Brexit isn't the only reason Poles left Britain | Stories of Our Times

[@thestuff1014]

I am Polish. I have been living in the UK for 25 years. I was prompted to emigrate by the poor economic situation in which Poland was at that time. Poland, however, is not a country frozen in time. The current Poland is not the same country I left behind. The differences in living standards are blurring. The UK is obviously a wealthy country in the general sense. However, the standard of living of the lower social strata in the UK is so low that it is now easier to make a living in Poland than in the UK. If I had a low-paying job, I would also consider returning. However, my earnings are sufficient for the moment to live comfortably, especially after Brexit. I am a professional driver and I have plenty of job opportunities. Poles, however, return to the country. I see it all the time on facebook. I also have friends who are UK citizens currently living back in Poland.

[@the_exiled_soul]

I came to UK as a child. Now I’m in my 30s and started visiting Poland on a regular basis in the last years. I really love it there and I understand why people decide to move back there including some Brits.

[@buddyrojek9417]

What’s the rate of pay for a concrete truck driver ? What about a truck and trailer?

[@thestuff1014]

@@buddyrojek9417 I work for NX. 33 000 .

[@buddyrojek9417]

@@thestuff1014 is that a concrete truck and how many hours a day and do you work Saturday?

[@thestuff1014]

@@buddyrojek9417 NX means National Express.I don't do concrete.

[@Legatus_Averyius]

I am Scottish and live in Vienna. My best friends are a young Polish couple with young children. They are my new family where I am the new brother and uncle to the children. They are the hardest working and most normal and decent people you could ever meet. Many Polish people work abroad. I visited Poland for the first time recently with my Polish friend for 8 days. We drove by car and stayed in his friend´s father´s farmhouse in Eastern Poland on the Belorussia border, then with his father in Warsaw and then with his wife´s father in the south of Poland between Krakau and Katowice. Such a beautiful and modern country. So clean and well organised. Lots of industry but mostly vast stretches of farm land and forests everywhere. So many big beautiful and unique family houses everywhere and everyone had so much land. I told my Polish friend they must all be so rich but he looked at me shocked and said "no, they are not rich people". I told him that if someone had such a big house and garden or farm in the UK, they would be millionaires. I was so impressed. So peaceful, low prices, long opening times for the shops and such a difference to Vienna - lot´s of beautiful churches, crucifixes, and only normal white Christian people everywhere. Since meeting my new Polish friend I have been learning more about Polish history. I was shocked to learn that the Polish saved Europe 3 times and not just twice from invasion. First King Jan Sobiesky saved us from Turkish invasion at the Siege of Vienna, then the Polish saved us from the Bolsheviks who tried to invade Western Europe and turn us all communist in the war of 1922. Then they saved us British from German invasion at the Battle of Britain which they were responsible for winning because they were the best pilots. The war against the Russians in 1922 is not taught in British schools. I wonder why not? We have a lot to thank Poland for and Polish people are extremely welcome in the UK, I say! I look forward to returning again to Poland very soon with my friend.

[@JesusMagicPanties]

@Legatus_Averyius@ Thanks for the nice entry. Cheers from Poland.

[@pb89905]

I am Polish, living in Scotland for past 17 years. Sending regards and thanks for your words :)

[@JesusMagicPanties]

@@pb89905 Wszystkiego najlepszego, man.

[@walterlaydle8293]

True.

[@peterc4082]

Scotland being part of the UK has been anti-Polish for most of its history. Your ancestors hurt Poland so much. Sadly attitudes carry over. Poland has no friend in Britain.

[@aikom912]

Im Japanese who is living in Poland with my polish husband and children after having lived in UK for 3 years and Germany for 6 years. I would say moving to Poland was the best decision :)

[@Matt-rw9py]

Lovely, just returned from Poland, it was so lovely there, wish you all the best ;)

[@gregp6631]

​@@Matt-rw9pyIt is not so lovely when u have to live and work there.

[@Matt-rw9py]

@@gregp6631 and you think somewhere else is better? It’s not

[@damianbiaobrzeg2789]

Past tense. I was bus driver in St.Albans.Now i got very similar wage in Poland.There is more prons like ( ONLY CAUCASIAN PEOPLE) i know it sounds very rasist, but i had to struggle every day with agressive people. Sorry for my english i was only bus driver. @@gregp6631

[@marleneMS]

​@@Matt-rw9pycertainly not in UK

[@ВуйкоМітіч]

I don't know any single Pole in UK who is unemployed. English were joking about Polish plumbers instead of asking themselves were are English plumbers, English lorry drives, builders, farmers and any other workers who actually matter.

[@PriHL]

Every job matters. From what I saw, the Brits were so utterly uneducated and not being able to think that doing even those simple jobs is not attainable for many of them, so people from other countries need to be brought in. So not many British people in the mentioned sectors. There's a huge neglected class of British people that nobody cares about because they're treated as lesser human beings by those that are better off. So there's no education, no job induction schemes for them, nothing, it's an outcast class and it's large and growing. They were given benefits so that they can survive and it's been going on like that for generations, where nobody actually learned how to work or if they do, they can't earn enough because everything is so expensive, or their children fall back into the bad old patterns. And someone had the audacity to call it a "welfare" state. No, this is a state of slow but sure degradation.

[@nataliamach7248]

They have their fair share of hard working people, although compared to Poles most are quite lazy and rude. This is the story of brexit: they told us to go because they could not handle the competition. Now they will handle muslims instead. Whatever. I am polish and unemployed- single mum atm, but I worked here for 10 years before I ever got any benefits.

[@EdekLay]

​@@nataliamach7248We've got a right to protect our culture. You guys hate our food and drop your cans of Tyskie everywhere. I love Poland don't get me wrong, but you guys came here when you got a good exchange rate to złoty and you have the cheek to call us lazy.

[@patrickporter1864]

​@@nataliamach7248aw the English the biggest immigrants the world over but they do not like immigrants in the UK.

[@andreasahulova]

I met many, many who are homeless. Also Czechs and Slovaks. Not all made it... all of them had issies with Alcohol 😢

[@AJ_real]

I'm in Ireland and Polish are hard working people. They integrate well...unlike some groups of people.

[@Jameslawz]

People from the "religion of peace"?

[@barhat961]

Muslim,blacks ,indians

[@tommicheletti1196]

In Ireland hard working?go and speak with the Italians, germans, French who've built industries in poland think? The polocks who live and work in italy, Germany, France? Why ? Because the polocks are only considered hard working in uk and Ireland? Why ? Because the English and Irish are not hard working, but quite lazy people!!!!! Very true

[@tommyt4062]

I had 3 Polish and a Bulgarian friend all of whom had kids that were born in the UK and had been here for many years but all decided to leave the UK within the past three years. I know one had saved for years and went back to open a restaurant but I think generally the UK just isn't so great anymore. They had settled into a mundane life of struggling to pay bills and being ripped of by the government just like the rest of us. Frankly I don't blame them, I want to leave myself.

[@chris-eq3sx]

Britain is no longer British - which is why so many Brits would like to move out too

[@s.fleming2441]

it's been hard to watch from outside the UK.

[@tommyt4062]

@@chris-eq3sx I'm not quite sure what that means but the biggest problem that I see is social media creating a nation of people lacking in brain cells and who no longer seem able to think for themselves. Our kids have been spoiled, they're lazy, have no real world experience and no desire to learn. We need to pull our heads out of our arses and start demanding more from our pathetic politicians.

[@michaelmckelvey5122]

Admittedly, it is not the country it once was. I left school and went to college to do an apprenticeship in 1971-a long time ago now and the country is a mere shadow of its former self.

[@anthonyrybicki1000]

@@michaelmckelvey5122 Britain has always favoured its governing elite and the system is stacked in favour of these vested interests from the monarchy to the city and the professions.Only a better informed and politically involved population could address the malaise of gradual decline. Voting for Thatcher and for brexit were seen as radical votes but in fact they hmmerely reinforced the democratic and economic deficit Blaming immigrants is a well established tradition (there were anti foreign riots in the 18th and 19th centuries not to mention fascist marches in the 1980's). One of Britain's strengths is also its weakness,having extensive leisure sectors in sports and the arts which serve as distractions for the masses and keep a lid on political agitation. Today there is no Chartist or suffragette movement equivalent unless you can count Extinction rebellion which does not enjoy widespread support among all sections of society. If Labour under Starmer wins the next general election then there may be some tinkering within the existing political system eg Lords reform and further regional devolution but these gestures to modernity will not address wide spread social and economic disparities which contribute to the rot that has set in. Britain is indeed still an OK place to live if you are very rich or very talented but not such a great place for many of its citizens of lesser means or accomplishment.

[@mikemaher4176]

I moved to Poland in 1993 from UK, best thing I ever did, it’s grown and changed so much, a safe country with great people 😊

[@Pommy1957]

I'm saddened to see the Poles leave & that some had a bad experience whilst here. I've always held a high opinion of them as a nation. I finally visited Poland for the first time in 2019, everyone was extremely friendly & it's a beautiful country. I look forward to going back soon. Niech zyje Polska.

