Discovery United Kingdom : Current issues

The UK is the world's fifth-largest economy and Europe's second-largest, behind Germany and ahead of France according to the International Monetary Fund. By leaving Europe, the UK wished to demonstrate its capacity for independence at all levels. Nevertheless, the country has undergone several political upheavals in recent years, giving the impression of a politically unstable country. Not to mention the many economic tremors caused by the Brexit, the global pandemic and inflation (linked in particular to the war in Ukraine), leaving the UK's economic outlook uncertain. Social fractures due to marked socio-economic disparities, the divisive subject of immigration, health and difficult access to care, the housing crisis, safety in the city and, of course, environmental issues... The country has to deal with many issues, which we're going to summarize for you.

The Brexit

Brexit is no longer the main issue England has to deal with. For more than three long years, the argumentative tension surrounding Brexit between the population and politicians was at its height. The Brexit has been a fact since 2020, the country has adapted since then and it is no longer the central issue occupying people's thoughts. But the issue remains no less complex, and it is rather all its consequences, particularly economic, that the country must now confront. Indeed, the Brexit has had many repercussions for British businesses, including changes in regulations and economic regulation between the UK and Europe. For example, many companies in the agri-food sector have had to change their processes and no longer apply the European label "CE" (produced in Europe) but "UKCA" (produced in the UK). The country continues to look for real opportunities to adapt following its departure from the European Union, while avoiding the major divergences around European regulations.
Despite this, the Brexit has helped to reshape the country's political landscape, revealing the political and social splits between the parties, particularly during the pandemic, concerning inflation, the cost of living, healthcare.. Former Prime Minister David Cameron forced the referendum for Brexit in 2016 (which ended up taking the UK out of the European Union for good, despite the anti-Brexit crowd), while his successors Theresa May and Boris Johnson saw Brexit as a "rejection of membership of the European Union" as well as a revolt against the current political and economic situation. The current Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, sees the Brexit as a huge opportunity.

The economy, inflation and cost of living

In January 2024, 53% of Britons believe that the economy is one of the top three problems facing the country. In 2023, bank interest rates were at their highest level since 2008, and this has continued to rise as inflation persists. This has not been helped by the war in Ukraine; Britain is seeing the prices of its consumer goods rise due to its sourcing of certain products from Ukraine, which has a direct impact on inflation. The cost of living has risen dramatically, and the country finds itself having to cope not only with rising borrowing costs, but also with the survival of businesses, particularly in the real estate sector, crumbling under debts that borrowers are unable to repay. The country is facing high unemployment, due in part to a high percentage of long-term illnesses and economic difficulties for businesses, all in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a real shortage of workers in Great Britain, with over 1 million vacancies. Europeans have deserted the often precarious and seasonal jobs in the hotel and catering industry and agriculture, and it's the British who have replaced them.

Immigration

In April 2023, more than half of the British population believes that the immigration rate should fall. This is obviously a divisive issue. Statistics show that the problem is more about the "type" of immigration, i.e. the country of origin, which involves dominant religion, language, culture and education. Despite the Brexit, which promised a resumption of control over immigration following the divorce from the EU, the immigration rate reached its highest level in 2022 with an all-time record of 606,000 immigrants. These include many Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russian aggression, and Hong Kong refugees fleeing Chinese rule. The opposition party speaks of a loss of control. In particular, there are the small inflatable boats crossing the Channel and arriving en masse on British territory: 40,000 by 2022.
The government has taken decisions since 2021, ending free movement between the UK and Europe and introducing visa requirements (student, work...) to regulate the number of arrivals on British territory. In 2022, this measure led to a drop in the number of Europeans arriving for work purposes, but a sharp rise in applications for work and student visas from the Chinese and Indian populations, demonstrating the real attractiveness of British universities.

Health

A healthy country obviously depends on other factors, such as household income, unemployment rates, housing conditions, etc. The National Health Service (NHS) celebrates its ^75th anniversary in 2023, and since then the government has had to increase its investment in the NHS so that the population has more equal access to care. The country has been suffering from a shortage of nursing staff for years, and the government has refused to increase salaries, leading to strikes. Many people are living with serious illnesses but cannot afford treatment because of the cost of care. Waiting lists for routine hospital care are getting longer. Overall, the UK's healthcare system is failing in comparison with neighboring countries, with access to care complex and expensive, but the government is taking steps to restore balance..

The environment

The environment is at the heart of the issues facing Great Britain. The government is fighting air pollution, one of the biggest environmental threats in the world. It is also tackling noise pollution and, more broadly, the many factors that lead to physical and mental health problems: contamination, climate change, flooding... The country has put in place several strategies to combat environmental problems: the Resources and Waste Strategy supporting a circular economy, the 25 Years Environment Plan providing strategies to preserve biodiversity, the Clean Air Strategy fighting_CO2 emissions and air pollution with new regulations for businesses and citizens alike... Like all countries, these measures take time to put in place before seeing any real progress.

The housing problem

One of the major problems facing Great Britain is housing. The government is faced with a segment of the population that is poorly housed or unable to afford housing due to low income. The number of social housing units in England is falling, and too few new homes are being built. Housing in England, particularly in the cities, is expensive. House prices are rising every year, with the average price in 2022 for buying a home in London being £552,755 and in the south of England £406,981. The average rent in London is £1,450 per month.

Safety

One of the issues facing the government is security. Although the UK remains a safe country, people are concerned about the increase in insecurity, particularly in cities. In England, the crime rate has risen by more than 7% since 2021. Richmond-upon-Thames, Harrow and Bexley are among London's safest neighborhoods. For the South East of England, statistics show that the safest towns are Woking, Fareham, Royal Turnbridge Wells, Rochester, Eastbourne and Hastings. In the South West, Exeter, Poole, Plymouth, Bath and Bournemouth top the list.

Discover United Kingdom : Current issues