Well that was cheerful Michael! Unfortunately, totally agree with everything you've said. Before retiring I spent a significant amount of time working (& playing) in Europe and got to know many people in Germany, Scandinavia, France & Belgium. Almost without exception they had a better environment, living standard and lifestyle compared to our life back in the UK. Our plan was to move to France when I retired which was shattered by that B word. At least you made me chuckle somewhat ironically with Fraser's catch phrase from Dad's Army " We're all doomed". Sadly we probably are....
Hello Michael - i notice you didn't come to France, which is where I've been for a number of years, living in a small town in an agricultural area. Plenty of varied seasonal fruit and veg plus imported as well. Housing in the rented sector is regulated so that people can afford it, and house prices don't move very much, if at all, as sales and increases are restricted. Refugees are allowed to work after 3 months, and from what i gather processing is pretty quick. The streets are pretty clean. Strong emphasis on recycling. Cheap fast trains. Good health service, part-state, and part-private optional insurance which is based solely on age, not on existing medical conditions. Best of all, no-one has insulted me for my being Eastern European born. ❤ It's not all perfect, obviously, but it functions pretty well as a society. Never going back to UK .
My take ,1. The Tories sold off so many government assets such as utilities and housing stock. 2. The Tories squandered North Sea oil ,failing to use the windfall to invest and develop a sovereign wealth fund. 3 . Brexit.
Yes, I agree. I have a friend here in Guildford who bought his Dad's ex-council house for 14,000 pounds back in the early 1980's and it now worth at least 400,000. It is understandable why Guildford Borough Council is on the verge of bankruptcy and the High Street is empty of shops due to the incredibly high business rates. He has paid no council tax for something like the last forty years and even when they did have a small modest mortgage, the bank got the money NOT the council.
Living on an island which they barely leave, people start to create their own truth which they like to hear. This is why you hear BS like "look at Germany how bad it is there" without knowing what Germany is really like. The only thing they know is their own reality but they can't compare it with anything. I have been living in both worlds for many decades and without any doubt I can say that the UK comes at the bottom of the list of all European countries I really know well and lived in.
They should visit China and have a look at the future. China is big, it still has its problems but they have 'prospered mightily' these last thirty years.
@@qeitkas594 You are absolutely bang on the money with your analysis. The ruling elite in this country definitely control the narrative for most Britons, who really haven’t seen the reality abroad such as living in Germany, Holland or one of the other EU countries. In my past life are used to take students on cultural exchanges to Germany, and they always had their eyes opened and came back with very positive views. All this so-called British exceptionalism is nonsense. It’s about time most people woke up and smelt the coffee.
@@sweetwilliam4199 China really suprised me with how advanced they are compared to the UK. Still wouldnt like to live there though. Just too many people.
@@stuartwheeler6387 They have advanced greatly in thirty years. Compare China with Russia over a similar period. I have visited several times one sees major changes on each visit. Give them another fifty years. We should have asked them to build HS2.
Hello! I am retired and live in Gothenburg. If I had known you were coming, we could have coffee "fika" in a cafe in town and talk a little about Brexit. Also some Swedes' view of the EU.
@@gimmesometruth7341The difference being that a lot of EU countries kept a tight grip on privetized industries by regulation frameworks. Or by the govt being the major shareholder.
@@RunOfTheHind Brexit still never happened properly. The biggest problem is the gullible keep voting for criminals (all governments are a criminal Extortion racket).. government is the problem no matter what colour tie they wear.
The UK economy has been badly managed for decades, each government focusing on short term fixes to long term issues. Thatcher started the rot with the selling off of national assets. The hydrocarbons in the North Sea have been completely wasted through poor long term vision - look at Norway and their oil fund. UK manufacturing is all but gone, what does the UK produce that other nations would want to buy? Part of the problem the UK has is the flawed national superiority complex (English mostly), the country seems to think it is above all other nations in Europe, yet there is no evidence to suggest that the UK is even in the same league as most other countries. I am sure someone will point out that the UK is the 5th or 6th richest nation in the world, but that status does not benefit 99% of the population who are living at best, a hand to mouth existence and at worst in abject poverty.
well the other difference between most other EU countries of similiar size is that people have REAL benefits.... so understandably these are more costly to fund.... I always found it hilarious when british people make the argument that people come to the UK for benefits - I personally would love to know what benefits these people are talking about!
What a great analogy. “Open for Business” means diddly squat when it is obvious that the other shops [countries] have far and away better terms, conditions and prices.
People keep talking about 14 years of Tory failure but it has been 45 years. The neo liberal policies pushed by Thatcher and Reagan have dominated UK economics even when Labour were in power. It has failed spectacularly for the majority of people. It is still being promoted by"thinktanks" because it has made their backers extremely wealthy. Unfortunately, highly unequal societies always collapse.
I always say, if trickle down econoics worked, Victorian workers, farmers, sevants would have been affluent. How could this ideology ever be sold to the poor, I cannot, and will never be able to understand.
"There is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way. The war we fight is not against powers and principalities, it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams. Against this peril we can never surrender." - G'Kar, in Babylon 5
Good Morning, all very depressing isn't it, no one is talking about the realities of post Brexit Britain, the majority of People aren't interested in Politics, sadly they don't give Brexit a Thought and believe the Lies of the Brexiteers. I shall never forgive what the Brexiteers have done to this Country and now the Bastards are attacking our Human Rights in the ECHR. Keep fighting the good fight Micheal.
"The Government's impact assessment stated that, according to econometric modelling by DBT, CPTPP accession “could boost UK GDP by around £2.0 billion a year when compared to projected GDP in 2040.” This is equivalent to 0.09% of UK GDP in 2021." WOW, brilliant! minus in trade with the EU 140 billion pounds plus in trade with CPTPP 2 billion 17 million Brexit-Peters in UK: So clever, so smart, elite brains of the planet
I still think of myself as being european. I was born in Manchester and i am a proud mancunian. I live in London so have always been able to get to the EU easier and faster than getting back to Manchester. When i was younger i was able to live and work in Greece. Not any more. I feel my human rights?as a european have been taken away by a mindless decision by just over half of voters to leave our neighbours and try to survive on our own. Of coarse we knew Brexit would be bad for the UK as it has proced and the rest of Europe would profit with or without us.
@@chrislaurenceleo It's amazing how thick Remainers are, we left the EU dictatorship not Europe. All Brits are European and will remainso unless the earth is destroyed by some major catastrophy, Europe is the Continent we are part of and proudly so.
@@chrislaurenceleo The fact that the EU dictatorship is merely a political construct and not EUROPE is recognised by every intelligent person. It's only poorly educated sad Remainers like you, who think it means the same thing.
@@chrislaurenceleo My opinions are based on facts which any intelligent person will verify. Unfortunately there don't seem to be very many if them on this channel.
Anyone who thinks of a slogan like "Make Brexit Work" doesn't understand the first thing about economics or trade. Anybody who knew the tiniest bit about either could see brexit was inevitably going to damage both. Brexit will never work. A more honest slogan would be:"Brexit sucks. You're going to be poorer. Deal with it." Not a very good slogan, but more honest.
A perfect analysis on so many levels. We move to a rentier economy as the financial sector works for the benefit of capital, owned by the wealthy few who suck profit at the expense of society and move ownership of assets offshore to exacerbate our dependence. In essence, the price of neoliberalism and the compliant treason of government, working for the powerful, enabled through media propaganda. We are simply not allowed transformative and progressive government in our elective dictatorship. In the acronymn of the old film script, we are FUBAR.
I was in Gothenburg in August as well and you are absolutely right, it is absolutely gorgeous and thriving. It looks like what Bristol would be if our economy was not tanking.😊
Yes, Britain is in terminal decline and the roots of it go back decades. You mentioned some key points, but not many of them, for example, the woeful failure to invest in education, especially technical education, and the down-skilling rather than up-skilling of the economy. The failures of our politicians are endless and the damage they have done legion. Government policies have created a society that is dumbed-down, obese, and lazy. That Britain's problems can't be reversed now is beyond question, but then there is only really ONE KEY QUESTION for the intelligent individual - what do I do about it? I left for greener pastures, and never regretted it. I see so many talented young people leaving. It seems to me the only vote left worth anything is to vote with your feet...
"Government policies have created a society that is dumbed-down, obese, and lazy." Deliberately. " I see so many talented young people leaving." Not really a smart idea. The entire western world is at various stages of this. "I left for greener pastures, and never regretted it." If you can't save your own country (presumably) from this, would you care to save whatever place you moved to??!
I did the same, thought what can I do about it and voted with my feet to go to tropical pastures, where I could make a life fit for a king. 20 years ago made all the legal arrangements, dual passport, bank account in the country of choice, tax registration, sold up and left. I'm only shocked how fast the decline has been in 15 years.
Nothing but the truth spoken! 39 year old man! Worked in the forces and currently working in oil/gas & petrochemical industry! No children no wife!. Selling the house within the next 6 months! And I’m out! Cheerio Britain! I certainly wont be putting “great” infront!😂
I've thought and said for a couple of years now - that the UK will have sunk by the time there is even a thought of rejoining EU. Like the old fishing boat that stops making enough money to keep up the maintenance - there is NO return to profitability. It is a downward spiral from there. You are absolutely right - lack of disposable income due to the high mortgages and rents - will not lift the economy. You know what is supporting the UK just now (and always)? The Colony of Scotland. I despair at it all, especially when you see the laissez faire of those who are still comfortable, and don't see an issue. Starmer in opposition - didn't have the attack mentality at PMQs and I'm as disappointed as you at his performance now.