[@philgee7249]

👍

[@Futura2500]

I have a home in Poland and England (Im English)

[@GUNRIR]

rofl i've only had bad experiences with poles...

[@damian_ski]

Don't worry. There are great ties now. I know Brits who moved to Poland, plenty of my friends remained. Their kids stayed or moved. We now have one pound stores in Poland where you can buy salt and vinegar crisps, marmite and orange chocolate. Polish city centres are full of Brits enjoying meals and beverages.

[@PriHL]

@@damian_ski I don't know where because I can't quite see them, the cities are not full of Brits, maybe on occasion you'd see some in Warsaw and some more in Cracow. Agreed about the pound shop which is called Dealz in Poland but that's really just a side note and not important in the grand scheme of things. If we adopted all of British cultural heritage and had the attitude towards art, creativity etc. and a structure and means to keep it going, we'd be an ideal country, with safe streets, more humane work regulations and better doctors. But we all know that's not the case. We're talking about pound shops instead. The lack of a cultural mindset in the general population is mind blowing.

[@kronos458]

All my friends who came back to Kraków say the same asked about the reasons: - soaring costs of living - the crime rates - gloom everywhere and lack of perspectives. - Brexit complications

[@boguslawagumuchian2427]

And look at the filthy Street

[@christian-ir3lr]

​@@boguslawagumuchian2427 good you went back to your pure country then!

[@thaumaturgeishere331]

Can't argue with any of these points

[@michaelmckelvey5122]

I hear that the prices in Krakow regarding house prices are now similar to that in London.

[@kronos458]

@@michaelmckelvey5122 Some prices are comparable, still overall cost of living is much lower.

[@liljanasufaj4130]

My biggest respect to Polish people! I've lived in London for almost 20 years now and I got to know plenty of Polish people. Great people and very hardworking ones. I had the pleasure to transit through Warsaw on my way to London from Albania 2 weeks ago and I was so impressed with the development of the country. Well done, and all the best to them! Why should they stay in the UK? Even me I'm thinking to return in Albania. Maybe everybody will be surprised right now, but even Albania is raising the minimal wage into 450 euros and medium wage into 900 Euros per month. With these kinds of wages, there is no point in staying in the UK anymore, paying the rent and every other expenses, so good to Polish people for returning home. Cheers from Albania 🇦🇱!

[@kid--presentable]

Yea go back please

[@kid--presentable]

@Bolo Young no one wants you here

[@clifford4393]

So we can expect the dingies of Albanian man stop coming? Wait a minute....

[@karlitoperez1806]

Thank you,brother❤

[@Dadgrammer]

My and my wife left UK in 2018, after 3 years. We’re from Warsaw, UK and London was huge disappointment for us. Quality of food, housing, public transportation, roads, amount of homeless and junkies. Overwhelming mistreatment of people from east Europe, racism even. This was good school of life and language. For us quality of life was most reason, we didn’t want to rise our kids in that kind of environment. I’m sorry for saying this, but for us this movement was nightmare. After came back to Poland I start to work for IT sector, and I start to understand that Poland is not some backward third word country.

[@mattfm101]

If you had visited London in the 90s or before you would have seen something special, diversity is destroying the country. Remember this nothing is more important than your people and your country and duty and honour.

[@Jackie-ji2sj]

THE MISTAKE YOU MADE WAS MOVING TO A CITY, LONDON, IN PARTICULAR. ENGLISH CITIES HAVE BEEN TAKEN OVER BY FOREIGN CULTURES COMPLETELY ALIEN TO THE ENGLISH WAY OF LIFE. THE REASON YOU LEFT, IS THE SAME REASON THE ENGLISH MOVE FROM CITIES, LONDON THE BEST EXAMPLE. WISH YOU WELL BACK IN POLAND, DONT MAKE THE MISTAKE ENGLAND HAS, BY ALLOWING ALIEN CULTURES DOMINATE ❤

[@alexnelson9512]

@@Jackie-ji2sj _So many true words!_

[@markbeaumont3292]

London is not Britain...over 60% of its population were born aboard so please don't think the countries like that.

[@Shaggy-8392]

​@@Jackie-ji2sj- poles went everywhere in the UK. If they thought brown people were responsible he would have said it. The poles are white at the end of the day

[@angr3819]

Most Polish and other European migrants were shamefully exploited and badly mistreated by farmers here, woefully underpaid, shoved in cold leaking caravans, or put into factories and again often mistreated, underpaid, not given all their workers rights, their sick and holiday pay not given to them etc. In my experience they were hard and willing workers often taking jobs far beneath their intellect and abilities, because even low paid unskilled jobs here were better paid than many professions in Poland. Of course there were the criminal elements who also came but a lot of them were apparently deported for committing crimes - eventually. I felt angry and sorry for our European cousins who were decent, seeing them badly treated by some employers who took advantage of them not knowing their rights here.

[@RubbishGimpy]

Did they not complain to any official body to help prevent.

[@olegslapins8156]

Same thing happens now to Ukrainian refugees who got here and been sent to work on farms.

[@olegslapins8156]

​@@RubbishGimpy The reason most people don't complain to anyone is because they think it's normality here. They got here, barely speak the language, don't know workers rights and legislations.

[@TomBartram-b1c]

You can go back to Biblical times and farm work has always been the worst pay because farmers will employ the lepers (real and metaphorical) that nobody else will. "Form a union" Yeah seriously who gives a f'ck if carrot pickets announce a 48 hour strike??

[@steve81nz39]

@@ellanola6284 who's we. I haven't

[@tomtocz7284]

Yep, Poland is awesome! I’m moving there in early 2024 from the US. ❤🇵🇱

[@saltydagger6635]

We‘re neighbours then I guess! Best wishes

[@tnickknight]

American here who moved to Gdańsk Poland years ago, and is still here. It's a great place and much nicer than the USA in my opinion.

[@StanleyKubick1]

​@@tnickknight you must be a white catholic

[@jocosson8892]

I hope you are not planning to fly back often!

[@clincpb8903]

So gif it is so awesome why 1,000,000poles live in England ?

[@Bhethar]

I moved to the UK from Italy in 2017. In this years I saw the economy collapse and cost of living rise so high. Many of my polish friends are considering leaving which is quite sad for me. Polish people really bring so much to a community and many don’t realise until they leave.

[@susannamarker2582]

Britain had an empire. We can replace them.

[@Bhethar]

@@susannamarker2582 well said, “had”. Britain is no longer an empire, it’s an enpoverished country whose population cannot fulfill its employment need without immigrants and immigrants don’t want to come here because of the poverty. This was a great country ruined by ignorant lazy people. Want an empire? Go to work.

[@susannamarker2582]

Where have all the Poles gone ? Who cares. We should prioritize our former colonies, not the EU. What do we owe Poland ? We owe India, Australia and Jamaica far more.

[@AT-kx6fj]

@@susannamarker2582 We Australians prefer Britain to keep its claws off Australia, we will be a republic soon!!!

[@susannamarker2582]

@@AT-kx6fj You really shouldn't listen to the Labour Party. Why a republic, anyway ? They're tacky things, just reactions to revolution and war, like France, Ireland and America. No thanks. Monarchies are much more dignified and interesting.

[@WilliamJohnwon1522]

Thousands of Poles fought from Britain in WW2. My father who was in the RAF new of them in his squadron, 50 squadron, and everyone admired them, including my father.

[@mariaescosura3972]

It took several decades for UK to commemorate their contribution to the Battle of Britain. In fact, not until the Blair government there was an official long-deserved recognition, and a public statue.

[@WilliamJohnwon1522]

@@mariaescosura3972 Not only the Battle of Britain, they fought n campaigns throughout the war. There were thousands of foot soldiers, they had paratroopers, trained here in the UK and thousands in bomber command. They were mixed in with British airman alongside Canadians. There were two Canadians in my father's Lancaster crew.

[@mariaescosura3972]

@@WilliamJohnwon1522 ❤

[@n0ah711]

Thank you for remembering!

[@RubbishGimpy]

Wojtek is my favourite story from this time.

[@onelife7247]

Polish people are some of the most resilient people you’ll ever meet. For them to leave the UK and return to Poland for an easier life speaks volumes! ☝️

[@lincolnshirepoacher8651]

Shows you how disloyal they are, and how they were just using this country for their own ends.

[@MH-tn3pp]

@@lincolnshirepoacher8651 that’s mean and racist. Anyone can and even should be helped to return home. And they are ditched from the UK since Brexit. Learn Polish and listen to their testimonies. Same issues in Ireland.

[@wojciechf3328]

@@lincolnshirepoacher8651you pretty much had more than a half of UK asking for Poles and other expats (that term is not reserved only for British people abroad) to go back to their country and you have exactly what you wanted. Now you have audacity to call out Polish people disloyal. Go find a doctor

[@arnodobler1096]

​@@lincolnshirepoacher8651 Rather, how disloyal UK was and is to other countries and people.

[@bizfromdotcom]

@@lincolnshirepoacher8651 Disloyal to??? They are millions of Brits moving to Australia, Canada, the US, Spain, Greece or etc. Loyalty in today's world has got nothing to do with it.

[@1963eM]

7 years yet (retirement) and I'm going back to my beautiful country Poland.

