The number of British citizens who chose to leave for good doubled from 53,000 in 2001 to 107,000 last year, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research. All in, some 5.5 million Brits now live abroad. The most popular destinations are Australia, Spain, the US and Canada. Going the other way are some 300,000 immigrants into Britain.
It is not surprising to see people move around but it is surprising to see the number leaving Britain permanently double in just five years.
No Surprise
ReplyDeleteAs one of the unlucky ones that is still stuck in Britain I can tell you that seeing the numbers leaving permanently double between 2005 and 2006 is no surprise at all. Maybe 200,000 will be leaving in 2007. As for the 300,000 entering Britain - I can't imagine how bad things must be in their home lands.
This used to be a great place to live, but most of what made it great has been destroyed in less than 10 years by the Government of Tony Blair.
I'm planning to leave before 2009. I hope I get out before the authorities get worried and close the borders.