I don’t know this guy’s background (this video just popped up on my feed), but seems to be pretty much spot on. And also a stark contrast to the thinking of many in his generation.
We moved to France seven years ago. France has it's issues and problems of course, but we see a marked difference in the quality of life for locals here as apposed to in the UK. Some things are more expensive here (e.g. electricity, food, and income tax) but other things are cheaper (e.g. houses, petrol, eating out and council tax - just €700 as against £2000 in UK). Unlike the UK, everything seems to work (as apposed to being broken) like Schools, rivers are clean, trains are superb, streets are clean, healthcare is superb, no potholes, only ever charged for parking if we visit the coastal tourist towns - everywhere else is free. If you've ever had an inkling to try living on the continent, I'd highly recommend it.
I've been saying for years, decades even, that the stupid house prices in the UK are destroying the economy for exactly the reasons you cite. Britain is screwed, except for the already rich. Young, educated, mobile Britons are going to move abroad, simple as. (It's not all plain sailing - property prices are going stupid everywhere, just not as ridiculously insane as Britain where you can pay millions for a run-down hovel).
Not to mention the bloated national debt, which funded lockdown: a couple more years for the now-departed, a mental health epidemic in the young, a load of PPE in the landfill, a useless phone app, and a massive interest burden for the next generation. Starmer is useless but I'm not 'disappointed' as I did not vote for him - he ruled out SM and CU 'in his lifetime' for no reason, just to please one or two people. Bonkers - and as you say, no solution.
I feel the same way. Life in the UK is so damn depressing. I feel people have lost courtesy for others in many areas such as driving on the roads, general politeness, the level of service from companies. I went into my home town centre in Nottingham last week for a midweek meetup with friend and even upon arrival I felt uneasy and unsafe. Knife crime statistic are up year on year and everything is just so damn expensive as I find myself complaining on many occasions on why something is priced so high. There has to be a better life than this one here in the UK. Luckily my wife and I are now discussing the potential of a move to Portugal to enjoy the working life we have remaining and a more peaceful retirement to follow.
one house is worth 1 house that was the case in the 1980's as it is now. The difference is a working person could afford a 3 bedroom house in the 1980's and now can afford nothing in certain parts of the country. Property inflation is not a sign of people getting richer it is a sign of our currency getting weaker and us poorer as national assets have been sold to pay for Thatcher's low tax bollocks.
The 'Shop' analogy is brilliant Michael, thank you. Regarding foreign 'investment' into the UK, on so many level and in so many ways, niw this is a vast topic, and whilst the Tory Party was shouting about stopping the boats (well put the systems back that meant there's a way, a route, for people to enter the UK by), they were allowing thus to happen, as is the title of a Genesis record, Selling England by the Pound. All points raised in the video, clearly and, unfortunately, plainly said, again thank you Michael.
Brexit has taken my job and killed my career. I am inclined to agree that the uk is doomed, it was torpedoed from the tories and labour really havent got the ability to fix it. Im thinking i have a choice here i accept being poorer and seriously reduced living standards..or i go through the hoops and try and get out.. i think the latter sounds more appealing
The Americans buying and privatizing the NHS is an absolute scream. Everything that you said here about how difficult things are in the UK applies in the US as well and more so. If they want the NHS it is because they want to destroy it. Heaven help you all if they get hold of it.
The problem with the UK is STEM, science, technology, engineering and mathematics is seen as low skill and it's been like that for ever. People think engineers fix boilers and work on building sites, I was refused rented accommodation "professionals only"as an astronautics engineer years ago, refused a mortgage too for the same reason. Even the BBC constantly refers to engineers as unskilled, my rocket scientist friends from Uni now all over the world used to laugh at the BBC presenters, the BBC is actually a joke in the space industry. Brexit or no Brexit, the UK is facing massive economic challenges and a lack of high skill workers when these workers salaries, career prospects and quality of life will be way better oversees. UK is about to become a very poor country in a very short space of time and we've done it to ourselves, like so many poor 3rd world countries around the world there's no magic safety net.
@@donaldduck5731 Finland has the most engineers per capita in the world and that is why our society works. And we don’t have Tories to reverse the plumbing 🪠 every 5 years 🙄
@@donaldduck5731 They thought you were a "building site worker" as an ASTRONAUTICS ENGINEER? Wow! 😟 Mind you, chippies and plumbers and builders can make money hand over fist, too...
@@randyvalantino6850 you're either a Chinese bot or an idiot. You are quoting CGTN,which is under the control of the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party. Are you also?
@@randyvalantino6850I hope you're being paid by the Central Chinese Communist Party, as you're pushing their site..In this instance site rhymes with shite. Oh dear, you actually thought it was factually correct, didn't you! Now that is funny! Some village is missing an idiot.
Professor Benjamin Studebaker wrote a book called The Way Is Shut, it's a bitter pill to swallow but he talks about how the public won't accept the current system that is failing, but won't accept any changes to it either, he focuses on the US but he says this applies to the UK and many other western democracies as well. It's tragic that under the current capitalist system the UK can't compete with the might of US/EU/China/India etc. I think Britain is unrecoverable now, unless we have a radical transformation of how we do politics globally, and how the economy is structured globally, things will only get worse realistically.
Might very well be right. But at the moment things are still working in the EU. The UK needs to make the effort to be able to join. If they don't, well, dire consequences for them, but not for us in the EU.
As always a sober and realistic approach from You , Mr. Lambert. These short term reflexes to reap the low hanging fruit ,I have seen them as well in New Zealand where I once emigrated to from the Netherland . The ensuing state of the country and diminished quality of life is palpable. It was not before long that I saw through their Ponzi like touted " lifestyle" , which I rebaptized " a certain style of living , rather eeking through life". As I left that place within a year I have not incurred the damage most who staid there rationalize. My returning back to the likes of Gothenburg and Utrecht , to Cologne and Luzern etc , where my potential and background was recognized and acknowledged has made me prosper and retire , fully free to embrace life , at age 54. I deeply regret that my life plan to live the rest of my life in Scotland needed to be buried in the grave of Wry . Thank You for all the effort put into this channel , from NL.
Hi Michael....totally agree with your analysis of the mess the U.K is in. I've recently been to Malta, a very small country that is thriving. Valetta the capital is clean, buildings well kept & No One begging on the streets. Public transport excellent. The only businesses that are expanding & multiplying here in East Yorkshire is the Turkish Barbers & Nail bars run by Chinese workers. Every time I blink another barbers shop has appeared. This is the same for costal towns such as Bridlington & Scarborough.
What is left of Britain's Euro trading business is up for transfer next year. The Brexit deal is up for review not renegotiation next year as well. I really do not know where we go from there. Frightening to say the least. Global Trading/AI Superpower my arse.
I emigrated from Zambia to the UK almost 25 years ago. Alas, the warning signs that I saw in Zambia & later in Zimbabwe that the economy is in terminal decline, I am once more seeing here in the UK. Ah, well, I suppose I will not make old bones here....
I worked for Marconi in Chelmsford, sold off in pieces and now gone, I worked for RACAL in Bracknell, now gone, I worked for Vodafone in Newbury, sold off. All these were great English companies, innovative and profitable. Originally I served in the British Merchant Marine now non existent.
Two of the biggest record organisations--Decca and EMI sold off to Europe and the us, the top half dozen book publishers now owned by Europe, new tube trains being built by Seimans-----the list goes on and on
@@Alex-pr6zv Volvo makes trucks and buses and construction machines. Part is owned by Chinese Geely (6,8%). Scania is owned by the VW Group. SAAB doesn’t make cars anymore. Instead they do airplanes, fighters and submarines. Their submarines are the best in the world. Greetings from Finland.
Bear in mind that Gothenburg is having what is, by Swedish standards, a very severe public order crisis, to the point where the Swedish PM spoke of bringing in the Army. Myself, four years ago I moved from a comfortable middle-class London suburb (South Ruislip) to what is regarded as the bad part of the city of Anzio. I think the quality of life is about the same in both places, but in Anzio we have been able to buy a flat - buy it outright, no mortgage, no issues - in a nicely managed condominium with its own park. In Ruislip, I was getting scared of what would happen next time I would have to move. Plus, teenage violence was out of hand, with two knife murders in the last year, right in the middle of South Ruislip - green, prosperous, apparently safe South Ruislip. Where I live here is known as the rough end of town, but I never heard of murder or attempted murder, and the worst I ever saw was a punch-up among two immigrant lads.
The reason everything was sold off to foreign investors was down to 1) Goc belief in a free market - most Govs protect native companies , Tories sell them or close them. 2) Banks wanting huge deals e.g Marconi Electronics (now asset stripped destroyed)
Selling the family silver has always been an easy but sort term solution to feeding debt. Eventually, as you point out, one eventually runs out of silver.
