, are prepared to do a thing about it. At the turn of the year, I'll be travelling to South America - and my long term future will be either there, the US, or just possibly, Edinburgh. As far as Britain is concerned, only Auld Reekie, in an SNP-governed Scotland, offers even half the quality of life which large parts of many other Western countries take for granted.

 

So, the main factors in this decision making process would appear to be your desire for a higher level of spirituality, coupled with a correspondingly lower, materialistic bent.

 

I don't see Tibet on your wish list.

[Radioactive Mince]

Only Edinburgh offers even half the quality of life which large parts of other Western countries take for granted?

 

Erm...

 

Try renting or buying a nice place in a reasonable part of town and tell me what your quality of life's like after paying the death necklace mate. Do many other municipal authorities in Western Europe rob their citizens in the form of Statutory Repairs in quite the same way as CEC? Reckon bills flying through my door for thousands of quid from time to time would adversely affect my quality of life, TBH.

 

Sure, aw ra culture & that on yer doorstep. Pity you can't really afford to take advantage, other than look at the lovely scenery and visit the free museums.

 

You're such a sook, Shaun, and a bit of a slaver sometimes

 

Bet the around 200,000 decent Edinburghers living in shan, crumbling Soviet Bloc-style schemes surrounded by scum of the earth, because their 25k plus salaries don't equal more than their neighbours' housing benefit, think their quality of life is amazing.

 

Bit of a simplistic survey this one. France seems nice.

[southside1874]

My mate Frank says its alright here..................

[John Gentleman]

It's a shame television viewing didn't come into the equation. I've lived, for varying periods, in Canada, Australia*, the US and New Zealand. OK, they're all 'English first language' countries, but believe me - Brit TV is so far in front of the material produced in the forementioned countries it's off the measurement scale.

 

Maybe an expat living in (say, a continental European country) could let us know how many Brtish produced shows are broadcast either dubbed or sub-titled? I'll bet the figure is very high.

 

But how many foreign produced shows are broadcast in the UK dubbed or sub-titled in English? Not a lot, I'm willing bet.

 

* Australia has a TV network called 'SBS' - the Special Broadcasting Service - which broadcasts a high percentage of non-English programmes. It's only there to appease the large number of 'English not first language' migrants in OZ. Its ratings are low because (with a few exceptions) of the general crapness of the programmes. I once watched, or attempted to, a Dutch sub-titled sitcom. I'm now firmly of the belief that 'Dutch' and 'comedy' used in the same sentence is oxymoronic!

 

Thank heavens for Usenet, where I can download the best of Brtish within a few hours of airing in the UK. There's five genres of TV produced in the UK which NOBODY in the world can surpass - 'crime whodunnits', comedy-drama, comedy, costume-drama, and documentaries. Doesn't leave a lot for everyone else to fight over, does it?

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

It's a shame television viewing didn't come into the equation. I've lived, for varying periods, in Canada, Australia*, the US and New Zealand. OK, they're all 'English first language' countries, but believe me - Brit TV is so far in front of the material produced in the forementioned countries it's off the measurement scale.

 

Maybe an expat living in (say, a continental European country) could let us know how many Brtish produced shows are broadcast either dubbed or sub-titled? I'll bet the figure is very high.

 

But how many foreign produced shows are broadcast in the UK dubbed or sub-titled in English? Not a lot, I'm willing bet.

 

* Australia has a TV network called 'SBS' - the Special Broadcasting Service - which broadcasts a high percentage of non-English programmes. It's only there to appease the large number of 'English not first language' migrants in OZ. Its ratings are low because (with a few exceptions) of the general crapness of the programmes. I once watched, or attempted to, a Dutch sub-titled sitcom. I'm now firmly of the belief that 'Dutch' and 'comedy' used in the same sentence is oxymoronic!

 

Thank heavens for Usenet, where I can download the best of Brtish within a few hours of airing in the UK. There's five genres of TV produced in the UK which NOBODY in the world can surpass - 'crime whodunnits', comedy-drama, comedy, costume-drama, and documentaries. Doesn't leave a lot for everyone else to fight over, does it?

A very good point.

 

I also think the survey shows how much Brits like to whinge relative to other Europeans.

[Chester™]

But how many foreign produced shows are broadcast in the UK dubbed or sub-titled in English? Not a lot, I'm willing bet.

 

 

 

Im not going to disagree with the rest of your points but I wonder if this is more to do with British culture and thinking of foreign language rather than the quality of programme produced? I've heard a lot of people saying that they will not watch subtitled films or programmes because 'it isnt in English' or 'it means I have to read'. If thats a general attitude, its little wonder that TV companies dont buy in foreign language programmes as it wouldnt be worth their time doing so.