[@beatamarek5549]

Też jeszcze siedem i wracam

[@alterego2275]

I left Scotland 3 years ago and returned to Poland after being there for nearly 15 years. For me it was a big adventure, that's what I think straight away when I recall all this years in my memory, my 2 kids were born over there, I have met people from around the world, I've worked with some great Scots, visited many great places and it all felt fresh and new to me at that time. I really feel sorry for people that look at it primarly from a "money" point of view, yes it's all important but not the most important. The reason why I left is because you have to be born into a wealthy family in UK to be able to afford a nice house with a plot of land, or win a lottery ticket 😉 Here I have house ( 8 bedrooms, 2 kitchens, 3 bathrooms ) and I'm not a millioner, just a normal guy.

[@AS-010o0]

It’s very unfortunate That UK left EU, because its not as easy to go there now. I was never an immigrant there, but I very much appreciate how Britain welcomed us, Poles, with open arms after we joined EU and I love British culture and humor. I wish Great Britain all the best 🫶and I hope you’ll overcome all your struggles soon😘

[@RubbishGimpy]

Thanks. I appreciate Poles too and if Russia invades we have your back as much as we can.

[@chlopakzpolski]

Germans have opened their labour market for Poles only in 2008 when they saw UK taking over "their" Poles. Still in 2016 they welcomed engeeners and doctors from Near East more gladly and warmly than Poles ever. So British ppl 👏👏

[@sashabertold3731]

​@@chlopakzpolski After Poland entered the European Union in May 2004, Poles gained the right to work in some other EU countries. While France and Germany put in place temporary controls to curb Central European migration, the United Kingdom (along with only Sweden and Ireland) did not impose restrictions. Many young Poles have come to work in the UK since then

[@natalias50]

@@sashabertold3731 because UK was in urgent need of qualified labour

[@szymonbaranowski8184]

i also hope they will regain sovereignty and remove all aliens sending them back home otherwise there is no England or Wales or Scotland anymore

[@surfcitiz]

I believe in myself, that’s why despite of Brexit disaster I still choose to work and live in Britain, however I am also happy that my native country Poland succeeded. I wish both, Poland and Britain to prosper.

[@edwardharris5301]

that's the spirit.... look after your own and those closest to you first

[@lesleystewart5882]

It might be a disaster for you, but it hasn't been for me. Love brexit

[@szymonbaranowski8184]

kupuj ziemię albo pomóż innym kupować bez tego żadna rodzina nie ma przyszłości zamkną was w miastach jak w gettach i oddzielą małe dzielnice murami już teraz większość mieszka w klatkach i żyje w zagęszczeniu mysiej nory

[@cleightorres3841]

@@lesleystewart5882 as an american of polish and german descent i agree happy for you brits, you chose freedom you are our most important ally looks like germany will never get freedom or true democracy and disappointed in the poles in britain that they dont seem to understand whats at stake though it looks like the poles in poland have a better grasp of where the world is headed

[@Futura2500]

I'm British, my wife Polish,I have a home in Poland as well as England I will prob retire in Poland - my problem is the language i find so hard

[@antonioguerreiro1615]

this Portuguese who lived in the UK for 38 years ALSO left in 2023....and glad I did

[@mikeoglen6848]

Where do you live now, antonio?

[@vasiliualexandru4725]

​@@mikeoglen6848😂 In Portugal

[@radiosnail]

Sorry you left.

[@pl-hq5hr]

SECURITY! There is 99% chance that a single young woman can travel walking across entire Warsaw in the middle of the night. Safely.

[@michalinamarkowska8930]

But she has to avoid Uber taxi and some pub-rich areas in city centre.

[@vns55]

I am English from the north east,and moved to Poland in 2010 great place not been back home since

[@celtspeaksgoth7251]

Yet you're on this website and probably can't speak more than 2 words of Polski

[@radziugames8708]

@@celtspeaksgoth7251 Bruh he live in Poland (my country) for 13 years i think he can speak decent Polish now

[@brexitgreens]

​@@celtspeaksgoth7251 KZbin, Google, Android are about as "Anglo-Saxon" as McDonald's.

[@Olga-xy7ry]

I came to England from a little town in Central Poland for better academic opportunities as a scientist. That little poor town have a spa facility and FREE ELECTRIC BUSES now. I live in Oxford, where it’s faster to walk then take a bus anywhere so I am forced to get a driving licence… Which also takes ages due to the overwhelmed driving centres, don’t even get me started on the 80£ driving lessons.

[@RichWoods23]

@@basilmagnanimous7011 "15mln of afro-asians who now run the show" Liar.

[@xdlol59]

Po studiach wracaj do Polski ❤️🇵🇱 Albo chociaż na jakiś staż i zobaczysz, czy Ci się podoba 😊

[@roberturbanczyk204]

Obyś nie dostała depresji od braku światła. Anglia cofa się w rozwoju od wielu lat. Gdy przyjeżdżałem tam pierwszy raz to zarabiałem £180 a £20 spokojnie wystarczało na jedzenie na cały tydzień. Im dłużej tam mieszkałem tym bardziej rosły koszty i trudno było odkładać

[@user-ve2jj1ik4b]

@@roberturbanczyk204 Nie da sie zyc w UK ' na szczura '' cale zycie...

[@piotrd.4850]

@@user-ve2jj1ik4b To "żyj" w Polsce ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@przemyslawmroz9492]

As a Pole living in Southampton, I'm thinking about going back after 10 years in UK. As a lorry driver I won't have a problem with finding the work, which will allow me to maintain my living standard. Especially after wage stagnation, squize in the cost of living and £ loosing quarter in value. Hostile environment against immigrants after brexit won't help either. Only reason I'm still here is the wife, who doesn't want to go.

[@ismaelferreira4643]

Every time I mention hostility toward immigrants, white Anglo-Saxons, stop listening, it's amazing how delusional they are.

[@geriatricmotorcars9516]

And when you go home , you will realise why you left . Not just the money but injustice and fear of the state . The UK is a doddle in comparison

[@stiofain88]

​@@geriatricmotorcars9516 Injustice and fear of the state doesn't exist in Tory Britain?

[@havencat9337]

UK its not a good place to raise kids...

[@MrMessiah44]

​@@stiofain88 I advise you to check current political situation and ever present populistic government propaganda. Trust me , even torie Britain is better when it comes to freedom of speech.

[@bishimixes9871]

I have just returned from Krakow, and TBH the degree of civilisation and development there knocks socks off The UK. Poland is clearly on the rise, and The UK in brexit fuelled, accelerated decline. I can see why Poles are returning, it’s society is being engineered for its people and not just for profit like here. A fully integrated, efficient and cheap public transport system, rock solid 5G everywhere and a seemingly content population whose livelihood and happiness appears to be their governments priority.

[@michaelmckelvey5122]

Yes, Poland is on the rise but you forget to mention how much British money has been pumped into the former Eastern European block for the last thirty years. Even the Polish in Poland admit that it is largely thanks to the E.U. coffers and financial support.

[@bishimixes9871]

@@michaelmckelvey5122 Isn't that the whole point of joining The EU ? Conversely leaving The EU has wrecked The UK. That's kinda the point I was trying to make.

[@EeeEee-bm5gx]

​@@michaelmckelvey5122 I thought UK wanted emigration from Eastern Europe but also to keep the emigration from Eastern Europe to reasonable levels. Pretty good strategy if you ask me. And after Brexit they don't have to continue funding Eastern Europeans if they don't want to 🤷🏿‍♂️ Everything is cool

[@Lee-bv6iv]

@EeeEee-bm5gx That hasn't happened, though.

[@EeeEee-bm5gx]

@@Lee-bv6iv what hasn't? Brexit?

[@abbottone]

Just been to Poland last week, they are doing good. Certainly have a better transport system than we are having to put up with London at the moment. Personally I think Polish's economy will boom at the detriment to Germany and France but I'm glad they are no longer being treated as low-wage fodder that some UK companies took advantage of.

[@PGHEngineer]

They should have a better transport system - us Brits paid for it!

[@chachar7458]

@@PGHEngineer You paid for nothing, you were net recipients of tax revenues from EU citizens. EU citizens had and still have higher average wages than UK citizens. Pull your socks up, Brits, if you want to be as good as us. But you're not.

[@RainerMichelle]

@@PGHEngineer Brits can't even pay for their own transport system, it is really bad

[@PGHEngineer]

@Michelle Rainer Well if only we hadn't given so much money to the EU to fund transport projects under the EU Cohesion fund.

[@RainerMichelle]

@@PGHEngineer what do you mean with "so much money"???? in the last year of membership in the EU single market the UK paid 9billion pounds to the EU, and these 9billion pounds earned 300billion pounds worth of exports, which means the payment for EU membership was a bargain

[@Kaizen917]

Im from Bulgaria and even I started to question if my overal quality of life was better in the UK, and thats even before covid. Its been over 5 years now and I havent really looked back. Poland is traditionally ahead of us so the surprise is there are still that many poles left in the UK now. Perhaps the number is yet to go down further, perhaps some have strong ties to the UK.

