Australia primary emigration destination for Britons

As reported by Australia Magazine, almost 50% of the UK population are “seriously considering” emigrating overseas. Australia is number one on the re-location wish list, with the US in second place, Canada in third and New Zealand in fourth. The cost of living, the weather, joblessness and crime rates are the most common excuses for wanting to leave the UK.

A poll by YouGov surveyed 1,650 British adults after The Sun reported last week on Dave and Jackie Jones, who moved to Australia with their twelve kids. The family, who are from Barrow-in-Furness, in northern England, sought opportunities abroad instead of accepting the state’s handouts.

Dave Jones, 42, explained that he had to do the best for his family, adding that the opportunities he wants for his kids do not exist the UK. The YouGov survey found that the majority of Britons agree. Three out of five expect the quality of life to be worse for their children than it was for them. Just 13% think their kids will have it better.

Six percent of people surveyed are actively planning to leave, and 42% say they will consider it seriously. The high cost of living was cited by 52% as a good excuse for leaving. The bad weather scored 37%, job availability 31% and the crime rate 27%. The British rural landscape would be missed by 25%, the National Health Service by 19% and TV by 10%.