When Tony Blair was elected Prime Minister in 1997 he quickly set about re-branding of the United Kingdom.  With rising house prices, a seemingly robust economy and unemployment still falling, “Cool Britannia” was the place to be.

But as film stars and wealthy oligarchs have sought to make Britain their new home in recent years, native Britons are fleeing the islands in unprecedented numbers.  The number of emigrants has soared by 70% in the last 10 years and on average nearly 700 Britons are leaving the Scepter’d Isle each day in search of a better quality of life.

The concept of “Cool Britannia” and the trendy, optimistic pictures the name paints seems a long distant memory as a grey depression settles in over the country.  Many of those people leaving or planning to leave Britain cite remarkably similar reasons for their decisions.  Britain has changed rapidly and many people say they now feel like strangers in their own country.

Among the reasons given for a desire to emigrate are mass immigration, an increase in violent crime and anti social behaviour and rising taxation.  Also getting regular mentions are expensive housing and living costs, overstretched public services and crowded transport networks.

So where is the grass considered to be greener?  Australia, New Zealand, France and Spain are the top destinations based on the numbers starting new lives in those countries.  Many emigrants are also heading to Canada and the United States.  The concern in British industry is that a new brain drain is underway as those with marketable skills are seduced by a better standard of living overseas.  The consequences for Britain’s economic competitiveness could be serious.

Britain certainly appears to have no trouble attracting newcomers, with well over half a million people entering the country each year – outstripping emigrants by more than two-to-one.  But employers complain that very few immigrants are bringing the skills and expertise sought by the pharmaceutical, engineering and financial sectors where Britain earns most of its foreign income.

Britain faces a damaging skills shortfall that has prompted the Government to launch a number of hastily prepared initiatives to up skill the working population.  But will it be enough?  The emigrant tide shows no sign of slowing down.  With the number of departures in 2007 up by 21% on the 2006 figure, all indications suggest “Cool Britannia” has sailed over the horizon.

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©Tony Sharp