As Britain has always had a knack for making real money from 'funny' but profitable services, like storing other nation's bullion in the Bank of England vaults, doing all the Euro clearing (for now), providing dubious services like the massive online gambling industries, even a lot of its service industry is not based on actual services. Actual services like banking and insurances or selling design and architecture abroad. And services is the only sector that thrives on the export side of the national books. When Euroclearing goes back to the EU in 2025, that will amount to a significant earnings and export loss. Curiously, many countries after Brexit have repatriated their bullion and other valuables in recent years, but Britain could count even this loss as an additional export in the statistics. So quite a bit in the export boom of British services, is on somewhat shaky grounds too.
Starmer and Reeves are unimaginative bookworms, they're no Tony and Gordon. They're charmless and dull amd I don't see them turning this country around.
I don't think they're "clueless". I think they're "in denial". The Brexit "pestilence" has destroyed all reasonable and functional thinking - not just in the general public, but particularly in politicians!
The problem is British politics. Hardly anyone wants to really discuss brexit. They just avoid it, waiting for some miracle to make it go away. And so, in real life, the snowball rolls on...
When I said "I don't think they're clueless", I meant that Starmer and his cabinet know exactly what damage Brexit has done, and what damage it will do. The only term I can think of is "Cognitive Dissonance", which is a pretty severe mental illness. Let's cure this "sick" country!
The UK has yet to deal with its own exceptionalism. Brexit is a symptom of a wider problem with the UK rather than the only problem with the UK. A class based, malthusian, libertarian ideology is the fundamental reason the UK is failing which has been the ideology for the best part of 280 years or so, almost entirely unbroken. Give a few years, 1940-1948, and even then you have the disastrous decisions to partition India & Palestine in such a short timeframe with intense levels of uncertainty that caused unnecessary harm to the Indian and Palestinian people, over 1 million extra deaths than a partition where the UK cared at least slightly for the local population.
I really don’t think any reasonable person, who knows anything about life, would disagree with you, saying Kier Starmer is No good. Because we all know that is the truth , He is No Good at all.!
Dear Michael, you've visited Poland, and, while there, you may have learned how it, one of 16th century Europe's most powerful countries, was brought down to its knees and pretty much sold off by its elites, the aristocracy, for their own personal gain. It makes for an interesting - if bitter, for Poles - reading. And while, fir example, Norway's National Wealth Fund has been benefitting from Norway's off-shore oil fields, UK seems to have completely squandered its own similar opportunity - and it seems that, for their own benefit, the so-called elites have been steering their own country into oblivion...
Here in order are the priorities of most governments: 1. Themselves 2. Corporations and the donor class 3. Those not in 1 or 2 This is why the major ills, economic AND social, are barely given more than lip service, and continue for decade after decade.
They do exist. I have to defend my British ex-colleagues. None of them have anything to say in politics. Those who are allergic to economics become politicians. Michael_from_EU-Germany, retired Lecturer for national and international economics
Impeccable timing. I needed to hear someone else say the things that I’ve been thinking. I’m not your demographic at all (ie…retired English gentleman with thinning hair, pleasant disposition and razor sharp powers of observation) but I’ve never needed more proof than this channel, that the truth doesn’t depend on the demography of the person to whom it occurs. If it’s true it occurs easily to anyone who seeks it, regardless of who they are.
Cannot argue with anything Michael says here. I have previously said to my daughter,( a school teacher), that my advice was to leave the country as the future will be very bleak. As Michael stated the money that is made in the country is going to be going to foreign companies and investors. This is the obvious outcome of the government policies of the last few decades, sell everything off to fill the gaps of the here and now and to hell with the future. As for the housing, living in Scotland the house prices and subsequent problems are not as acute as England and I would rather live where houses are more affordable and you do not ‘make’ as much from increasing prices than the run away train of some parts of England. The sustainability of the economy is reaching breaking point. When the likes of the nhs is sold off, what next. When there are no ‘assets’ left to sell, what future for those left?
As a people, in the UK we've got used to taking and accepting losses. Quite often we defer to people with titles and/or plummy voices who tell us it' has to be done, with grit and determination, in our long term best interests. Even now, we have well over half the electorate sucking up Starmer's message that 'things have to get worse before they get better'. The extraordinary thing is that the British can keep just floating along believing it.
You see the same in England as in America. Right-wing policies that in a few decades (tatcher reagan the rich / yuppies) drain the economy and a resulting middle class disappears (on which the entire economy ultimately floats) and then they start crying. In America there are a few right-wing senators who have finally admitted that the right cannot govern. Even if the left wins, they are dealing with a very difficult situation and they have no magic wand either. I would first return to trading as quickly as I could and that means returning to Europe (if they still want to accept this country in severe decline) Note: on the right is the party of if I'm doing well, everything is OK. Any expenditure that does not directly benefit me is wasted money. That is also where the idea comes from that the left spends money that is not theirs (arrogant Thatcher moaning)...The left is the party that if US is doing well, then it is good. That is why we share the costs and we get a livable world where everyone feels comfortable and where excesses are less and everyone gets a chance regardless of origin and robbery is suppressed. In other words, people are central.It is up to the voter to decide whether he wants a fight society in which everyone is focused on money and survival, if necessary at the expense of others...or...a society where people are central. and where people are willing to pay for someone else (as it is unfortunately called with a negative undertone) A society where "maintenance" is committed
@@henkholdingastate Not sure what point you are making. US also has a very high GDP per capita. It also has almost uniformly awful social indicators. As for ireland, the minimum wage there is actually slightly lower than the UK at recent exchange rates, and more of the population proportionally in Ireland is on the minimum wage. Whatever Irelands GDP is, it hasnt translated into high wages, nor is realizable in taxes. Ireland isnt a genuinely wealthy society like Switzerland or Norway might be. All the US or Ireland demonstrate is that GDP, per capita or otherwise, is a really dumb tool to measure social wellbeing. It may be a somewhat necessary one, but it is in no way sufficient.
@@crispianhayhurst8646 Cameron is a man who has never lost. Never been allowed to lose. He won the AV vote, he won the ScotNat ref, and then won the 2015 election. The idea that he might lose the Eu ref never occured to him. Thats why he slinked off ASAP. Though even I didnt think he would be shameless enough to reappear in the latter stages of Sunaks rule. I guess even the banks didnt want him!
The UK has been in decline for quite a while before Brexit. Brexit maybe has a downside but the bottom line is there is no political class in the UK that knows how to run the country. Nothing happens except spending to keep the plebs from rioting. That’s their answer. The UK has always been run for the vested interests of the ones who crawl their way to the top. A bit like an early 18th century Industrial Revolution factory. Nothing much filters down. Capital is exported to where the biggest bang for the buck exists. The ordinary citizens have to take some responsibility for allowing the current state of the country to exist. Things are not going to improve.
Well; just look at the reality of your geography; for a start.... Victoria (smallest state of AUS) - 227,038m2 - pop 6.700,000 Eng, Scot, Wales - 210,000m2 - pop 61,000,000 And yet you keep importing more bodies, legally and illegally (by rubber dinghy) ! No 'turn back the boats' like AUS did with their 'invasion' situation and plans by foreigners !
@@linmal2242 98% of Australia is scrubland or desert. If you are that way inclined there's hardly any immigrants at the south pole either. Should we congratulate the south pole on their immigration policy?
The UK has always had horrific inequality. France had it, but France also had revolutions and political upheaval. Even at the height of British imperial wealth power and prestige, the conditions of the working class and underclass varied from bad to horrific. Pick up any novel by Charles Dickens. Domestic servants lived in conditions of effective slavery. They were technically paid "wages". A Victorian parlour maid earned £ 6 . PER YEAR. In return, 14-hour days were common. There NEVER WAS an ideal time. Britain exported its system of domestic slavery throughout its Empire. The Empire has gone. But, the domestic low wage virtual slavery based system continues. And it's all ruled over by an entrenched class ridden system of landed aristocrats and a Royal Family that owns a large chunk of the country's land. In the case of the monarch and heir to the monarch, the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall virtually OWN not just land and vast numbers of tenancies, but the people on their land are virtually asset-less serfs. Leasehold reform doesn't cover the royal duchies.
People are slaves with gold plated handcuffs of Mortgage and car payments, then add every other subscription people believe they need and you can see how imprisoned people are…
Hello Michael, thank you for your video. This video in particular makes for uncomfortable viewing. I can understand your disappointment in the new government being unable to undo the damage done to the country by successive conservative governments. It's not just the last 14 years, the great greed monster was unleashed circa 1980. I can, as I say, understand the disappointment and frustration people feel in the apparent lack of progress. More worrying by far is the recent reappearance of "Boris", hawking his book, who in interviews has withdrawn admission of responsibility for anything. He was, he said, wrong to apologise. If he is believed and his attempts to work his way back into public life are accepted then we really are doomed. As for that election that you said was fascinating to the world. The one bright spark is how conservatives continue to mismanage everything. As you say, the Brexit continues to damage the UK.
Everything you said is fact yet looking at the comments here demonstrates how supporters of Brexit continue to delude themselves with a fanaticism more akin to a cult religion. However not one of those who give the usual 'remoaner' jibes are able to suggest even one benefit of Brexit or be able to suggest any strategy to make it work.
