[reqres]

I'm a British software developer and SaaS business owner

I left the UK in 2017 because of Brexit. My company generates about GBP150k per employee. Prior to leaving this was 100% UK workforce. Following my relocation this is <50% and falling as we move to contract-based + remote. That's my n=1 experience with the "brain drain"

When I left the UK, there was a large & growing political/economic divide, unaffordable housing and poor/declining public services. It gave me a lot of stress and anxiety. Having left, I feel more disinvested from how things are turning out in the UK and it's helped greatly with my wellbeing

I've met other brits in my host country that share my n=1 experience. We're all just trying to quietly get along with it really - stay working and raising families

[dijit]

Piggybacking here because you stated a sentiment that really resonates with me.

I left the UK in 2014 for a “1-2yr Max!” Period as my girlfriend was getting her masters degree in Sweden.

The echoes of the Ivestigatory Powers Act and the threat of a looming referendum gave me a little pause on my desire to return, but we both thought it was political posturing so we put aside our worries and continued the plans to return, albeit more apprehensively.

After the result was announced I was upset, a whole bloc was going to close to me, the ruling party (whom I fundamentally disagree with) was going to remove a lot of the checks which kept it accountable, lots of uncertainty- my family suddenly became openly racist (that’s just anecdotal though, certainly not all those who chose leave are racist but my family apparently was) — which is ironic as my mother and I have polish surnames from my great-grandfather who fought in the war and was exiled from Poland for it.

The longer I stayed away the more “detached” I became, the more coldly I looked at the situation and dispassionately assessed statistics and debates. You can’t know from the inside how farcical this whole thing looks.

I naturalised to become a Swedish citizen as soon as the option was available to me, I have no personal stake in the future of my home country anymore.

I’m still “pro-remain” but only because I still think it’s best for the country. I don’t really care that much any longer.

[DrBazza]

>When I left the UK, there was a large & growing political/economic divide, unaffordable housing and poor/declining public services.

None of those are particular to Brexit. House prices have been unaffordable to many in Britain since the 80s, and even more so, in the 90s. Houses prices are also supply and demand. Since Britain's population has increased by almost 10 million since 1997, demand vastly outstrips supply, especially in the south-east. This affects public services too.

Political divide is an interesting one. Given the two party politics in the UK, plus fringes, and the rise of social media (and Warhol's prophecy), this would also be a problem. Brexit made it worse, but without a crystal ball, it's impossible to say how much worse.

[cyberdrunk]

> poor/declining public services

Where in Europe public services are noticeably better than in the UK?