[@A2Z1Two3]

People from abroad who have strong ties to their host country is exactly what host countries want , not here today gone tomorrow migrants that then send all their earnings home and don’t spend earnings in the host country’s economy .

[@celtspeaksgoth7251]

Join the club. Brits feel the same way.

[@EeeEee-bm5gx]

​@@celtspeaksgoth7251 perhaps so. But Poland is still no heavenly picknick. I have a feeling that Eastern Europeans are pretty tough compared to Western Europeans due to the tough times in Eastern Europe being so much more recent. It's adapt or die. Like your grandpa or great grandpa in the UK 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@borderlord]

My young Bulgarian lodger worked in IT here in London ... He usually came for a few months contract equivalent of £80K a year....then goes back to Sofia...he then gets tax refund from HMRC . He enjoys life in Bulgaria and lives Very well there!

[@RubbishGimpy]

I here theres a Country in Europe that was once poor but the wages and standards of living are great. Maybe you could consider moving there and home is a days drive away.

[@bepitan]

i'll tell you one thing ...the ex polish army settling into the uk just after wwii were treated terribly by the uk so to call it a love affair wasn't always the case.

[@bepitan]

@djm_pl ...generally i think the attitude towards poles is a positive one ...culturally there is not a huge difference which i think is important when it comes to getting along in a positive manner ...much more so than other immigration groups.

[@christian-ir3lr]

​@djm_pl maybe now you will realize how it feels to be on the recipient of xenophobia and racism.

[@skylark386]

@djm_pl I am from Latvia and I have been living in the UK since 2006 and I hold a British passport since 2011. I don't care too much what they think of my accent. At least, my child was born here and she speaks with no foreign accent. She has also English name and surname, so she will never experience prejudice. I also think that it's mainly British working class people who are xenophobic. Well, I can't even say that I "took their job" as I gained my BSc and MSc degrees in Psychology in the UK and I have a good job. I also know one Polish girl who came into the UK to work as a cleaner and now she is a counsellor. So what, if she speaks with an accent? She achieved much more than many "true British" who work at low income jobs all their life. That is why some hate us. Because we come here with nothing and we achieve much more than them, who were born here... Our children are bilingual and it gives them a big advantage, too.

[@cherylk.2474]

@djm_pl I am very sad to hear this happened to you, but I have met british people who came to the US and some of them are extremely rude, with a "superior" attitude, and I discovered they were not always honest. One guy borrowed $650 to get back to England, he never sent the money back, and even contacted me a few years later asking if he and his wife could move in with me while they come back to the US and establish a business. Ha Ha! No. My grandparents were born in Poland, and I hope to visit some day, and possibly move there, too. I have not yet retired, and I also care for my 95 years old mother. My mother's comfort and care is my top priority. But Poland is my dream!

[@michaelmckelvey5122]

@@skylark386 I understand what you are saying ''our children are bilingual and it gives them a big advantage, too'' but what about British children? Do they not have any rights? I am British with a British passport and am allowed only ninety days in Europe so why is it not the same for everybody?

[@ericgoodall7089]

They left because the economic pull had reduced, Poland is a rising economy and we are not, simple as that.

[@paulstewart6293]

I think it's also that there are lots of xenophobic people coming out of the woodwork. I live in France now but I don't forget that 25% of the population voted extreme right. One in four in my village.

[@dancahill9585]

Yep. Do you want to be a part of a growing economy where they speak your primary language, or do you want to live in a xenophobic declining economy where you have to speak a second language?

[@gillps5130]

@@paulstewart6293 Only one in four? What are the rest of them doing, voting for ethnic decline?

[@eremstemero8823]

@@basilmagnanimous7011 "what are we talking about ?" We are talking about irrational xenophobia. When Poles speaking flawless French or English or German, having European roots, being Christians and being needed by local economy don't feel safe and comfortable anymore, there is something going on what makes me anxious. So please do not even try to come with "alien religion, alien culture". Apparently it's not the main reason for hatred directed against everything what in the perception of a xenophobe is worth to be hated.

[@anthonydowney6069]

​@@basilmagnanimous7011 Exactly. The reality of globalisation is that Polands time will come when millions of Muslims and others will be entering their country. They will largely avoid that in the short term due to the Ukrainian immigrants but when there's a growing economy and birth rate decline there's going to be an eu or simply a future polish government decision to admit Afro Asian people into their country. Once the Poles and other new admission country's young people arrived in 2004 they boosted the British economy by the simple reality that they had a greater output per hour worked than the existing British worker, along with the initial lowering of wages. So the British economy essentially became "hooked "on this labour source. So cut off that and we know where the alternative source is going to be. But of course it's not just that as seen by Merkels 2015 hailing of millions of Muslim males to enter the eu after having forced 7 years of austerity on their citizens. Now Britain has the worst of all worlds open borders to Africa and Asia restrictions on Poles etc, job vacancies, low wages high inflation and lower productivity.

[@chrisburns4297]

I'm an Englishman living in Poland. My best friend from England came over last month. After a couple of days here, he told me that I shouldn't consider returning to England because it's not the same country I left 15 years ago. Can't quote what he said after that for reasons of etiquette but he's now thinking of emigrating to Poland.

[@IhaveBigFeet]

Good, I hope he comes. I'm always happy to see Europeans in Poland, recently I made Swedish friend that moved here.

[@patryk3019]

You are taking our jobs with your friends.

[@monoceros771]

And here noone will stab you for not speaking polish....

[@nataliamach7248]

@@patryk3019 :D go back to England ahahahaha

[@ziutbryk531]

In 10-20 years it may be the same in Poland.

[@bledarhazizaj8306]

I myself Italian with Albanian origins arrived to Poland in 2011, when many Poles day by day were leaving the country. My family was asking me why you go there, for ladies? well that was one of the reasons, but not only this one, I saw potential in Poland economy. 13 years later I have 2 houses and built a family in Poland and I applied for Polish citizenship! In these last 13 years I could see with my eyes how Poland changed for better. while about England, great football, premier league is great but once I was in Birmingham and the area of dudley to meet some relatives, and for 3 days I was asking myself what people find special in England, I would not live even if they pay me! From Krakow Long Live to the Polish Republic!

[@Emperorli90]

One part of England does NOT represent the whole country!

[@HOGperdonalTrainer]

@@Emperorli90albanian alwayw top lads 🤝

[@jenObu1]

Surely there are lots of shitholes in Poland

[@LOKa-bg6qn]

Cheers, bro!

[@kevinhogan78]

Poles left Britain because it’s better in Poland than here.

[@markg1531]

You’ve got it.

[@PiotrPilinko]

@HubbaBubba-l1u Is it better in UK after the Brexit?

[@PiotrPilinko]

@HubbaBubba-l1u I'm self-employed, so no - but I went back 3 days after my surgery.

[@ziutbryk531]

It is probably not better, but it is no longer profitable for Poles to go there for work, because they simply will not save anything.

[@kopiec6565]

​@HubbaBubba-l1u Poland won't make the same mistake as the UK, over 90% of Poles prefer to stay in the EU, dont see that changing anytime soon, especially after the brexit experiment

[@sirjemalmet849]

I am an Estonian. Now when was this Brexit vote and I read British newspapers online there was so much propaganda agains Poles and other East Europeans. Was such feelings as all problems dissepear when East Europeans leave.

[@mikdukevich9838]

I’ve actually grown up in Britain (from the age of 3 to 20), culturally I most likely align closer to Brit’s as the British culture was comparable to the main course meal for me whereas the 3 years I’ve spent as a baby in Poland more of a starter. I am too considering moving back this summer ! As long as one has a high degree of education (especially if obtained here in England) the quality of life and opportunities due to the so called “reverse brain drain” are just a. Plentiful and b. Highly rewarding. I would recommend this step to most Poles abroad.

[@nazortube]

Im slovak and Im thinking about moving to Poland for working

[@karlitoperez1806]

Zapraszamy👍

[@nazortube]

@HubbaBubba-l1u it depends on job opportunity and my level of polish

[@JerzyFeliksKlein]

My 3 pence: Brexit wasn't a reason but for many it was a tipping point. After the Brexit referendum, for about 3 months, almost every week a Polish person was stabbed or killed for speaking Polish in public. I remember because I was shocked and left speechless. It lasted till about the end of September that year. Leaving kind notes at the Polish cultural center in London telling us that we're vermin and should go back home did not help.

[@lincolnshirepoacher8651]

Pathetic victim mentality. Ofc you overlooked all the criminal acts done on the British by Polish immigrants. Nearly all knife crime in my town was being done by Poles and Lithuanians. Even pensioners were getting attacked by gangs of drunken Slavic trash. Go home, stay home.

[@tancreddehauteville764]

I am ashamed that these hideous things happened.

[@ChristianoRodríguez-h3k]

Well but now the Muslims and Arabs taking over them including boats etc etc so what goes around comes around.

[@jerryorange6983]

Yes, wages in the UK are not as good to attract people from Poland anymore. My friend was trying to get some people, he could not even find one person willing to come and he was offering no less than £150 a day + helping to sort visas. In result, he could not take a job. Even child benefit is now higher in Poland and same for each child + birth bonus + school starter money every September on top of that. Poland is not this poor country like it was in 2004 anymore.