@@truthagenda5699 I don't know about that, some of the far left were pro Brexit, look at Corbyn, and in the same way, a lot of right wing middle class people get wound up more about it. Not many people here in Surrey voted Brexit, and we are definitely not a left wing voting county.
What a complete load of tripe! Just because the politicians in power don’t make the most of Brexit doesn’t mean that Brexit itself shouldn’t be anything short of excellent. Somebody has commented about migration now is worse than when in EU. Again there’s nothing actually stopping us stopping migration. If it was a security risk it could be stopped instantly. And I personally regard it as a security risk now as I don’t feel safe.
It's defiantly a problem when private property (housing) becomes so expensive that one few can afford to own their own house/flat. When I lived in the UK in 2002, I rented a room at a retired nurses home in Ealing. Now the money coming in from renting two rooms to foreign students, pain for her expenses on the house. She told me that no ordinary working person could afford to buy a house in the area...that being 22 years ago! When I returned to Denmark, I got a decent job and bought a flat in a very nice area just north of Copenhagen. There is NO way that I could do that today, even though I made a career, being single it´s just impossible! So is the same thing happening to Denmark..I wonder?
And how's that much loved, much needed, essential Royal Family helping matters now that the country is going down the gurgler? Finding any benefits in having an outdated, medieval, grifting institution based on servitude of the poor masses?
I didn’t vote for Brexit but there’s no point in moaning about it now. The voters - bless ‘em - wanted the UK to leave the EU. They also voted in labour - an even bigger disaster.
Brexit is the only game in town and we're going to continue talking about it until either the economy recovers (I won't hold my breath) or until we beg to be readmitted!
@@marcconaghan1522 unfortunately a decision was taken to hold a referendum and the voters - bless ‘em - voted for Brexit . That’s democracy for U . The voters sadly are just as likely to get it wrong as they do getting it right. A referendum - unfortunately - has to happen about once in every generation : 40 - 50 years. If we wanted to re-join the EU then we’d have to wait another 40 years and then hold another Referendum ! Even then the voters could - conceivably - still vote for Brexit. I didn’t vote for Brexit . I voted to Remain . I thought that was the right thing to do then . I still think so now. 40 years from now I might even vote to re-join Europe . But right now we’ve got Brexit . Right now We’re stuck with Brexit. For the next half a century or so . Please , Please , Please will U Remoaners grow up . We don’t live in Russia or China .
When is Starmer going to announce an investigation into the corruption of the Torries in the Covid-related-purchase by the government? When is Starmer going to announce an investigation into the Russia-connection in the Leave-campaign / Brexit-referendum? When is Starmer going to show some realism with regard to the cooperation with the EU? Time is running out for Starmer.
Hi Michael. Each week, I listen to every word you say, and it's always nice to hear someone speaking the truth about what has happened to the UK over the past 14 years. It is just so strange as to how this mess happened so quickly. With Siir K in charge, I think it's pretty much the same as before, but without the real-deal lunatics in charge.
Just been watching a blog on you tube about towns and cities in the UK, in particular Devon and Cornwall . On each the concensus was, to quote, " Shit." Shops boarded up, homeless people, drugs, in one, 9 year olds terrorising people with knives ! Also there are stabbings nearly every day. I live in Greece and Thank God I do, Britain is in ruins, don`t see how the chaos left by the Tory`s can be righted, the EU have got over the UK leaving now, and Starmers attitude isn`t helping.
I agree with you every time I visit the UK things seem to be getting worse, it's like a bad dream but are people sleep walking into a bigger nightmare! They are too busy trying to survive!
This is the first time I've come across your channel and I thought you made many good points about how and why the UK is completely f**ked. What gets me more than anything else is the way many people are still fooled by the idea that Brexit was a good thing (this was epitomised by a Sky News report which spoke to a couple going to a food bank who still thought Brexit was a good idea) while they have no interest whatsoever in bringing the greedy liars who perpetrated this abomination of an socio/economic policy to account for the total disaster they initiated. When I look at the likes of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss not being called out for what they've done to the country I love it makes me sick to my stomach. And now we have the prospect of Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch leading a race to the bottom for what will be left of GB's economy after Labour serves its one and only term in Government. I am a Labour supporter, although the Labour Party I grew up with bares little resemblance to the one currently being presided over by Keir Starmer and his cronies, who in my opinion are nothing more than Tories wearing red ties. I really don't know what's worse, the total stupidity of the British public or the incompetence and greed of the Tories. The only upside is that down through the ages regimes that have oppressed the working people are doomed to fail, and the one that eventually arrives in the UK, be it via Reform or an ultra right wing Tory Party, will go the same way, greediness is a short term ideological position and never works out in the end.
Agree with you Michael, Starmer is not a good politician. I am surprised that such an intelligent man is such a hopeless PM. For once there was no need to say we will never join the EU. There was no need to say anything and if asked, he could have said “No plans, but if we thought there’s an economic need, we would hold another referendum “. Think the electorate wouldn’t have held this view against Labour.
Michael the reality is single professional person with good job can barely afford living today. The rent for one bed house in London is approx 2000£ + bills! How can people afford to survive? We all are being pushed to marriages or to move in with strangers to save on rent! It’s ridiculous 🤦♀️
Well that was cheerful Michael! Unfortunately, totally agree with everything you've said. Before retiring I spent a significant amount of time working (& playing) in Europe and got to know many people in Germany, Scandinavia, France & Belgium. Almost without exception they had a better environment, living standard and lifestyle compared to our life back in the UK. Our plan was to move to France when I retired which was shattered by that B word. At least you made me chuckle somewhat ironically with Fraser's catch phrase from Dad's Army " We're all doomed". Sadly we probably are....
Hello Michael - i notice you didn't come to France, which is where I've been for a number of years, living in a small town in an agricultural area. Plenty of varied seasonal fruit and veg plus imported as well. Housing in the rented sector is regulated so that people can afford it, and house prices don't move very much, if at all, as sales and increases are restricted. Refugees are allowed to work after 3 months, and from what i gather processing is pretty quick. The streets are pretty clean. Strong emphasis on recycling. Cheap fast trains. Good health service, part-state, and part-private optional insurance which is based solely on age, not on existing medical conditions.
Best of all, no-one has insulted me for my being Eastern European born. ❤
It's not all perfect, obviously, but it functions pretty well as a society. Never going back to UK .
No indeed. Arrogance and delusion are the norm here.
I love France, it’s a great country!
Good ridance
Good for you. The average Brit can only dream of what you have.
@@des_smith7658 Such a well thought out and articulate response is impressive - not!
My take ,1. The Tories sold off so many government assets such as utilities and housing stock. 2. The Tories squandered North Sea oil ,failing to use the windfall to invest and develop a sovereign wealth fund. 3 . Brexit.
Yes, I agree. I have a friend here in Guildford who bought his Dad's ex-council house for 14,000 pounds back in the early 1980's and it now worth at least 400,000. It is understandable why Guildford Borough Council is on the verge of bankruptcy and the High Street is empty of shops due to the incredibly high business rates. He has paid no council tax for something like the last forty years and even when they did have a small modest mortgage, the bank got the money NOT the council.
@@johnburrows3385 💯
@@michaelmckelvey5122 labour destroyed life for the working class though.
@@JamesKing-om5mt
Explain ? ?
And deregulated the stock exchange for a free for all !
Living on an island which they barely leave, people start to create their own truth which they like to hear. This is why you hear BS like "look at Germany how bad it is there" without knowing what Germany is really like. The only thing they know is their own reality but they can't compare it with anything. I have been living in both worlds for many decades and without any doubt I can say that the UK comes at the bottom of the list of all European countries I really know well and lived in.
They should visit China and have a look at the future.
China is big, it still has its problems but they have 'prospered mightily' these last thirty years.
I am in a very similar situation, and I agree. It breaks my heart because of all the wonderful friends I have in the UK.
@@qeitkas594 You are absolutely bang on the money with your analysis. The ruling elite in this country definitely control the narrative for most Britons, who really haven’t seen the reality abroad such as living in Germany, Holland or one of the other EU countries. In my past life are used to take students on cultural exchanges to Germany, and they always had their eyes opened and came back with very positive views. All this so-called British exceptionalism is nonsense. It’s about time most people woke up and smelt the coffee.
@@sweetwilliam4199 China really suprised me with how advanced they are compared to the UK. Still wouldnt like to live there though. Just too many people.
@@stuartwheeler6387 They have advanced greatly in thirty years. Compare China with Russia over a similar period.
I have visited several times one sees major changes on each visit.
Give them another fifty years.
We should have asked them to build HS2.
Hello! I am retired and live in Gothenburg. If I had known you were coming, we could have coffee "fika" in a cafe in town and talk a little about Brexit. Also some Swedes' view of the EU.
That would have been nice Tommy 😊
@@tommynyberg2122 What do Swedes think of the EU?
1. Brexit. 2. Outsourcing and privatisation of public services 3. Low taxes on the rich and corporations.
All these thingswere happening long before Brexit. Privatisation is also an EU Mantra!
@@gimmesometruth7341The difference being that a lot of EU countries kept a tight grip on privetized industries by regulation frameworks. Or by the govt being the major shareholder.
@@RunOfTheHind Brexit still never happened properly.
The biggest problem is the gullible keep voting for criminals (all governments are a criminal Extortion racket).. government is the problem no matter what colour tie they wear.
