Recent trip to UK with Qatar air- A very sad, heartbreaking visit.

[Scouse123]

2 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

 

They are democratically elected. That's the people's choice.

 

And you don't think the people are now massively regretting it, hence the street protest outside Downing Street and marches nationwide.

 

This Labour government will not last full term.

[stuandjulie]

4 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Sorry to hear that. It doesn't really surprise me though. As some others have pointed out, most of 'ol blighty has been on the decline for 20-30 years - so you can't really blame it all on the current Labour government. The rot started long ago and has been ignored by both Tory and Labour governments. While I can understand refugees fleeing some countries, I don't really understand what drives economic migrants to bleak, grey and cold UK - because you're right that so many areas of the UK are just complete sh!tholes now.  Migrants end up in these places because the places are cheaper. But (usually) they didn't create the sh!tholes, but maybe contributed to the decline. I also don't understand why they choose UK over places like Germany or France - both of which are in the EU and have similar if not better benefits than the UK. Or Sweden which seems to be the best place for State freebies.

All this all the immigrants are flooding the UK and not other Countries. some facts.

• EU Migrants:

  Germany and France have a net migrant stock (more EU migrants residing than from the EU) with the rest of the EU, while the UK has a small net migrant stock in most individual EU countries, with exceptions like Poland and Spain. 

   
• Foreign-born population:

  In 2023, the UK's foreign-born population was 15%, similar to France and the United States, but lower than Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. 

[Scouse123]

6 minutes ago, stuandjulie said:

.

As an aside I find it amusing that all these expats bang on about immigration to the UK whilst having the same status in Thailand. I am sure of course all European, British and American expats are models of good behaviour!

 

A ridiculous comparison.

 

Nearly every member of this board and the wider expat community has followed rules to stay here. They have come through immigration, they have met the statutory requirements to stay here, they are checked and vetted, there are 90-day reports, there are penalties for overstay including IDC, they have identification and passports which can be checked.

 

The vast majority are contributing to Thailand financially through tourism, buying condos and cars, paying for children's education, looking after extended families, and not leeching from the country or system.

 

That beats rolling up in a dinghy, throwing your documents into the sea, and bringing in undocumented terrorists, jihadists, economic migrants, etc

 

Your comparison is a nonsense.

[Jimjim1]

5 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

There are less beggars around than previously because not many people carry money these days 

Come on Nick please open your eyes, in my city there are so many they work in rotation with 30 minute time slots, I even heard one suggesting he will take a cheque.

I am wondering how long it will be before one of them comes out with a credit / debit card reader Blue toothed to his IPhone 17 or Samsung S25

[Scouse123]

17 minutes ago, stuandjulie said:

All this all the immigrants are flooding the UK and not other Countries. some facts.

• EU Migrants:

  Germany and France have a net migrant stock (more EU migrants residing than from the EU) with the rest of the EU, while the UK has a small net migrant stock in most individual EU countries, with exceptions like Poland and Spain. 

   
• Foreign-born population:

  In 2023, the UK's foreign-born population was 15%, similar to France and the United States, but lower than Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. 

 

The population of New Zealand is 5.2 million, population of Australia is 26 million, Canada 40 million. Then look at the size versus population of these countries, compared to the UK.

 

UK population officially is 68 million. 17% born outside, roughly 10 million.

 

No comparison. You are comparing apples to oranges.

[Stocky]

7 hours ago, Jimjim1 said:

M5 where mile after mile is full of potholes and broken roads,

I'm sorry but I don't recognise that. I drove the M5 from Birmingham to Bristol and over the Severn Bridge into Wales in April this year. No potholes or broken motorway. The M4 to Cardiff was pothole free too, though plenty of annoying variable speed restrictions and cameras to catch the unwary.

 

Driving back through Usk, Monmouth, Ledbury, Malvern, Worcester and Kidderminster the roads were fine with the exception of a road closure near Ledbury that sent us down Tewkesbury and back up to Malvern.

[youreavinalaff]

33 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

 

You're splitting hairs, I think it was fairly obvious what I meant.