[@oisinoc]

Imagine, a country that is willing to look after it's own people.

[@chachar7458]

@@oisinoc In English, please.

[@jerryorange6983]

@@chachar7458 don't read then.

[@chachar7458]

@@jerryorange6983 ? I agree with you. I was responding to the fool who responded to you.

[@tcritt]

​​@@chachar7458 If you can't understand what they wrote despite some very typical grammatical errors, then you need to improve your reading comprehension.

[@hawklord100]

Lets be honest you only become an economical migrant if you think the grass is greener elsewhere and depending on the life you carve out for yourself it could be better or no worse, but home and family is always a big pull, I knew two polish and they went home because they could get jobs which they couldn't find 20 years ago in Poland and they wanted to be near their aging parents.

[@hawklord100]

@@brownbrown3882 those new 'young polish would work for peanuts to get established taking the jobs of the British 'non grads' and youth unemployment would go back to 20%> as it once was, now under the new rules anyone who is foreign can still apply for a job but it has to be a job that is in a skilled position and not just walking in on a chance of picking up a bar stewards job or a waitress job, so Polish can still apply for a job as can the Indians... on a level playing field, and allow the non grads to build their experience with jobs they can do without a uni degree

[@MickyG1152]

​@@brownbrown3882 There is no economic growth per capita in mass immigration.

[@hawklord100]

@@brownbrown3882 Yesh yeah... come back and tell me when the long term has arrived pal LOL, but if it makes you happy keep peddling this BS and the UK will entice another 500,000 high skilled migrants from around the world, again this year as we did last year LOL

@@hawklord100 Ease back on the drugs.

[@miakeogh6844]

Halkloard100 so where are all these English people taking up thes jobs ? The restaurant and entertainment business cannot get the staff. Doctors nurses and teachers are badly needed etc etc

[@davidyoung9561]

In my former job as a bus driver I met some lovely Polish people that also became bus drivers. Although some have stayed, many left. I think many of the Poles became disheartened with the UK because they soon realised the problems in the UK such as poor housing, high cost of living, high taxes, obnoxious people etc. Most of my Polish friends ended up hating it in the UK and couldn't wait to leave. Many worked hard and lived a basic lifestyle in order to save up and then go back home. I wouldn't be surprised if Poland's economy will almost be on par with that of Germany's by 2030 whereas the UK is falling apart. I'd leave the UK tomorrow if I could.

[@nyshkominternational7085]

The people of Poland have long been great friends and allies to the British. Their heroism in the war against fascism is legendary and they have been part of life in Britain for hundreds of years. Where the west failed throughout the cold war, to overthrow stalinism, it was the Polish people, whose trade union uprising started the fall of the soviet occupations in Europe. Today, Poland stands out in its unflinching support for the heroic defence of Ukraine, against the evil of the russian terrorist invasion. When Polish workers came to Britain, they worked hard, paid taxes and boosted the British economy. And how have the Brirish responded? We threw them out in 1945, to face persecution under stalinist occupation and we tried to throw them out again in brexit and shot ourselves and our children in the face to do it, crippling the economy, culture and future of Britain in the process.

[@marcinkot2597]

👍🇵🇱

[@TheVaughan5]

Miss the hard working Poles and for that matter all the Continentals who supported the now disintegrating hospitality industry.

[@clincpb8903]

They are not that hard working. Not more than anyone else. Stop this false PR.

[@sutty85]

i work with loads of them

[@n0ah711]

​​@@clincpb8903 According to OECD Poland is the third country in all of Europe that people work the longest. If that's not working hard I don't know what is. I spent 15 years in PL and 15 years in the UK, as much as I respect the Brits, there is no comparison in the work ethics of an average person from each country.

[@accountreality1988]

@@clincpb8903 worked in many warehouses and factories plenty of lazy poles too i have worked with (great guys still).

[@krzysiekv12]

@@accountreality1988we learn from the best

[@bristolfashion4421]

A nice Polish bloke painted the back of my house. He was very nice, worked hard, did exactly what we discussed when he came to estimate for the work. He did a great job. I therefore conclude that all Poles are the same. Also their shops are full of nice Polish food, too. Oh Yes.

[@italianstallion9170]

Polish sausage and cheesecake!

[@samhartford8677]

There are bad people in every country, but all the Poles that I've known have been highly educated and good people.

[@danvincent2600]

Apart from the tinned meats!

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

Too unhealthy, unfortunately.

[@bigjd2k]

Polish biscuits… yummy!!

[@BasedSaxon]

They left because they didn't want to live in a 3rd world country, the UK government had other ideas, ideas to import the 3rd world.

[@lincolnshirepoacher8651]

@@sizematters3616 LOL oh the irony.

[@electrochrist1046]

good one

[@pastyman001]

Saxon, that is ridiculous

[@christopherfleming7505]

Exactly. The UK will be governed by sharia law in 20 years time.

[@BasedSaxon]

@@pastyman001 no it's the truth, and I suppose the truth is actually ridiculous so maybe il give you that one. But what I said is true.

[@timpullen4941]

One point missed was that after WW2 many of those Poles who moved to the UK to fight the Germans were repatriated against their will. (Sent to me by son of Polish WW2 pilot)

[@busking6292]

Not sure about that one,when I was a kid in Glasgow in the 60's there were quite a few Polish people living in my area of the city,I presume,although I can't say for certain,that it was similar in other areas.

[@C2112-s7y]

That's not true. Nobody was repatriated against their will. I am a son of a Polish WW2 fighter. Everyone who fought with the British was allowed to stay in the UK after the war. Some decided to return, but those that did were treated very badly by the communists.

[@svart7716]

Polish leave .. This is UK’s loss… Polish are welcome to Sweden. They are smart, skillful and honest people.

[@davethefab6339]

I never had anything against the Polish people in the UK. I always believed they were good people who were not afraid of working for their living just like the rest of us. Come back anytime. 👍👍

[@2358nick]

Absolutely. It's a great pity they decided to leave.

[@jx2729]

We we TOLD to leave. The message of Brexit was loud and clear - You are not welcome here.

[@stephenmurray2851]

@@jx2729 you are welcome here. It's the non whites we don't want. Africans etc

[@orsoncart1547]

Hark can your arrogance with your 'come back anytime' bowlocks? Meanwhile, we have gaps in vital supply chains, rampant inflation, food rationing, strikes just to keep pace with the cost of living, food banks, etc etc. How about they come back when Britain has delt with all these racist little swivels who've brought about this situation but are still not being called out by the coward sheep appeasers who've legitimising this divisive behaviour up till now?

[@Be-Es---___]

With the "we don't want you" signs everywhere? No thanks, there is more in this world than the UK.

[@Prometheus7272]

Poland is a nice country their culture hasn’t been dissolved yet and hopefully never will.

[@marklisiecki5790]

Sorry to say that,but Poles experience a lot of racism,in England ,and that trauma is going to stay with them for a long time !!!

[@avitalsheva]

Yes but it is not a racism ... but nationalism ? Like Poles and English are white both

[@darek8328]

Xenophobia it’s called

[@damianbutterworth2434]

I`ve never seen it and work with loads. You don`t even think about it.

[@marek800m]

I left in 2011 long before Brexit, I'd had enough of the hate campaign against the Poles in the media day in day out, it wasn't pleasant being a foreigner in the UK, this was no life for me. Actually, since the very beginning of my stay in Britain (2005) I was convinced Britain would leave the UK, I was witnessing the unrestricted numbers of EU migrant workers coming in to the UK and I thought this can't go on like this, Brits will eventually have to do something about it. Now I hear Britain has some staffing problems because of Brexit, I am certain in a few years' time Britain will come up with some Norway-style scheme to allow EU migrants to do menial jobs visa free, but don't worry Brits, it won't be the huge numbers we saw in late 2000s coming in, there's a new generation of Poles coming of age who aren't used to the many hardships us, born in the 70s, had to put up with, they can't be bothered to up and go for a walk in betweeen their Instagrams and Tik Toks.

[@clincpb8903]

The hate campaign was a taste of your medicine. Well-deserved.

[@marek800m]

@@clincpb8903 actually, my motivation to move to the UK wasn't purely economical, I was genuinly interested in the country and its culture, but it's not easy to integrate with nice people like you around

[@lincolnshirepoacher8651]

I guess it's my fault then that the Poles next door haven't said a single word to me in five years, nor those Poles across the road who have been here ten years. And it also must be my fault that I had to leave several places of employment since Poles and Lithuanians liked to gang up and abuse British people (and other immigrants) out of jobs. And also my fault that I can't go into a Polski or Baltic shop without getting marched out. Or, at one point, not even walk to the supermarket without the very real chance of being physically attacked by gangs of Poles and Lithuanians. Face facts, you're just not a very nice people when you get the upper hand. That is why you are hated so much.

[@cleightorres3841]

@@clincpb8903 coming from a prole no doubt lol

[@27moniczek81]

Correct. It was awful. You did the right thing. As many economic migrants we follow the economic trend and UK is no longer an attractive country. Many left because they have better prospects in Poland, the infrastructure there is more advanced, the weather is superior, the food produce tastes like real food and nobody will tell them 'go back to your country'. The only downside is the wages which are half less to the UK wages.