That's the problem with Thatcherism, you run out of State assets to sell on the cheap.
The UK economy has been badly managed for decades, each government focusing on short term fixes to long term issues. Thatcher started the rot with the selling off of national assets. The hydrocarbons in the North Sea have been completely wasted through poor long term vision - look at Norway and their oil fund. UK manufacturing is all but gone, what does the UK produce that other nations would want to buy?
Part of the problem the UK has is the flawed national superiority complex (English mostly), the country seems to think it is above all other nations in Europe, yet there is no evidence to suggest that the UK is even in the same league as most other countries. I am sure someone will point out that the UK is the 5th or 6th richest nation in the world, but that status does not benefit 99% of the population who are living at best, a hand to mouth existence and at worst in abject poverty.
You couldn't have it said better!
It was said long ago that Britain is a place of private wealth and public squalor.
well the other difference between most other EU countries of similiar size is that people have REAL benefits.... so understandably these are more costly to fund.... I always found it hilarious when british people make the argument that people come to the UK for benefits - I personally would love to know what benefits these people are talking about!
UK benefits are many: the lowest pension in Europe; the longest wait to see a GP.; the highest level of money-laundering...
What a great analogy. “Open for Business” means diddly squat when it is obvious that the other shops [countries] have far and away better terms, conditions and prices.
@@hedydd2 open for business means come In and screw us
People keep talking about 14 years of Tory failure but it has been 45 years. The neo liberal policies pushed by Thatcher and Reagan have dominated UK economics even when Labour were in power. It has failed spectacularly for the majority of people. It is still being promoted by"thinktanks" because it has made their backers extremely wealthy. Unfortunately, highly unequal societies always collapse.
@@JudePowell-b3r 💯👍
I always say, if trickle down econoics worked, Victorian workers, farmers, sevants would have been affluent. How could this ideology ever be sold to the poor, I cannot, and will never be able to understand.
@@annepoitrineau5650 💯
@@annepoitrineau5650 A great answers.
@@tablet6109 Thank you.
"There is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way. The war we fight is not against powers and principalities, it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams. Against this peril we can never surrender." - G'Kar, in Babylon 5
Good Morning, all very depressing isn't it, no one is talking about the realities of post Brexit Britain, the majority of People aren't interested in Politics, sadly they don't give Brexit a Thought and believe the Lies of the Brexiteers. I shall never forgive what the Brexiteers have done to this Country and now the Bastards are attacking our Human Rights in the ECHR. Keep fighting the good fight Micheal.
I used to be one of those people, it seemed a good idea then
@@des_smith7658 And now?
"The Government's impact assessment stated that, according to econometric modelling by DBT, CPTPP accession “could boost UK GDP by around £2.0 billion a year when compared to projected GDP in 2040.” This is equivalent to 0.09% of UK GDP in 2021."
WOW, brilliant!
minus in trade with the EU
140 billion pounds
plus in trade with CPTPP
2 billion
17 million Brexit-Peters in UK:
So clever, so smart, elite brains of the planet
@@oldishandwoke-ish1181the opposite
I agree - I despise all Brexiteers, no matter what their pathetic excuse for voting Leave.
I still think of myself as being european. I was born in Manchester and i am a proud mancunian. I live in London so have always been able to get to the EU easier and faster than getting back to Manchester. When i was younger i was able to live and work in Greece. Not any more. I feel my human rights?as a european have been taken away by a mindless decision by just over half of voters to leave our neighbours and try to survive on our own. Of coarse we knew Brexit would be bad for the UK as it has proced and the rest of Europe would profit with or without us.
@@chrislaurenceleo
It's amazing how thick Remainers are, we left the EU dictatorship not Europe.
All Brits are European and will remainso unless the earth is destroyed by some major catastrophy, Europe is the Continent we are part of and proudly so.
@@johnbrereton5229 I'm so sorry you cannot fathom what the majority of people think. I'm sure your thoughts make sense to you
@@chrislaurenceleo
The fact that the EU dictatorship is merely a political construct and not EUROPE is recognised by every intelligent person. It's only poorly educated sad Remainers like you, who think it means the same thing.
@@chrislaurenceleo
My opinions are based on facts which any intelligent person will verify. Unfortunately there don't seem to be very many if them on this channel.
@@johnbrereton5229 I'm so sorry you appear incapable of understanding but think you do understand.
Anyone who thinks of a slogan like "Make Brexit Work" doesn't understand the first thing about economics or trade.
Anybody who knew the tiniest bit about either could see brexit was inevitably going to damage both. Brexit will never work.
A more honest slogan would be:"Brexit sucks. You're going to be poorer. Deal with it."
Not a very good slogan, but more honest.
@@maartenvandam344 complete bollocks
A perfect analysis on so many levels. We move to a rentier economy as the financial sector works for the benefit of capital, owned by the wealthy few who suck profit at the expense of society and move ownership of assets offshore to exacerbate our dependence. In essence, the price of neoliberalism and the compliant treason of government, working for the powerful, enabled through media propaganda. We are simply not allowed transformative and progressive government in our elective dictatorship. In the acronymn of the old film script, we are FUBAR.
I agree with you 💯👍
TARFUN
I was in Gothenburg in August as well and you are absolutely right, it is absolutely gorgeous and thriving. It looks like what Bristol would be if our economy was not tanking.😊
Thanks very much Mr Lambert 👍👍👍
Yes, Britain is in terminal decline and the roots of it go back decades. You mentioned some key points, but not many of them, for example, the woeful failure to invest in education, especially technical education, and the down-skilling rather than up-skilling of the economy. The failures of our politicians are endless and the damage they have done legion. Government policies have created a society that is dumbed-down, obese, and lazy. That Britain's problems can't be reversed now is beyond question, but then there is only really ONE KEY QUESTION for the intelligent individual - what do I do about it? I left for greener pastures, and never regretted it. I see so many talented young people leaving. It seems to me the only vote left worth anything is to vote with your feet...
"Government policies have created a society that is dumbed-down, obese, and lazy."
Deliberately.
" I see so many talented young people leaving."
Not really a smart idea. The entire western world is at various stages of this.
"I left for greener pastures, and never regretted it."
If you can't save your own country (presumably) from this, would you care to save whatever place you moved to??!
34 wasted years of high tax socialism from 1945 to 1979 sent us down like turds in a toilet. Thank dear God for Saint Maggie.
My advice to any young people is to leave. The UK is doomed !
I did the same, thought what can I do about it and voted with my feet to go to tropical pastures, where I could make a life fit for a king. 20 years ago made all the legal arrangements, dual passport, bank account in the country of choice, tax registration, sold up and left. I'm only shocked how fast the decline has been in 15 years.
@@gregjones-x8c it was taxing the wealthiest at 88% that's the reason you were born in an NHS hospital.
Nothing but the truth spoken! 39 year old man! Worked in the forces and currently working in oil/gas & petrochemical industry! No children no wife!. Selling the house within the next 6 months! And I’m out! Cheerio Britain! I certainly wont be putting “great” infront!😂
I've thought and said for a couple of years now - that the UK will have sunk by the time there is even a thought of rejoining EU. Like the old fishing boat that stops making enough money to keep up the maintenance - there is NO return to profitability. It is a downward spiral from there. You are absolutely right - lack of disposable income due to the high mortgages and rents - will not lift the economy. You know what is supporting the UK just now (and always)? The Colony of Scotland. I despair at it all, especially when you see the laissez faire of those who are still comfortable, and don't see an issue. Starmer in opposition - didn't have the attack mentality at PMQs and I'm as disappointed as you at his performance now.
"Britain is open for business..."
That only works if others want to do business with you.
So true.
Thanks, Michael! iTS ALL DREADFULLY SAD!
We have a bunch of amateurs, who are not capable of running a corner shop, let alone a country!
You have reminded me of that grocer's daughter, Margaret Hilda Robson.
I don’t know this guy’s background (this video just popped up on my feed), but seems to be pretty much spot on.
And also a stark contrast to the thinking of many in his generation.
Thank you 😊
We moved to France seven years ago. France has it's issues and problems of course, but we see a marked difference in the quality of life for locals here as apposed to in the UK. Some things are more expensive here (e.g. electricity, food, and income tax) but other things are cheaper (e.g. houses, petrol, eating out and council tax - just €700 as against £2000 in UK). Unlike the UK, everything seems to work (as apposed to being broken) like Schools, rivers are clean, trains are superb, streets are clean, healthcare is superb, no potholes, only ever charged for parking if we visit the coastal tourist towns - everywhere else is free. If you've ever had an inkling to try living on the continent, I'd highly recommend it.
Hi Richard, where do you live in France please? I'm thinking of moving there from New Zealand. Thank you.
More than double the UK pension too
I've been saying for years, decades even, that the stupid house prices in the UK are destroying the economy for exactly the reasons you cite. Britain is screwed, except for the already rich. Young, educated, mobile Britons are going to move abroad, simple as. (It's not all plain sailing - property prices are going stupid everywhere, just not as ridiculously insane as Britain where you can pay millions for a run-down hovel).