 

I obviously didn't mean the whole of the UK

It may have been obvioys had you not implied it.

[kwak250]

Hasn't Liverpool always been like that?

[dutch boy]

It is very sad to hear what is happening to the once Great Britain. But this is also happening to the Netherlands but there is hope as Wilders wants to make the Netherlands great again:

 

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2025/06/05/make-the-netherlands-great-again-trump-white-house-backs-geert-wilders-ahead-of-snap-elections/

 

 

 

 

[youreavinalaff]

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

 

A ridiculous comparison.

 

Nearly every member of this board and the wider expat community has followed rules to stay here. They have come through immigration, they have met the statutory requirements to stay here, they are checked and vetted, there are 90-day reports, there are penalties for overstay including IDC, they have identification and passports which can be checked.

 

The vast majority are contributing to Thailand financially through tourism, buying condos and cars, paying for children's education, looking after extended families, and not leeching from the country or system.

 

That beats rolling up in a dinghy, throwing your documents into the sea, and bringing in undocumented terrorists, jihadists, economic migrants, etc

 

Your comparison is a nonsense.

The vast majority of immigration in UK is legal immigration. Those on visas have jumped through more hoops than expats do to stay in Thailand. The costs are now near £5000 for a 2.5 year visa. 

 

 

[georgegeorgia]

When I read anti immigration posts like the OP write ,I always ask them if they voted for Tommy 

 

Oh no they shout ,I wouldn't vote for him...he's a racist they say 

 

Most are hypocrites and admit they voted Labour then be the classic "whinging Pom " and whinge about this immigration 

[georgegeorgia]

When I read anti immigration posts like the OP write ,I always ask them if they voted for Tommy 

 

Oh no they shout ,I wouldn't vote for him...he's a racist they say 

 

Most are hypocrites and admit they voted Labour then be the classic "whinging Pom " and whinge about this immigration ... 

As I said to one of my cleaners working with me the other night... "If ya don't like it....bloody leave !!

[georgegeorgia]

20 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

 

Ah well,

 

Nope, I can't confirm that as it was second hand information.

Hearsay lol

You sound like the classic "whinging pom" 

[georgegeorgia]

24 minutes ago, dutch boy said:

It is very sad to hear what is happening to the once Great Britain. But this is also happening to the Netherlands but there is hope as Wilders wants to make the Netherlands great again:

 

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2025/06/05/make-the-netherlands-great-again-trump-white-house-backs-geert-wilders-ahead-of-snap-elections/

 

 

 

 

Maybe they can change the name like they did before from Holland ?

Start afresh 

[georgegeorgia]

1 hour ago, stuandjulie said:

Well that is bull, the UK is the 6th largest in the world for further education. I had a heart issue, into hospital straight away, sorted and on my way a week later, excellent aftercare as well, all free. As to the pension, I presume you did your homework before leaving the UK so it was no surprise to find it frozen, it is general knowledge, seems you want your cake (see LBFM) and eat it. I live in both Countries and there are good points and bad for both.

As an aside I find it amusing that all these expats bang on about immigration to the UK whilst having the same status in Thailand. I am sure of course all European, British and American expats are models of good behaviour!

So taxpayers had to fund your medical care in a public hospital?

 

Surely you have private health insurance company in the UK you can join 

They should make it like Australia where when you are aged 30 to 60   you pay more tax if your not with private health insurance policy 

 

It stops bludgers from clogging up the public hospital system who can afford private health 

[Scouse123]

5 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

When I read anti immigration posts like the OP write ,I always ask them if they voted for Tommy 

 

Oh no they shout ,I wouldn't vote for him...he's a racist they say 

 

Most are hypocrites and admit they voted Labour then be the classic "whinging Pom " and whinge about this immigration 

You can't vote for Tommy, he has no political standing.

 

So what are you talking about?

 

Furthermore my post is not anti immigration , my post is about what I saw whilst in the UK.

[Scouse123]

5 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Hearsay lol

You sound like the classic "whinging pom" 

Stupid man

[Scouse123]

5 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Maybe they can change the name like they did before from Holland ?

Start afresh 

It has always been The Netherlands. They have not changed the name.