[@Bladesmobile]

Finally a media outlet that has decided to broadcast something that the layman on the street (like myself) has known for about 3 years now, having heard it from long standing polish clients that I sadly had to say farewell to.

[@timpullen4941]

I moved to the UK from an English speaking country almost 10 years ago. (I am a dual national Brit.) Culturally most of the British are just hard going. I speak English fluently (better than many Brits) and use the same idioms, however I don't feel accepted most of the time. Not all but many Brits give you 11 seconds of their time possibly because they are curious, and then they blank you. I have wondered if it is the British need to pigeonhole people to work out where those people fit in the class system. If they can't pigeonhole the person then it's time to move on. I'm not used to feeling blanked or discarded. It's very very difficult for immigrants to integrate. Other than a colonial accent, I look British but find integration a struggle, I can only imagine how difficult it is for Polish and other non English speaking immigrants to become part of the culture.

[@celtspeaksgoth7251]

Must be the south of England, deffo not Wales, Liverpool or Newcastle. Your experience is shared by many Brits too. It would be the same in Sweden or Germany.

[@irenejohnston6802]

​​@@celtspeaksgoth7251 Liverpool voted Remain, not mentioned much in the media. Then again, we are the pariah region. I remember the revamp of city, was partly EU funded. EU flag posted on sites. By the way I'm a Lancashire lass not a Scouser. Merseyside a 70s political construct. Age 83

[@mrozio3321]

Im a Pole that finished Polish school with English speaking degree. I used to worl in London for 12 year and god I'm so happy you wrote this message. Its so difficult to integrate in England even if you try hard.

[@blackhorse8427]

Lets be honest - there is no point to live in muslim country anymore. Uk is done. Britons preferred muslims and indians more then Poles. Their choice. I've been living in this british caliphate 8yrs and many of britons many times told me to go back to Poland so I did it.

[@Sherry78]

'no point to live in muslim country anymore' Many Eastern Europeans are unfortunately very racist. It doesn't work too well here in the UK!

[@astrixmatrix75]

Sounds very Racist! Poles always were like that,!

[@nataliamach7248]

@@astrixmatrix75 But the fact that so many people told her to go back to Poland is not racist? I admire your hypocrisy.

[@carlustin4034]

@@astrixmatrix75 Yes Britons all colores are very racist to all Europeans..I have been in many country only in Britain I experienced rasism as Eastern European not Polish...I would avoid even to visite from now on. Yes British prefer Islam and they get it..

[@carlustin4034]

@@nataliamach7248 Racists love to call their victims racists.

[@TechnikMeister2]

Probably because it's now better in Poland. My daughter moved to the UK from Australia a month ago. The last time she was there was two years ago. She said the contrast is noticeable. Things like cost of food, long wait times to see a GP, cost of prescriptions, cost of public transport, people losing their minds over brexit and the biggie...class prejudice. That's something that does not exist back home. "Having to be invited" syndrome, is what she calls it. But rent is cheaper and so are cars compared to Australia.

[@drgonzo1971]

yeah it's better in a semi fascist Catholic autocracy

[@dpelpal]

I'm just glad I don't live in some place like russia lol

[@suigeneris3909]

The deterioration in living standards is entirely due to overpopulation. India is this month said to be overtaking China, as the most populous nation on earth and England is more densely populated than India, small wonder then, that there are so many problems resulting from this.

[@trotskyite1]

​@@suigeneris3909 I drove for 30 minutes in Northumberland this week and didn't see another car

[@rodneyfungus8249]

I’ve lived in the UK for 30 years and never seen any class prejudice. I did live in Australia in 2018 and couldn’t wait to come back to the UK. Our salaries were significantly lower and costs in Australia were generally higher.

[@TheChodax]

One of the few waves of migrants who actual came to work and not claim.

[@jx2729]

I am a Pole who left Britain in August 2016 and moved on to a greener pastures in Australia. I love Australia and it’s people, never suffered from any xenophobia here. People are kind and welcoming, I feel really part of the community 🥰 Long live Australia!

[@bganonimouse2754]

This comment makes me sad for your implied xenophobia you felt in the UK, but not surprised. I would like to think that London remains a truly global city where anybody can live and prosper, even if that isn't the case for other parts of the UK.

[@stephenmurray2851]

Why didn't you move to Poland?

[@stephenmurray2851]

@@bganonimouse2754 I think you are xenophobic against British people. We have been replaced in many of our own cities. The United nations definition of genocide is to replace in part or in whole a distinct ethnic group. How does that not explain what is happening to us when you consider Rotherham and Rochdale and London and Luton and Birmingham and Bradford and everywhere else that now looks like Pakistan.

[@PepperSugarMix]

@@stephenmurray2851 No one's being replaced by immigration. A nation with immigrants evolves, and the resulting mix is still Britain or America or Australia. Meanwhile, demographic reality spells the end of government support for pensioners at current levels unless immigration can bridge population gaps.

[@mikeoglen6848]

@@PepperSugarMix The most ridiculous statement I've ever seen.

[@tonylyons7711]

One of my best freinds has moved back to Poland 🇵🇱. she couldn't sit and watch our country destroy itself after 20 years of living here. She said it is no longer the country she came to and she is dead right . If i was younger i would of left too

[@białoczerwony4669]

I lived in the uk for 5 years but decided to leave in 2008 It was hard at the beginning but after 16 years I can say it was worth it I own a flat near Warsaw ( no loan)and have a Job with wage around 2000£. My wife earns about the same. Poland have developed quickly and the standard of life is really good A few years ago we went to the UK and I was shocked how badly it changed Lots of immigrants,especially muslims, dirt, deteriorating building and roads.Dear Brits, fight for your country before it is too late!

[@7Andy77]

From people I know who came back to Poland from UK the main reason was that there is not much of Britain left in Britain :d namely they felt more like in middle east or Africa than in Britain. High crime rate, and lgbt madness everywhere. Not a good place to raise kidsa. In addition, the economy in Poland has improved over past 10 years.

[@brexitgreens]

>Middle East or Africa >LGBT 😵‍💫

[@Plumduff3303]

I'm sorry polish people have left Britain I found them to be fantastic people.

[@kacperdziekanski8841]

I left UK as soon as my manager handed me form to fill up for stay after Brexit. Don't regret my decision even if I had hard time throughout Pandemic period without any support.

[@carlosm4798]

I worked with polish lads in construction they were great lads,gentlemen all.They told me that a pound earned here in England is worth five in Poland, therefore that's the reason they worked really hard because back home they were super rich. In the mess room the tables were littered with brochures of designer homes they were getting built back in Poland. So it wasn't a level playing field for us indigenous workers financially. Tyskie is better than Stella by the way

[@electrochrist1046]

They told me that a pound earned here in England is worth five in Poland, therefore that's the reason they worked really hard because back home they were super rich. hehe good one one pound is worth 5zl not five times more than here lol

[@igorsagdeev7881]

​@@electrochrist1046Poland used to be much poorer, and certain things there way cheaper.

[@mikeoglen6848]

Is Tyskie really that good?

[@michalinamarkowska8930]

@@mikeoglen6848 It won some gold medals a couple of years ago. Stella Artois is Belgian, not British.

[@mrozio3321]

@@mikeoglen6848 yeap. my favorite !!!!

[@AndrzejLondyn]

I'm a disabled man going in my wheelchair. I've been 5 times attacked in London, countless time verbally assaulted. Police only once registered such incident...

[@BenyNukem]

I'm Polish, haven't lived in UK but have worked with British guys in other countries. I don't get such easy connection with any other nation, with Brits I always get along well. They speak frankly, work hard, have sense of humor ,I love British people.

[@celiacresswell6909]

I agree: good cultural fit. I find the Ukrainians good too.

[@christian-ir3lr]

@@celiacresswell6909 sure, you share the same hatred of the foreigner.

[@celiacresswell6909]

@@christian-ir3lr you are a very sad person and a long way off understanding why I like the Ukrainians I meet, as well as the dozens of other nationalities that work with me and live in my house every year😂😂😂

[@havencat9337]

come here and try to date girls, you will see how ''friendly'' they are with eastern europeans and what they really thing of use

[@walkingwithshadows]

But not having worked in the UK you won't have encountered a representative sample. Those who aren't like that won't be working outside the UK (and more likely England). I would *like* to think that the vast majority, however, are as you describe, and that Brexit only happened because of the unrepresentative electoral system pandering to those who aren't.

[@jeanneknight4791]

36,500 British in Poland, to answer a question below. Learning a slavic language is difficult for native English speakers. Most British living aboad are in Spain, Ireland and France.

[@boink800]

And yet, Poland offers a great deal for refugees from the UK, escaping the high cost of living.

[@anthonyrybicki1000]

And most Britons fail to master the local language even when language tuition is free eg in Spain.Polish is however hard to learn but many Britons get by in Poland with a degree of tolerance shown by the local hosts.Not fashionable here I agree and Britain's image across the globe has diminished since Cameron took that fateful decision to court UKIP votes and consolidate the Tory grip on power.