Not to mention the bloated national debt, which funded lockdown: a couple more years for the now-departed, a mental health epidemic in the young, a load of PPE in the landfill, a useless phone app, and a massive interest burden for the next generation. Starmer is useless but I'm not 'disappointed' as I did not vote for him - he ruled out SM and CU 'in his lifetime' for no reason, just to please one or two people. Bonkers - and as you say, no solution.
Nobody seems to mention covid and the unnecessary lockdows. 440 billion spaffed in furlough alone. UK has never recovered.
Gothenburg is a wonderful city. My home city Stockholm is pretty awesome too, but Gothenburg is something special ❤
I agree. I visited both in August and had an amazing time.
Yup we sold the family silver and we have been living a delusion. We stole everything when we had an empire and now we have nothing left.
I feel the same way. Life in the UK is so damn depressing. I feel people have lost courtesy for others in many areas such as driving on the roads, general politeness, the level of service from companies. I went into my home town centre in Nottingham last week for a midweek meetup with friend and even upon arrival I felt uneasy and unsafe. Knife crime statistic are up year on year and everything is just so damn expensive as I find myself complaining on many occasions on why something is priced so high. There has to be a better life than this one here in the UK. Luckily my wife and I are now discussing the potential of a move to Portugal to enjoy the working life we have remaining and a more peaceful retirement to follow.
one house is worth 1 house that was the case in the 1980's as it is now. The difference is a working person could afford a 3 bedroom house in the 1980's and now can afford nothing in certain parts of the country. Property inflation is not a sign of people getting richer it is a sign of our currency getting weaker and us poorer as national assets have been sold to pay for Thatcher's low tax bollocks.
The 'Shop' analogy is brilliant Michael, thank you.
Regarding foreign 'investment' into the UK, on so many level and in so many ways, niw this is a vast topic, and whilst the Tory Party was shouting about stopping the boats (well put the systems back that meant there's a way, a route, for people to enter the UK by), they were allowing thus to happen, as is the title of a Genesis record, Selling England by the Pound. All points raised in the video, clearly and, unfortunately, plainly said, again thank you Michael.
Thank you Symon 😊
Brexit has taken my job and killed my career. I am inclined to agree that the uk is doomed, it was torpedoed from the tories and labour really havent got the ability to fix it. Im thinking i have a choice here i accept being poorer and seriously reduced living standards..or i go through the hoops and try and get out.. i think the latter sounds more appealing
One needs a marketable qualification to ease escape.
@sweetwilliam4199 or as I am trying to do.. irish citizenship 🤞 also hoping my skills are desirable!
@@Richard_Turner I sincerely hope you succeed. I am too old to leave but younger Brits should try and do so.
It is all very depressing.
The Americans buying and privatizing the NHS is an absolute scream. Everything that you said here about how difficult things are in the UK applies in the US as well and more so. If they want the NHS it is because they want to destroy it. Heaven help you all if they get hold of it.
Depressing but true.
UK energy prices are far higher than those in EU, which the government fails to rectify. This has a big effect on business and domestic users
The problem with the UK is STEM, science, technology, engineering and mathematics is seen as low skill and it's been like that for ever. People think engineers fix boilers and work on building sites, I was refused rented accommodation "professionals only"as an astronautics engineer years ago, refused a mortgage too for the same reason. Even the BBC constantly refers to engineers as unskilled, my rocket scientist friends from Uni now all over the world used to laugh at the BBC presenters, the BBC is actually a joke in the space industry.
Brexit or no Brexit, the UK is facing massive economic challenges and a lack of high skill workers when these workers salaries, career prospects and quality of life will be way better oversees. UK is about to become a very poor country in a very short space of time and we've done it to ourselves, like so many poor 3rd world countries around the world there's no magic safety net.
The BBC is the network with a great future behind it
@@donaldduck5731 Finland has the most engineers per capita in the world and that is why our society works. And we don’t have Tories to reverse the plumbing 🪠 every 5 years 🙄
@@donaldduck5731 They thought you were a "building site worker" as an ASTRONAUTICS ENGINEER? Wow! 😟
Mind you, chippies and plumbers and builders can make money hand over fist, too...
So what does an astronauts engineer actually do? 🙂 Is it the space industry, akin to NASA: or is it communications satellites?
It will be ironic that Clacton will become another boarded up seaside town with Brexit Farage as its MP. Then he’ll move on.
As Harold Macmillan said, all those years ago, "selling off the family silver".
i just visited europe over the summer. he is speaking the truth. UK quality of life is worse than Italy by a long shot….especially in smaller towns.
Not as bad as Germany th-cam.com/video/QXgTTRVegsI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ZMyE8TEDVD4fs_1F
@@randyvalantino6850 you're either a Chinese bot or an idiot. You are quoting CGTN,which is under the control of the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party. Are you also?
@@randyvalantino6850I hope you're being paid by the Central Chinese Communist Party, as you're pushing their site..In this instance site rhymes with shite.
Oh dear, you actually thought it was factually correct, didn't you! Now that is funny! Some village is missing an idiot.
And energy prices are destroying everyone, and it's now unaffordable and completely out of control
Energy usage efficiency should become a top priority. Learn thermodynamics, statistical and quantum mechanics. Apply them to *everything* one does.
Professor Benjamin Studebaker wrote a book called The Way Is Shut, it's a bitter pill to swallow but he talks about how the public won't accept the current system that is failing, but won't accept any changes to it either, he focuses on the US but he says this applies to the UK and many other western democracies as well.
It's tragic that under the current capitalist system the UK can't compete with the might of US/EU/China/India etc. I think Britain is unrecoverable now, unless we have a radical transformation of how we do politics globally, and how the economy is structured globally, things will only get worse realistically.
Might very well be right. But at the moment things are still working in the EU.
The UK needs to make the effort to be able to join. If they don't, well, dire consequences for them, but not for us in the EU.
Change means getting rid of the old system
Not gonna happen, without a war that is
As always a sober and realistic approach from You , Mr. Lambert. These short term reflexes to reap the low hanging fruit ,I have seen them as well in New Zealand where I once emigrated to from the Netherland . The ensuing state of the country and diminished quality of life is palpable. It was not before long that I saw through their Ponzi like touted " lifestyle" , which I rebaptized " a certain style of living , rather eeking through life". As I left that place within a year I have not incurred the damage most who staid there rationalize. My returning back to the likes of Gothenburg and Utrecht , to Cologne and Luzern etc , where my potential and background was recognized and acknowledged has made me prosper and retire , fully free to embrace life , at age 54. I deeply regret that my life plan to live the rest of my life in Scotland needed to be buried in the grave of Wry . Thank You for all the effort put into this channel , from NL.
Thank you Geert 😊
Good-morning micheal 😊
Hi Michael....totally agree with your analysis of the mess the U.K is in.
I've recently been to Malta, a very small country that is thriving. Valetta the capital is clean, buildings well kept & No One begging on the streets. Public transport excellent. The only businesses that are expanding & multiplying here in East Yorkshire is the Turkish Barbers & Nail bars run by Chinese workers. Every time I blink another barbers shop has appeared. This is the same for costal towns such as Bridlington & Scarborough.
For short term political reasons - and because he is scared - Starmer doesn't want to confront what is wrong.
What is left of Britain's Euro trading business is up for transfer next year.
The Brexit deal is up for review not renegotiation next year as well.
I really do not know where we go from there. Frightening to say the least.
Global Trading/AI Superpower my arse.
I hear the wettest country in Europe is the UK. Yet due to incompetence its in danger of running out of water.
They'll stop people from collecting rain water.
Ireland has more rainfall.
I emigrated from Zambia to the UK almost 25 years ago. Alas, the warning signs that I saw in Zambia & later in Zimbabwe that the economy is in terminal decline, I am once more seeing here in the UK. Ah, well, I suppose I will not make old bones here....
We were in a mess long before Brexit.
Since after WW1 in fact.
Since the Romans left
Spot on, but not commonly acknowledged.
I worked for Marconi in Chelmsford, sold off in pieces and now gone, I worked for RACAL in Bracknell, now gone, I worked for Vodafone in Newbury, sold off. All these were great English companies, innovative and profitable. Originally I served in the British Merchant Marine now non existent.
You sound like uncle Albert.. (Trotter)
@@roelkomduur8073 Maybe uncle Albert has experienced all of that, like hundreds of thousands other people.
Two of the biggest record organisations--Decca and EMI sold off to Europe and the us, the top half dozen book publishers now owned by Europe, new tube trains being built by Seimans-----the list goes on and on
@@ausbrum Siemens AG....
Gothenburg is also the home of Volvo Cars. They have less than a sixth of the UK population, but they have a car industry.
Which was bought by the Chinese?
Badge engineering
There is another Swedish car company 😎
@@Alex-pr6zv Volvo makes trucks and buses and construction machines. Part is owned by Chinese Geely (6,8%). Scania is owned by the VW Group. SAAB doesn’t make cars anymore. Instead they do airplanes, fighters and submarines. Their submarines are the best in the world. Greetings from Finland.
Time to start the path towards reversing Brexit.
They have extinguished hope that if we don't have hope, we have nothing
Its all rather gloomy but i refuse to surrender as long as I'm breathing the world is still a beautiful place. ❤❤
No because you’ve elected others over the years to do your surrendering for you.
@bubb5225 you are wrong my friend so very wrong ❤
Thanks Michael, interesting talk. I noticed the difference in living standards when visiting Sligo in Ireland. People are happier too.
