*NOTE: Over 825,000 Americans are British born making Britain America's 9th largest source of immigrants. Americans of British Ancestry make up the second largest ethnic group in America, the largest being German.
Time To Emigrate?
Former Tory Mp George Walden has written a controversial new book concluding that life in London and the rest of the country is such that is better to emigrate. We want to hear your views -is it a fair assessment or too gloomy
"Why write a book called “Time to Emigrate?” Because I’ve got three grown-up children, the book is about the future, and the future of life in London looks increasingly risky and pessimistic for millions of middle class families from teachers, nurses to taxi drivers that the only secure option is to emigrate. This is a book for my children and their children
Compared to young families today my generation had it easy. I began life on an estate in Dagenham, a place you wouldn’t recognise now. There were no racial tensions in my day. I’m not opposed to some immigration, and know how we can all benefit. But what we’ve done is a massive gamble. Trevor Phillips says that if we don’t talk about the problems of integration honestly the tensions out there will increase. He’s right - but if you do, someone will call you a racist. For the sake of a bit of honesty I'm ready to risk it.
Young couples used to be able to buy houses when they married. Now they can’t - and the population is due to grow by seven million, mostly in London and the South East. That’s the equivalent of seven more Birminghams. On top of that the police tell us cheerfully that terrorism will be with us for decades. As for crime - look around you.
I was lucky enough to go to good schools and to Cambridge. Now state education has become a tougher proposition, in every sense, and social mobility in Britain has actually gone backwards. That’s why expensively educated politicians like Tony Blair talked about Cool Britannia, and David Cameron flashes his iPod at you: to pretend we’re all the same. Remember that only six members of Cameron’s 35 strong shadow cabinet went to state schools. As for the NHS, everyone knows it's hopelessly overcrowded and can never work.
Doesn't sound like the ideal country to bring up your children in, does it?
Maybe I’m wrong, and everything will turn out fine? But who’s to say? Whether it’s immigration, terrorism or the housing market, it’s all one huge bet. And that’s the problem. It’s OK for the well-to-do, who can shield themselves from the risks, but the majority can’t. Is it too risky to stay in Britain? To judge by the emigration figures it’s a question a lot more people are asking."
We want your views. Email us now at yourlondon@bbc.co.uk
Your emails
I love London and it has been my home for 20 years, its the most fascinating city in the world and has a lot to offer in terms of arts, entertainment and careers. But London offers no quality of life, its far too expensive (even for high earners), public transport is always at breaking point and now also at risk from terrorists. Its time to pack up!
Monika Jakubiec
I live in Barking and have seen a dramatic change for the worse in the last year! Crime is a major problem along with the general deterioration of the area. I have two children and feel that I have no alternative but to relocate. I just have to look around to question what future do my children realistically have in a borough like Barking and Dagenham?
A CONCERNED PARENT BARKING
I will have to agree with the authors views thinking of the quality of life here. What I love about London or the UK is the high level of social education that in a way helps to overcome the difficulties of the every day life. Patience and tolerance is a virtue but not in all cases. I feel lucky because I can afford a mortgage for a bedroom in a flat but most of my friends are unable even to consider such an option. I am not a father yet but I know for sure that there is no chance for my kids to play outside on the street and also that there is a great probability that they use drugs or even carry a knife. I need to try my best so I can afford to have them growing up in a “better” area! It is a hard decision but it looks like I will have to consider about emigrating.
Thomas Economou
Yes it is time to pack up and leave, not just london but the country as a whole. It is no longer the country I loved and served on active service for, I do not recognise it in any way, the people, the greed of government, the oppression of the e.u., the intrusion of politics into every facet of life, the crime, the adoration of the trivial, the lack of patriotism, political correctness, the lack of quality in everything from goods to people and especially politicians and prime ministers, in fact every damn thing. How I wish I were young and fit enough to start afresh far away from this ruined land.
Terence Jones
At last someone speaks the truth. George Walden is correct about the situation in London/Britain. Sadly it is not the great place that we all loved. Too many people in a small country, the high cost of living, the depression of the NHS, of which I worked in for over 20 years. I have been lucky enough to have been given the opportunity of emigrating to the USA to try and give my family a better quality of life and a better future for our children.
Sharon Watts
Mr Walden is viewing the past with rose tinted specticals. Yes many things need to be better, but then that has always been the case. I have lived in West London now for 26 years and as far as I am concerned on balance things are much better than when I arrived.
Better transport is balanced by more graffiti. More affluence is balanced by more litter.
As for the NHS I have seen improvements in Hillingdon over the last 6 years. My parents live in the North and are now in their 80's, the treatment they are getting is excellent.
