UK has 'worst quality of life in Europe'

ash28

olly300 wrote: »

"There is no such thing as society. There is living tapestry of men and women and people and the beauty of that tapestry and the quality of our lives will depend upon how much each of us is prepared to take responsibility for ourselves and each of us prepared to turn round and help by our own efforts those who are unfortunate."

In many of the countries that feature higher on the living standards list the government intervenes a lot more in people's lives and people are expected to follow the rules to the letter.

One nation conservativism disappeared with Thatcher, perhaps this is more apt today.

"Two nations between whom there is no intercourse and no sympathy; who are as ignorant of each other's habits, thoughts, and feelings, as if they were dwellers in different zones, or inhabitants of different planets: the rich and the poor."
Benjamin Disreali

Sapphire

Cleaver wrote: »

I'm not sure what your views have to do with political correctness.

I've personally never had a problem comunicating with anyone when in London, maybe it's just you? If I think about what I like about cities it's probably the 'diversity', or whatever you want to call it, that attracts me to places and makes me want to go back. All the different people, cultures, food, feels etc. etc. Paris, New York, London, LA. All these types of cities. London woudn't be half the city it is without all the immigrants over the past millenia adding their footprint to the place. I love this strange idea that it's Labour's policies over the past ten years that has made London 'mulicultural' (I hate that word). Cities like London have have a hotch potch of people, cutures and languages for hundreds and hundreds of years years.

Fully understand that a lot of people only feel comfortable with people who look and act like them though, I guess it's whatever floats your boat.

I agree with you that some diversity is an asset to a city (and country), but feel that parts of London look as though they have been overrun. Certainly, London has welcomed immigrants over the centuries, but what has happened in the recent decade/fifteen years is just too much. And bear in mind that these are often economic immigrants, e.g. poor people from villages, who are often coming here with no qualifications and are drawing benefits from hard-pressed taxpayers (childcare, NHS, etc). With the general lack of jobs within the indigenous population, this is not a situation we should be in.

I certainly have no objections to qualified people coming here who work hard and are of benefit to the country and its indigenous population. But I still wish there were enough English, Welsh and Scots who were well educated/qualified enough for this not to be necessary – particularly since we go on about how so many young people are out of work. I also think it is ludicrous to open borders to EU country citizens. Far too many Poles have come to this country, for instance, and they are doing jobs that English/Welsh/Scots should be doing, but don't because they don't have the right attitude to work these days. It used to be the case that people would stand around factories, etc, waiting for work opportunities. I guess people just aren't hungry enough these days?