Bear in mind that Gothenburg is having what is, by Swedish standards, a very severe public order crisis, to the point where the Swedish PM spoke of bringing in the Army. Myself, four years ago I moved from a comfortable middle-class London suburb (South Ruislip) to what is regarded as the bad part of the city of Anzio. I think the quality of life is about the same in both places, but in Anzio we have been able to buy a flat - buy it outright, no mortgage, no issues - in a nicely managed condominium with its own park. In Ruislip, I was getting scared of what would happen next time I would have to move. Plus, teenage violence was out of hand, with two knife murders in the last year, right in the middle of South Ruislip - green, prosperous, apparently safe South Ruislip. Where I live here is known as the rough end of town, but I never heard of murder or attempted murder, and the worst I ever saw was a punch-up among two immigrant lads.
The reason everything was sold off to foreign investors was down to 1) Goc belief in a free market - most Govs protect native companies , Tories sell them or close them. 2) Banks wanting huge deals e.g Marconi Electronics (now asset stripped destroyed)
Selling the family silver has always been an easy but sort term solution to feeding debt. Eventually, as you point out, one eventually runs out of silver.
As Britain has always had a knack for making real money from 'funny' but profitable services, like storing other nation's bullion in the Bank of England vaults, doing all the Euro clearing (for now), providing dubious services like the massive online gambling industries, even a lot of its service industry is not based on actual services. Actual services like banking and insurances or selling design and architecture abroad. And services is the only sector that thrives on the export side of the national books. When Euroclearing goes back to the EU in 2025, that will amount to a significant earnings and export loss. Curiously, many countries after Brexit have repatriated their bullion and other valuables in recent years, but Britain could count even this loss as an additional export in the statistics. So quite a bit in the export boom of British services, is on somewhat shaky grounds too.
well said,as always Michael....loved the analogy...
Starmer and Reeves are unimaginative bookworms, they're no Tony and Gordon. They're charmless and dull amd I don't see them turning this country around.
Not if you are a Politician on 100k+ and have muliple Jobs. Way, hay, life is great. Any freebes plz!
Everyman has his price
I don't think they're "clueless". I think they're "in denial". The Brexit "pestilence" has destroyed all reasonable and functional thinking - not just in the general public, but particularly in politicians!
The problem is British politics. Hardly anyone wants to really discuss brexit. They just avoid it, waiting for some miracle to make it go away. And so, in real life, the snowball rolls on...
@@vullings1968 Brexit is the "Gag that keeps on gagging"!
When I said "I don't think they're clueless", I meant that Starmer and his cabinet know exactly what damage Brexit has done, and what damage it will do. The only term I can think of is "Cognitive Dissonance", which is a pretty severe mental illness. Let's cure this "sick" country!
The UK has yet to deal with its own exceptionalism.
Brexit is a symptom of a wider problem with the UK rather than the only problem with the UK.
A class based, malthusian, libertarian ideology is the fundamental reason the UK is failing which has been the ideology for the best part of 280 years or so, almost entirely unbroken.
Give a few years, 1940-1948, and even then you have the disastrous decisions to partition India & Palestine in such a short timeframe with intense levels of uncertainty that caused unnecessary harm to the Indian and Palestinian people, over 1 million extra deaths than a partition where the UK cared at least slightly for the local population.
I really don’t think any reasonable person, who knows anything about life, would disagree with you, saying Kier Starmer is No good. Because we all know that is the truth , He is No Good at all.!
The best thing about being in the EU was the protection from our own inept government - now they have been exposed - we could still pull this back
Dear Michael, you've visited Poland, and, while there, you may have learned how it, one of 16th century Europe's most powerful countries, was brought down to its knees and pretty much sold off by its elites, the aristocracy, for their own personal gain. It makes for an interesting - if bitter, for Poles - reading. And while, fir example, Norway's National Wealth Fund has been benefitting from Norway's off-shore oil fields, UK seems to have completely squandered its own similar opportunity - and it seems that, for their own benefit, the so-called elites have been steering their own country into oblivion...
@@paullarne Thatcher privatised the oil business and used the money to subsidise the Right to Buy scheme. A typically short-sighted move.
Here in order are the priorities of most governments:
1. Themselves
2. Corporations and the donor class
3. Those not in 1 or 2
This is why the major ills, economic AND social, are barely given more than lip service, and continue for decade after decade.
Being right is a lonely plight.
Stay strong. 10:14
What I can‘t understand is why all the great world famous British universities can not produce world class economists……
They do exist. I have to defend my British ex-colleagues. None of them have anything to say in politics.
Those who are allergic to economics become politicians.
Michael_from_EU-Germany,
retired Lecturer for national and international economics
It's a big club and you ain't in it
More people speak English in Gothenburg than in London.........you can thank Tony Blair for that.
You get the government you deserve
@@des_smith7658 "They voted for this!"
False.
Impeccable timing. I needed to hear someone else say the things that I’ve been thinking. I’m not your demographic at all (ie…retired English gentleman with thinning hair, pleasant disposition and razor sharp powers of observation) but I’ve never needed more proof than this channel, that the truth doesn’t depend on the demography of the person to whom it occurs. If it’s true it occurs easily to anyone who seeks it, regardless of who they are.
Thank you 😊
Cannot argue with anything Michael says here. I have previously said to my daughter,( a school teacher), that my advice was to leave the country as the future will be very bleak. As Michael stated the money that is made in the country is going to be going to foreign companies and investors. This is the obvious outcome of the government policies of the last few decades, sell everything off to fill the gaps of the here and now and to hell with the future. As for the housing, living in Scotland the house prices and subsequent problems are not as acute as England and I would rather live where houses are more affordable and you do not ‘make’ as much from increasing prices than the run away train of some parts of England. The sustainability of the economy is reaching breaking point. When the likes of the nhs is sold off, what next. When there are no ‘assets’ left to sell, what future for those left?
As a people, in the UK we've got used to taking and accepting losses. Quite often we defer to people with titles and/or plummy voices who tell us it' has to be done, with grit and determination, in our long term best interests. Even now, we have well over half the electorate sucking up Starmer's message that 'things have to get worse before they get better'. The extraordinary thing is that the British can keep just floating along believing it.
The UK is the mobility scooter hub of the world!
It's the far-right riot capital of the western world.
@@arthurfarrow Bloody thing should be banned 🤔 Or demand that they have a driving license 😡
Basically , the Nobs dont give a sh*t.
Thumbs up Michael
It is sad what UK voters did to themselves.
Cameron's Brexit really destroyed everything. On the other hand, Ireland's GDP per capita is among the highest in Europe presently.
You see the same in England as in America. Right-wing policies that in a few decades (tatcher reagan the rich / yuppies) drain the economy and a resulting middle class disappears (on which the entire economy ultimately floats) and then they start crying. In America there are a few right-wing senators who have finally admitted that the right cannot govern. Even if the left wins, they are dealing with a very difficult situation and they have no magic wand either. I would first return to trading as quickly as I could and that means returning to Europe (if they still want to accept this country in severe decline) Note: on the right is the party of if I'm doing well, everything is OK. Any expenditure that does not directly benefit me is wasted money. That is also where the idea comes from that the left spends money that is not theirs (arrogant Thatcher moaning)...The left is the party that if US is doing well, then it is good. That is why we share the costs and we get a livable world where everyone feels comfortable and where excesses are less and everyone gets a chance regardless of origin and robbery is suppressed. In other words, people are central.It is up to the voter to decide whether he wants a fight society in which everyone is focused on money and survival, if necessary at the expense of others...or...a society where people are central. and where people are willing to pay for someone else (as it is unfortunately called with a negative undertone) A society where "maintenance" is committed
@@henkholdingastate Not sure what point you are making. US also has a very high GDP per capita. It also has almost uniformly awful social indicators. As for ireland, the minimum wage there is actually slightly lower than the UK at recent exchange rates, and more of the population proportionally in Ireland is on the minimum wage. Whatever Irelands GDP is, it hasnt translated into high wages, nor is realizable in taxes. Ireland isnt a genuinely wealthy society like Switzerland or Norway might be.
All the US or Ireland demonstrate is that GDP, per capita or otherwise, is a really dumb tool to measure social wellbeing. It may be a somewhat necessary one, but it is in no way sufficient.
It was Boris Johnson's Brexit. Cameron just teed it up like the complete idiot that he is!
@@crispianhayhurst8646 Cameron is a man who has never lost. Never been allowed to lose. He won the AV vote, he won the ScotNat ref, and then won the 2015 election. The idea that he might lose the Eu ref never occured to him. Thats why he slinked off ASAP. Though even I didnt think he would be shameless enough to reappear in the latter stages of Sunaks rule. I guess even the banks didnt want him!
@@crispianhayhurst8646well said.
I agree with you on everything.
The UK has been in decline for quite a while before Brexit. Brexit maybe has a downside but the bottom line is there is no political class in the UK that knows how to run the country. Nothing happens except spending to keep the plebs from rioting. That’s their answer. The UK has always been run for the vested interests of the ones who crawl their way to the top. A bit like an early 18th century Industrial Revolution factory. Nothing much filters down. Capital is exported to where the biggest bang for the buck exists. The ordinary citizens have to take some responsibility for allowing the current state of the country to exist.