[@noodleppoodle]

When you live in Poland you can get by in English perfectly fine. Most companies also offer private healthcare where you can book appointments in an app and with English speaking doctors. The only place - once in a blue moon - where you wound need Polish could be a government office. If you ask if anyone would help you and join you there you’ll find 10 volunteers in 3 minutes, because they are nice.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

Brits won’t be going over to Poland in any large number and if they do it’ll be from those with Polish heritage that were born in the UK.

[@boink800]

@@noodlyappendage6729 Never say never -- it could happen, as the cost of living gets more and more insane in the UK

[@WooShell]

No matter how little clue one has about international economics, the loss of Freedom of Movement alone should have been enough for everyone to vote against Brexit..

[@anthonywakeman9136]

The European Parliament is an unaccountable dinner club, you get priviledges so you stay in line and support the elite, don't be nieve.

[@igorsagdeev7881]

Not the chavs. They don't need no movement, just the government handouts.

[@nity2450]

Poland is a clean and calm country and they don't let just anyone in their country i enjoyed my time there

[@andrewnazarewicz7906]

Poles in Britain in the 1940s were not immigrants. They were part of the British armed forces.

[@marekszewczyk3208]

Shame!

[@michalinamarkowska8930]

They were not a part of British armed forces but independent Polish armed forces controlled by Polish government in exile in London.

[@andyk9685]

@@michalinamarkowska8930 Correct !

[@Votebritish]

Delighted to see the back of the Poles ,not because they are not decent folk, but they have their own homeland and should live there. Further , congrats to Poles for refusing that death cult Islam into Poland .

[@micheasz]

when it comes to the second world war, Poles remember how Great Britain treated Polish pilots after the war and how Poland was a card in the political game with the Soviet Union. fortunately, that is only history now, but the bad taste remains.

[@webMonkey_]

Housing prices are the killer of economic progress. It locks up investment in non productive assets , policy should be written to tax property investment and price rises out of the economy.

[@nicks4934]

One country has a bright future the other self destructed.

[@sutty85]

Yes, import the third world, become the third world.

[@RubbishGimpy]

Britain has a State within a State and that inner state is where the money is and its insulated from external sources ready for the economic environment to change. The major problem Britain has is the Conservative government.

[@kingofracism]

​@@RubbishGimpy wrong, it's British society itself. It's not just conservatives and labour, it's not just capitalism, it's not just monarchy, it's British people ourselves. We are the problem

[@piotrd.4850]

Yeah, by becoming Ukrainian colony.

[@cleightorres3841]

@@piotrd.4850 hello ivan how are those drones over moscow?

[@pb218]

On the one side, some Poles are leaving the UK and on the other side, British pensioners are also doing the same, going to Poland. Just read the article in the Daily Mail. According to the article "Poland and South Korea are among the destinations growing fastest in popularity among UK pensioners retiring aboard." 🤷‍♂️ Life...

[@theChaosKe]

During Christmas 2020 the city of Görlitz on the german polish border sent out little christmas packages with polish-german treats to poles living in the UK, advertizing them to come to germany after brexit where they can make a similar living while also being closer to poland lol

[@fighterscorner6787]

Where I live in uk there are more poles than British

[@clancywiggam]

@@fighterscorner6787 I doubt that.

[@tnickknight]

@@fighterscorner6787 I don't want to imply you are lying, but say it directly. What place do you claim this is true

[@timseytiger9280]

​@@clancywiggam Maybe he's talking about his own house, just 1 polish family no brits.

[@matthewsemple]

Nearly a third of all Poles living in Britain have left since 2016, according to Office National Statistics.

[@jamesvalpuesta7495]

Brexit was just part of traditional British delusion and exceptionalism that we are superior, our system is superior. The reality is we have been getting poorer over recent decades. We have deluded ourselves that producing financial ponzi banking profits not producing real products creates wealth. Poland will overtake the UK GDP wise I believe by 2030. Our education and health services have been continually cut in real terms. Money to the wealthiest who simply off shore their gains. No investment in our own country. Brexit was just putting the blame on foreigners for our social problems and gradually disintegrating the country. No blame on our political elites because the media is owned by them and their mates.. Of course our European friends left us after we blamed them for so many of our own self inflicted ills. Now we blame Russia for our problems and next year it will be China's fault... Joe public will just believe it because the media tells them too.

[@fourstarfuel9702]

You are so, so right.

[@celtspeaksgoth7251]

Yawn

[@sutty85]

Shut up! 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@ukrytykrytyk8477]

Couldn't agree more. Some people are trying to voice the issues like the organisation mapping concentration of ownership of land called "Who owns England" but such voices rarely surface in the main stream.

[@rockstar78970]

2030? More like 2026-27 as things are going, the UK is such a mess right now, I think it's almost done

[@gbtJHS]

I came to England in 2006 and have lived here ever since. Came here due to financial situation but looking back not only for that reason. After over 16 years, I definitely can see more clearly the benefits of both countries Poland and England. And of course I am happy that Poland is growing economically and hope that Britan will come back to that growth soon:). I learned that wherever you go, emigration is not for everyone. I think it is particularly difficult if the financial reason is the only one. Of course, if money is not the main drive of one's decisions. I knew it after first year in England, that if it was only for money, I would be back in Poland in no time:). For me, the reason is mentality. Looking at the bright side of things, politeness and better control over sharing frustration with other people - that is something I like to learn and possibly will be learning to the last day on this beautiful planet:). Although deep down we are all the same, I find it really helpful and more enjoyable day-to day, on the street, in the shop, at work and so on. I consider myself wired for emigration, therefore I choose to take from both cultures and mentalities what I think is best.

[@krob2327]

Gosh I wonder how poland had advanced.

[@bernardedwards8461]

Immigration would be OK if it were only Poles, but it's the United Nations in their millions, and by coincidence(?) Britain is going rapidly downhill.

[@gbtJHS]

@@bernardedwards8461 Not into politic so please accept my answer as the average ignorant's thinking. Every person who works and pays taxes adds to common well-being of society. Those who do not - do opposite, right? I wonder if the benefits' polices target fairly people who really cannot work. I wonder if budget planning and tax cuts have something to do with decreasing standard of leaving of average person in Briton. I might be wrong, but I wonder if the emigration impact might be a bit of fog curtain/ excuse for people in charge who may choose to focus on interests of smaller group of society.

[@bernardedwards8461]

@@gbtJHS When I sad UK is going downhill, a wasn't just referring to standard of living, I meant downhill in every way. Think of something, NHS defence, police, education, honesty, integrity, it was better 60 years ago, and at 85 iI am old enough to remember those times. Even the average IQ is worsening, according to some experts, and woke is wreaking havoc.

[@gbtJHS]

@@bernardedwards8461 Well, that I can only agree with. But in my opinion infamous credit belongs to somewhere else then emigration. Decrease of integrity, honesty, keeping promises, dare say - morals, in my opinions should be credited first. In both macro and micro-scale. Taking NHS - we are in collapse at this moment, but the individual GPs have still little bit they can share if they chose, i.e. time and attention to their patient. And I bet many still do. I stick to my deep believe that the line between good and bad runs across each person's heart not across country borders. I believe that things you mentioned are just part of the picture. Goodness is quieter, so may seem not to exist on the same level as other things that are so loud and visible. It does not men it disappears. And those of us who pray, can pray:)

[@jacekchmielewski6372]

The main reason is that Poland in the region will be one of the main growth areas as it has been already for the foreseeable future

[@Old-Skull.]

They were tired of working hard while others enjoyed their privilege. A Heartedly Salute to my Polsky friends, I truly miss some of them , very good people.

[@stanova3]

Most of eastern europeans arrived with a small backpack with couple pounds in their pocket limited language , willing to work really hard in fields or shops, factories and pubs with very bad living conditions sharing houses with many others, doing overtime, saving and educating themselves , now they own houses, work in good places ,go on holidays and save money, a lot of young brits dont want to do any of that. There was a documentary where they offered jobs like that to them and they refused to even consider it, ask any farmer out there how many british come and work in the fields, these are some of the most hard working people out there. But we dont have to do that anymore so we can choose. We dont deserve the hate we are getting. I moved to Ireland and people here are so much nicer.

[@cherylk.2474]

It would be interesting to know which immigrants the British prefer. Which groups begin to work sooner and are more successful at supporting themselves, and which require more time to assimilate into the workforce? Are all immigrant groups equally likely to be arrested for committing violent crimes? Such statistics are valuable to determine the true impact of immigration and to determine future immigration regulations and laws. It isn't too much to ask for immigration to not harm the receiving country. This would be an interesting study for all countries to consider.

[@natalias50]

It’s most likely due to their education and social status not the country they are from especially that Britain’s policy was multiculturalism not integration into society.

[@klszwarc]

Honestly? I lived there for 13 years and had no respect from the Brits, zero. Way too arrogant to be respectful to immigrants.

[@pascoett]

My Polish friends were either polite to not comment negatively or just told me that life in the UK “is a total mess now.” My last visit to Britain proper, was quite delightful but it was just a visit and well funded.

[@bobrybxl]

I’m Polish and living here in UK 🇬🇧 and still wanna stay here, but outside the big cities. UK is a beautiful piece of land . Amazing nature and good people .