[Scouse123]

5 hours ago, youreavinalaff said:

The vast majority of immigration in UK is legal immigration. Those on visas have jumped through more hoops than expats do to stay in Thailand. The costs are now near £5000 for a 2.5 year visa. 

 

 

My other half has a 10 year tourist visa for the UK.

 

It was around £1000.

 

But the same as I have done in Thailand we have done for her in the UK.

 

We have obtained the correct legal visas 

[youreavinalaff]

6 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

My other half has a 10 year tourist visa for the UK.

 

It was around £1000.

 

But the same as I have done in Thailand we have done for her in the UK.

 

We have obtained the correct legal visas 

The migrants bring talked about on this thread are not on tourist visas. 

 

To stay in UK legally, as most migrants do, is a lot more difficult, and more expensive, than staying in Thailand.

[Scouse123]

duplicate 

[Scouse123]

39 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

The migrants bring talked about on this thread are not on tourist visas. 

 

To stay in UK legally, as most migrants do, is a lot more difficult, and more expensive, than staying in Thailand.

 

I am well aware of that.

 

And those migrants are usually staying long-term to work and settle there, which is a far more complex and costly process.

[brewsterbudgen]

15 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

 

And you don't think the people are now massively regretting it, hence the street protest outside Downing Street and marches nationwide.

 

This Labour government will not last full term.

They just beat the SNP and Reform UK in a Scottish by-election.  Maybe that doesn't mean much, but I predict that in the next year, or so, Reform will dissolve into the protest group that it is and the Tories will have a self-destructive leadership contest.  Anyone want to make a £50 bet on Labour winning in 2029?

[Scouse123]

41 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

They just beat the SNP and Reform UK in a Scottish by-election.  Maybe that doesn't mean much, but I predict that in the next year, or so, Reform will dissolve into the protest group that it is and the Tories will have a self-destructive leadership contest.  Anyone want to make a £50 bet on Labour winning in 2029?

Me.

[youreavinalaff]

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

 

I am well aware of that.

 

And those migrants are usually staying long-term to work and settle there, which is a far more complex and costly process.

As I said.

[JakeC]

Quote

You seem to be avoiding the issue as deep down you know the UK is a lost cause, and that's why most forum members choose to live in a different country.

 

Nonsense, most forum members came to get themselves a pliant partner and decided to stay. How many forum members posting here regularly, have a wife from the same country as they were born?

 

[nauseus]

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

They just beat the SNP and Reform UK in a Scottish by-election.  Maybe that doesn't mean much, but I predict that in the next year, or so, Reform will dissolve into the protest group that it is and the Tories will have a self-destructive leadership contest.  Anyone want to make a £50 bet on Labour winning in 2029?

 

Only you, probably.

[youreavinalaff]

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

They just beat the SNP and Reform UK in a Scottish by-election.  Maybe that doesn't mean much, but I predict that in the next year, or so, Reform will dissolve into the protest group that it is and the Tories will have a self-destructive leadership contest.  Anyone want to make a £50 bet on Labour winning in 2029?

Let's face it, Scottish politics is a mess. It has been since the fraud case and Sturgeon's well timed resignation.

 

Labour and SNP were expecting a tight race. Reform were expecting to come third, thinking they could maybe sneak a second. It went according to plan. 

 

Looking at the votes tallies, I would say Reform are likely the happiest.

[falangUK]

22 hours ago, stubuzz said:

I am currently at my family home in Birmingham. It is not the same place I grew up in. The local police station is now a mosque and Asians are everywhere. Prices for beer and essential services are out of control. Crime is also rampant.

Just watching this podcast with George Mack and Chris Williamson. Honestly, it’s a real eye-opener how far behind the UK is in some areas. Not saying the US is some land of milk and honey either, especially with Trump looming again but still, the contrast is wild. Apologies if links to vids aren’t allowed:

 

[mstevens]

On 6/5/2025 at 6:07 AM, DonniePeverley said:

"Free health care through taxation."

 

Err, if you pre-pay for it with your taxes, how can you call it free?! "Pre-paid", perhaps?