Things are not going to improve.
Well; just look at the reality of your geography; for a start....
Victoria (smallest state of AUS) - 227,038m2 - pop 6.700,000
Eng, Scot, Wales - 210,000m2 - pop 61,000,000
And yet you keep importing more bodies, legally and illegally (by rubber dinghy) !
No 'turn back the boats' like AUS did with their 'invasion' situation and plans by foreigners !
@@linmal2242 98% of Australia is scrubland or desert.
If you are that way inclined there's hardly any immigrants at the south pole either. Should we congratulate the south pole on their immigration policy?
The UK has always had horrific inequality. France had it, but France also had revolutions and political upheaval. Even at the height of British imperial wealth power and prestige, the conditions of the working class and underclass varied from bad to horrific. Pick up any novel by Charles Dickens. Domestic servants lived in conditions of effective slavery. They were technically paid "wages". A Victorian parlour maid earned £ 6 . PER YEAR. In return, 14-hour days were common. There NEVER WAS an ideal time. Britain exported its system of domestic slavery throughout its Empire. The Empire has gone. But, the domestic low wage virtual slavery based system continues. And it's all ruled over by an entrenched class ridden system of landed aristocrats and a Royal Family that owns a large chunk of the country's land. In the case of the monarch and heir to the monarch, the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall virtually OWN not just land and vast numbers of tenancies, but the people on their land are virtually asset-less serfs. Leasehold reform doesn't cover the royal duchies.
Harold Macmiillan was right about Thatcher selling our treasures abroad,the starting point.
He failed to mention that the family silver was rather tarnished...ie lame duck, bankrupt state industry. Not worth a frog's fart.
@@gregjones-x8c Says a corporate no nothing shil!
@@mervynhyde1 Socialist and union shambles at British Leyland?
People are slaves with gold plated handcuffs of Mortgage and car payments, then add every other subscription people believe they need and you can see how imprisoned people are…
@@jimmagspanton669 maybe you should try a few days as a New Schooler. Old school ways where easy in the old school days but do not work today.
Hello Michael, thank you for your video. This video in particular makes for uncomfortable viewing. I can understand your disappointment in the new government being unable to undo the damage done to the country by successive conservative governments. It's not just the last 14 years, the great greed monster was unleashed circa 1980. I can, as I say, understand the disappointment and frustration people feel in the apparent lack of progress.
More worrying by far is the recent reappearance of "Boris", hawking his book, who in interviews has withdrawn admission of responsibility for anything. He was, he said, wrong to apologise. If he is believed and his attempts to work his way back into public life are accepted then we really are doomed.
As for that election that you said was fascinating to the world. The one bright spark is how conservatives continue to mismanage everything.
As you say, the Brexit continues to damage the UK.
Everything you said is fact yet looking at the comments here demonstrates how supporters of Brexit continue to delude themselves with a fanaticism more akin to a cult religion. However not one of those who give the usual 'remoaner' jibes are able to suggest even one benefit of Brexit or be able to suggest any strategy to make it work.
@@truthagenda5699 I don't know about that, some of the far left were pro Brexit, look at Corbyn, and in the same way, a lot of right wing middle class people get wound up more about it. Not many people here in Surrey voted Brexit, and we are definitely not a left wing voting county.
What a complete load of tripe! Just because the politicians in power don’t make the most of Brexit doesn’t mean that Brexit itself shouldn’t be anything short of excellent.
Somebody has commented about migration now is worse than when in EU. Again there’s nothing actually stopping us stopping migration. If it was a security risk it could be stopped instantly. And I personally regard it as a security risk now as I don’t feel safe.
You could be deluded?
@@ansleytaylor8061nothing like Brexit-induced paranoia. Good
The electorate love a slogan. Give them a flag to wave and an anthem to sing and anything is possible.
And was Jerusalem builded here
It's defiantly a problem when private property (housing) becomes so expensive that one few can afford to own their own house/flat. When I lived in the UK in 2002, I rented a room at a retired nurses home in Ealing. Now the money coming in from renting two rooms to foreign students, pain for her expenses on the house. She told me that no ordinary working person could afford to buy a house in the area...that being 22 years ago! When I returned to Denmark, I got a decent job and bought a flat in a very nice area just north of Copenhagen. There is NO way that I could do that today, even though I made a career, being single it´s just impossible! So is the same thing happening to Denmark..I wonder?
Starmer just seems to stare at things
A perfect storm ! How long can the country last with so much money being vacuumed out of it !
And all that money wasted on vaccines
And how's that much loved, much needed, essential Royal Family helping matters now that the country is going down the gurgler? Finding any benefits in having an outdated, medieval, grifting institution based on servitude of the poor masses?
It's just a medieval pantomime
The Brits always need somebody to doff their caps to. The dim royals seem to fit the bill.
Broken Brexit Britain edges towards the abyss.
Germany....and now France - THE SICK MEN OF EUROPE!
I didn’t vote for Brexit but there’s no point in moaning about it now.
The voters - bless ‘em - wanted the UK to leave the EU.
They also voted in labour - an even bigger disaster.
Brexit is the only game in town and we're going to continue talking about it until either the economy recovers (I won't hold my breath) or until we beg to be readmitted!
But Labour won’t spend tens of billions giving corrupt contracts to their mates for useless PPE and then paying even more money to have it destroyed
@@marcconaghan1522 unfortunately a decision was taken to hold a referendum and the voters - bless ‘em - voted for Brexit . That’s democracy for U . The voters sadly are just as likely to get it wrong as they do getting it right. A referendum - unfortunately - has to happen about once in every generation : 40 - 50 years.
If we wanted to re-join the EU then we’d have to wait another 40 years and then hold another Referendum ! Even then the voters could - conceivably - still vote for Brexit.
I didn’t vote for Brexit . I voted to Remain . I thought that was the right thing to do then . I still think so now.
40 years from now I might even vote to re-join Europe . But right now we’ve got Brexit . Right now We’re stuck with Brexit.
For the next half a century or so . Please , Please , Please will U Remoaners grow up . We don’t live in Russia or China .
@@marcconaghan1522 "membership will fix this!" Nope. It's happening in the EU as well and it will only get worst.
When is Starmer going to announce an investigation into the corruption of the Torries in the Covid-related-purchase by the government?
When is Starmer going to announce an investigation into the Russia-connection in the Leave-campaign / Brexit-referendum?
When is Starmer going to show some realism with regard to the cooperation with the EU?
Time is running out for Starmer.
If he doesn't.... he will be the one holding the bag full of sj|t .. and being blamed for it.
Hi Michael. Each week, I listen to every word you say, and it's always nice to hear someone speaking the truth about what has happened to the UK over the past 14 years. It is just so strange as to how this mess happened so quickly. With Siir K in charge, I think it's pretty much the same as before, but without the real-deal lunatics in charge.
Just been watching a blog on you tube about towns and cities in the UK, in particular Devon and Cornwall . On each the concensus was, to quote, " Shit." Shops boarded up, homeless people, drugs, in one, 9 year olds terrorising people with knives ! Also there are stabbings nearly every day. I live in Greece and Thank God I do, Britain is in ruins, don`t see how the chaos left by the Tory`s can be righted, the EU have got over the UK leaving now, and Starmers attitude isn`t helping.
I agree with you every time I visit the UK things seem to be getting worse, it's like a bad dream but are people sleep walking into a bigger nightmare! They are too busy trying to survive!
This is the first time I've come across your channel and I thought you made many good points about how and why the UK is completely f**ked. What gets me more than anything else is the way many people are still fooled by the idea that Brexit was a good thing (this was epitomised by a Sky News report which spoke to a couple going to a food bank who still thought Brexit was a good idea) while they have no interest whatsoever in bringing the greedy liars who perpetrated this abomination of an socio/economic policy to account for the total disaster they initiated.
When I look at the likes of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss not being called out for what they've done to the country I love it makes me sick to my stomach. And now we have the prospect of Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch leading a race to the bottom for what will be left of GB's economy after Labour serves its one and only term in Government. I am a Labour supporter, although the Labour Party I grew up with bares little resemblance to the one currently being presided over by Keir Starmer and his cronies, who in my opinion are nothing more than Tories wearing red ties.
I really don't know what's worse, the total stupidity of the British public or the incompetence and greed of the Tories. The only upside is that down through the ages regimes that have oppressed the working people are doomed to fail, and the one that eventually arrives in the UK, be it via Reform or an ultra right wing Tory Party, will go the same way, greediness is a short term ideological position and never works out in the end.
@craigwright1867 thank you Craig 😊
I hope the day never comes when a Conservative slogan says bring back boris.P.S another in a nutshell video.
Agree with you Michael, Starmer is not a good politician. I am surprised that such an intelligent man is such a hopeless PM. For once there was no need to say we will never join the EU. There was no need to say anything and if asked, he could have said “No plans, but if we thought there’s an economic need, we would hold another referendum “. Think the electorate wouldn’t have held this view against Labour.
Michael the reality is single professional person with good job can barely afford living today. The rent for one bed house in London is approx 2000£ + bills! How can people afford to survive? We all are being pushed to marriages or to move in with strangers to save on rent! It’s ridiculous 🤦♀️