[@MMircea]

There's a far simpler reason as to why the poles have returned: Their country isn't as far away economically and geographically from the UK. The moment they hit that critical point where their bank balances were sufficient and their work experience could be transposed into a decent-enough paid job in Poland, it became a no-brainer to return home. Not to mention the politically correct garbage their kids were increasingly exposed to in schools.

[@johncurtis3358]

One of my best friends in primary school was Polish (Yarislav). I am 67, voted for Brexit but always felt that Poles were welcome here. I am glad the Country is doing well now and hope to vist there one day.

[@27moniczek81]

T must thank you for the vote. I would have never known how amazing my country is. Just withrew my 300k, sold my house off and starting new life in Poland.

[@petedallas3044]

As an employer in the UK at this time who employed many polish people I have complete respect for their commitment and input. Everyone knows Brexit was a headshot for the so called UK. But english people voted for it.

[@Robert-xy4xi]

Cheap easy labour!

[@bryangeake5826]

@@Robert-xy4xi ...if you exploited it, which we did, that was our fault!

[@PGHEngineer]

Plenty of Romanians still here for you to freeload on.

[@tcritt]

​@@PGHEngineer Since when was employing someone freeloading? Unless you're a communist. Are you?

[@heycidskyja4668]

And the Welsh! We voted Brexit too!

[@MrTommyfi]

Same thing in Canada Poles are leaving due to the collapse going on here, Canada is quickly becoming a third world country

[@ulfosterberg9116]

Poland is going up. Uk is going down. Its that simple.

[@miroslawturski]

I really enjoyed the podcast as it exceptionally well coresponded with my own experience of somebody who had lived in the UK for 12y and finally returned to Poland after Brexit. In London I worked as a software enineer and my salary was really good for local standards. In Poland I earn MORE in absolute terms. On top of that, taxes and cost of living are lower. Standard of living is also much better here. I know many examples of Brits living in Poland. Those did recognise the potential before Brexit happened and many have already received Polish citizenship. If you want to come here and have some skills to offer, you will be more than welcome. And to make it clear, I AM NOT JOKING 🙂

[@Alex-df4lt]

Hi Miroslaw. We have met in the past. I think you have made the right decision.

[@27moniczek81]

Please can you speak to my hubby who is reluctant to leave UK? We are based in Leeds and want to move near Warsaw, he is a software developer lead and unable to move the spot whilst everything is crumbling in this country. I know IT market in Poland is picking up.

[@Alex-df4lt]

@@27moniczek81 In Leeds he will not have that high salary. He should be able to get the same salary in Warsaw. Only London beats Warsaw, but not in weather or quality of life.

[@27moniczek81]

@@miroslawturski 100k but he works for an international company. He could easily work for them from PL!

[@miroslawturski]

@27moniczek81 You are a bit wrong saying that the IT market is picking up in Poland. IMHO, it is more like in full swing now. There are many international companies here, including the absolute IT's industry top and many international banks. Back in the UK, I was also working for one of the biggies, but I could already see them moving away from the UK. In terms of salary, 100K sounds OK, but do you mean gross? Anyway, Warsaw presents most opportunities for IT engineers, but also the more expensive end. However, there are plethora of opportunities to work remotely. I myself work for a project in Warsaw, but live in Wroclaw. In such scenario you can live in a place of your choice.

[@samhartford8677]

I moved into the UK in 2002 with an MA, worked in global management in two foreign languages to me, and left in 2010 with a Ph.D. It was always self-evident in the attitudes of Brits, both at work and in academia, that despite being multi-lingual, speaking and writing better English than many of the British university students, I would never belong. I would always be judged as inferior by the British exceptionalists that are plenty. For my fantastic, highly educated Polish friends in the UK, I hope their children will be employing British au pairs to teach their grandchildren English.

[@mezakkia]

Facts! You grasped the essence of being an immigrant in the UK. This applies to all nationalities. No matter how your accent and language fluency may be flawless, your skin will always be of a different colour from theirs

[@samhartford8677]

@@mezakkia Well, that, but I'm a freckled white person with reddish hair...so I can't even imagine if one's skin was, on top of all the rest, of what they consider of non-British colour.

[@samhartford8677]

@@deathrattle5869 Yes, and that would be Finland. No wonder that people despised me for the lack of achievement in my country. Thank you for putting me straight! It was really my fault. I should never had thought that intelligent policies could improve a nation and its economy. Obviously we are mongrels and should never had thought that we could compete with the bravest, wisest and mightiest of all: THE BRITISH. May the Empire last long and its virtues be lauded all over the world, because we, the mere mongrels of the rest of the world can never be as intelligent as you. Shall your reign be restored and your might be beating down on us once again so that we will learn our place again. (Sarcasm warning.)

[@christian-ir3lr]

​@@deathrattle5869 Why is it so difficult for Brits to admit it?

[@bogdanpopescu1401]

@@samhartford8677 you really like projecting

[@graememudie7921]

Come to Scotland. We have many Polish workers here. Great people and hard worker.

[@clincpb8903]

I don't think they re hard worker, real pretenders.

[@oj7487]

@@clincpb8903 ???? Opinion based on what?

[@dennisfraser6896]

​@@clincpb8903i have Polish neighbours.Husband works his wife has three jobs.See if you can get A brit to do that.

[@27moniczek81]

@@clincpb8903 Last 3 weeks I worked 16h a day because my British colleague was stranded abroad and couldn't return. On top my toddler starts school next week, and we buy another house. I'm doing up my current house so I could sell. Don't project your work ethic on others. As a manager I can tell why this country is so unproductive.

[@georgesdelatour]

The postwar Polish economy was artificially poor, a result of 1) suffering the worst destruction of any European country in World War Two, and 2) forty-four years of Soviet communism being imposed on the country. But if you look at where Poland is on the map - in the middle of the North European Plain, just to the east of Germany - you'd expect it to be relatively prosperous, maybe just a little bit behind its German neighbour. It's now clear that's where it's going to end up in a decade or so. It's the economy of the UK which is more surprising. Manufacturing has slumped from 30% of the economy in the 1970s to just 9% today.

[@mattodonnel2835]

Uk is really a low wage country and everything is pricey.

[@hammerofolympia3716]

Not for long house prices will probably majorly tank in my lifetime due to Brexit and housing reforms hopefully otherwise come 30 years we are going to have alot of homeless old people.

[@pb218]

Don't forget about British state pension after 35 years of work. £203.85 a week, this is embarrassing!

[@arcin6738]

I and my family will be backing to Krakow this autumn, we just waiting for a house to be completed :) I'm here since 2004, I love UK, we have a lots of friends but what is happening now is not the same as it used to be. Is time to move on

[@richardh50]

We're (Britain) in a downward spiral, thanks to 13 years of Tory misrule & the Brexit disaster

[@pduffy421]

and what about the misrule of the trash from Labour? There are no political parties currently in parliament that actually support British or the British people. All are traitors.

[@welovepies]

"what turned Poland's situation around?" "Joining the EU". Of course. The day the UK left the EU we have descended into chaos

[@neculageorge7170]

Southampton had a lot of Polish when i first arrived in 2015, now are more muslims than Polish and Eastern Europeans in general

[@clutteredchicagogarage2720]

My family moved to the USA from Poland when I was a kid. As an adult, I lived for a while in the UK, and I made a lot of money when I started a successful business in the UK. Parts of London have beautiful architecture, and the city has an amazing history, but if you’re not rich then I don’t think the quality of life is very good. In the UK, I don’t think the upper classes respect people from Slavic countries. I truly believe that English people feel a sense of superiority- even if those feelings are subconscious. I say this as a successful businessman who could afford to live in any neighborhood in London. Still, I wouldn’t really want to. I should add that I met some wonderful English people when I worked in London, although I can only think of maybe one or two people who might be from wealthier English families who I think are decent and respectful to foreigners or people who aren’t from wealthy English families. I live in the USA because I am married to an American woman who has a successful career here in the states. If it weren’t for my wife’s career, I would probably move back to Poland because I think the quality of life there is as good as anywhere in Europe. The country is more meritocratic than the UK. The cities are clean and orderly. People are generally very respectful. The countryside is beautiful. The infrastructure now rivals any other part of Europe, and it continues to get better. If I were someone who moved from Poland to the UK for work as an adult, I would move back to Poland in a heartbeat.

[@MonikaMiliczka]

All I can think of is the joke about the Brexit and the polish removal. Anyway love the Poles! You got rid of them now you have different people in the U.K.

[@yulka1712]

‘It cannot go on because I’ve got no staff to wash up after afternoon teas’ OMFGGG womannnnn do you not hear yourself 🤣 we did so much of the worst labour in England (all the jobs no one wanted lowest paying too) and STILL when we leave they only see us as a discontinued dishwasher 😂kurwa…with that mentality everyone’s gonna lose all their workers in England because you just don’t respect individuals! Even when we’re gone look how you frame the situation 🥱 It’s not just about the poor living standards and poor pay, we get TREATED poorly a LOT of the time and people are too tired to continue in a culture that doesn’t value them as a person!

[@electrochrist1046]

well said