A question for immigrants?

[STEED]

What brings you here to the UK?

Let me show you something for you to think about.


UK state pension is 'worst in Europe'

The UK's state pension system has been rated the worst in Europe for the second year running in a report published today.
Research by employee benefits firm Aon Consulting showed that an average earner retiring this year would receive a pension worth just 17% of their salary, compared with an EU average of 57%.
Even in the Netherlands, which is the country with the second lowest payment, the state pension is worth 30% of the average retiree's salary - almost twice the figure in the UK.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2007/nov/13/statepensions.personalfinancenews


Don't get me wrong I'm not giving immigrates a bashing here I'm just wondering do they know these things?

Here's another example to look at.


Families pay £1,000 more for food as prices rise at fastest rate for 14 years


Food prices are rising at their highest rate for 14 years, according to new official figures.
The growing cost for wheat, dairy, meat and vegetables means food manufacturers are having to pay six per cent more for their basic ingredients compared with a year ago.
The hike, which will be passed on to consumers through increased food bills, is the highest annual increase since 1993, said the Office of National Statistics.
As a result, families could now end up paying up to £1,000 more for their grocery shopping than a year ago. The news comes as today's official ONS statistics show that the impact of soaring petrol costs drove inflation back above the Bank of England's 2 per cent target in October.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=493316&in_page_id=1770


Please also not petrol prices in the UK as well. ;)

This country is finished and the government of the day dose not give a toss about anything, we are being taxed in to the ground and I see no evidence what so ever that things will get better here in the UK. In fact in ten years we will all look back at where we are now and say "those times were better then than they are now."

State pension will not improve at all, why? The government hates pensioners, they no longer contribute to the country, in fact if you have no enough to see you out in your twilight years the government wants you to die. Think that's harsh do you? Well that's what a pensioner told me, and I agree with him.

The cost of living is going up and up it's no longer I'm getting by alright it's coming down to how much longer can you survive?

Welcome to the land of milk and honey, enjoy your stay here in the UK.

[Friedmann]

I probably don't have the perspective that you are looking for however.

I'm Australian (UK Citizen by descent) currently living in Norway after living for a few years in the US.

After leaving Norway I plan on living in the UK for a few years. As for why? I guess there is always a desire to see where my family came from. The history and culture will be interesting for sure.

I'm not going for prosperity, nor because my family or other Brits I have met have had gushing things to say about the place.

I definitely get the feeling from those that I have met that "their" Britain died decades ago.

[lesrae]

Perhaps, despite all you say, living in the UK gives people a better standard of living than where they've come from? Better income for a week's work, better availability of services and better standards of housing.

If people are prepared to do a week's honest work for that then I can't say I'd blame them.

[Letum]

I would guess the main reason for many is that they have friends and family here or
the lack of unskilled workers here.

A more subtle reason is the long history of immigration to England that started with the
Empire and the migration out of England, at the same time, wich caused the English
language to spread.

If I was going to move out my first questions would be:
(In order of importance)

1) Can I get a better life there / is there work for me?
2) Do I have friends of family there?
3) Can I speak the language?
4) Will there be communities I can share my culture and/or religion with?
5) How hard is it to get there or how far away?