Most of our problems are there because most people want to have first class treatment but are not willing to pay the tax necessary.
We should all recognise that we have responsibilities for our communities and country before we demand our rights.
For all its many faults London is for me an excellent place to live. I have travelled to many places few are better than London unless you have a great deal of money.
Dave Hahn, West London
SOURCE
Compared to young families today my generation had it easy. I began life on an estate in Dagenham, a place you wouldn’t recognise now. There were no racial tensions in my day. I’m not opposed to some immigration, and know how we can all benefit. But what we’ve done is a massive gamble. Trevor Phillips says that if we don’t talk about the problems of integration honestly the tensions out there will increase. He’s right - but if you do, someone will call you a racist. For the sake of a bit of honesty I'm ready to risk it.
Young couples used to be able to buy houses when they married. Now they can’t - and the population is due to grow by seven million, mostly in London and the South East. That’s the equivalent of seven more Birminghams. On top of that the police tell us cheerfully that terrorism will be with us for decades. As for crime - look around you.
I was lucky enough to go to good schools and to Cambridge. Now state education has become a tougher proposition, in every sense, and social mobility in Britain has actually gone backwards. That’s why expensively educated politicians like Tony Blair talked about Cool Britannia, and David Cameron flashes his iPod at you: to pretend we’re all the same. Remember that only six members of Cameron’s 35 strong shadow cabinet went to state schools. As for the NHS, everyone knows it's hopelessly overcrowded and can never work.
Doesn't sound like the ideal country to bring up your children in, does it?
Maybe I’m wrong, and everything will turn out fine? But who’s to say? Whether it’s immigration, terrorism or the housing market, it’s all one huge bet. And that’s the problem. It’s OK for the well-to-do, who can shield themselves from the risks, but the majority can’t. Is it too risky to stay in Britain? To judge by the emigration figures it’s a question a lot more people are asking."
We want your views. Email us now at yourlondon@bbc.co.uk
Your emails
I love London and it has been my home for 20 years, its the most fascinating city in the world and has a lot to offer in terms of arts, entertainment and careers. But London offers no quality of life, its far too expensive (even for high earners), public transport is always at breaking point and now also at risk from terrorists. Its time to pack up!
Monika Jakubiec
I live in Barking and have seen a dramatic change for the worse in the last year! Crime is a major problem along with the general deterioration of the area. I have two children and feel that I have no alternative but to relocate. I just have to look around to question what future do my children realistically have in a borough like Barking and Dagenham?
A CONCERNED PARENT BARKING
I will have to agree with the authors views thinking of the quality of life here. What I love about London or the UK is the high level of social education that in a way helps to overcome the difficulties of the every day life. Patience and tolerance is a virtue but not in all cases. I feel lucky because I can afford a mortgage for a bedroom in a flat but most of my friends are unable even to consider such an option. I am not a father yet but I know for sure that there is no chance for my kids to play outside on the street and also that there is a great probability that they use drugs or even carry a knife. I need to try my best so I can afford to have them growing up in a “better” area! It is a hard decision but it looks like I will have to consider about emigrating.
Thomas Economou
Yes it is time to pack up and leave, not just london but the country as a whole. It is no longer the country I loved and served on active service for, I do not recognise it in any way, the people, the greed of government, the oppression of the e.u., the intrusion of politics into every facet of life, the crime, the adoration of the trivial, the lack of patriotism, political correctness, the lack of quality in everything from goods to people and especially politicians and prime ministers, in fact every damn thing. How I wish I were young and fit enough to start afresh far away from this ruined land.
Terence Jones
At last someone speaks the truth. George Walden is correct about the situation in London/Britain. Sadly it is not the great place that we all loved. Too many people in a small country, the high cost of living, the depression of the NHS, of which I worked in for over 20 years. I have been lucky enough to have been given the opportunity of emigrating to the USA to try and give my family a better quality of life and a better future for our children.
Sharon Watts
Mr Walden is viewing the past with rose tinted specticals. Yes many things need to be better, but then that has always been the case. I have lived in West London now for 26 years and as far as I am concerned on balance things are much better than when I arrived.
Better transport is balanced by more graffiti. More affluence is balanced by more litter.
As for the NHS I have seen improvements in Hillingdon over the last 6 years. My parents live in the North and are now in their 80's, the treatment they are getting is excellent.
Most of our problems are there because most people want to have first class treatment but are not willing to pay the tax necessary.
We should all recognise that we have responsibilities for our communities and country before we demand our rights.
For all its many faults London is for me an excellent place to live. I have travelled to many places few are better than London unless you have a great deal of money.
Dave Hahn, West London
SOURCE
