cricketman

Excellent article, more so for the comments than for the article itself.

I actually thought the comments were quite balanced, There were 5 or so who were very pleased the guiris were going because the "time of the English colonies of Queen Victoria are in the past" and "the British cant even say Adios after 10 years of living here" and "the British want Spain to be a cheap place for them, well hard luck!"

One guy said a British person he knows "couldnt stop crying" becuase he cant rent out his two flats or sell his villa in Calahonda for 300,000 euros even though he bought them dead cheap years ago.

I think Spanish people in the area feel a little abused by the British who have come to places like the Costa del sol, benefitted hugely by the rise and property prices and not offered back anything to Spanish society.

A few years ago, after uni, I did some work experience in Seguros Vitalicio in Malaga. My boss was really nice and helped me a lot, but the best thing is we'd go for coffees a couple of times a day with my work mates in the office. They really liked me because they said in all their years of knowing British people on the Costa Del Sol I was the only one they knew who spoke more than 3 words of Spanish and went to Spanish cafeterias and stuff like that. They were saying that Spaniards dont even get to benefit from their spending as Brits go to their own restaurants and own shops and even schools.

Now, I'm not saying this to big myself up, but to ask. Why should Spanish people care if the British went back home? I can't think of any reasons.

jackytoo

Economic? they didn't bring their language skills just their incomes and life-savings. Many comments on there acknowledge that. Infact one said if the Brits go they will be in la mierda.

cricketman

Oh absolutely, I think more Spanish people appreciate the presence of the Brits rather than detest it.

But "for the economy" is a rather souless reason, is it not? And as I mentioned before so many Brits now dont even venture into a Spanish-owned shop or even speak to a Spanish person on a daily basis, it gets to the point that even the economic reason becomes weak. And dare I ask how many pay their taxes?

I arrived in Spain when I was 18-19 and spent a few months here and spent some time in these faceless expat ghettos. And I thought to myself, if I was a young Spanish radical and I'd seen what has happened to my country, I would burn these places down!

Now maybe that says more about me than the actual situation But it opened up my fascination between how 2 nationalities can live in the same country, share the same air and land, but at the same time, live in two completely different countries!

mikelincs

A friend has just sold her house, catastral value 180,000€, for 95,000. She has been living in the UK for 3 years waiting to sell, and luckily has no mortgage. It has been bought by the Guardia Civil.

LittleWeed

I´d like to believe so but doesn´t seem to be that way from some of the comments.

It is a "souless reason" but a hugely profitable business for the Spanish. Everyone benefitted in one way or another from the massive inflow of investment, tax revenues, profits and, of course, kickbacks.

I Maybe better to lay the blame where it belongs - the partnership of corrupt politicians and large construction companies.

Almost sounds like "apartheid". This has not happened by accident but a result of sustainable development being sacificed to short term greed as matter of public policy.

Scribble

This is a stereotypical British thing to do.
If all the Brits are now leaving Spain, then it's probably a good time to head there
When you move to another country, you do so for the culture and life, you don't cut yourself off from that...at least you shouldn't.
Who/what is the stereotypical Brit that moves to Spain?

HBG

I live in a ‘Brit’ area where most of the Spanish seem to appreciate living next to us, although there are many glaring examples of bad behaviour, mostly in the summer when the children come to visit their expat parents.

I’ve witnessed an exodus of expats for purely economic reasons, mainly the falling pound, and I believe it will go on for a few years until a proper exchange rate settles, and I’ve got no idea what that will be.

During the current recession, I’ve noticed the opposite of what I expected; the expats and Spanish people seem to have become closer than before, realising that we are all suffering, and I’ve noticed few resentments from the local Spanish people, which surprised me.

I must say that our town hall is doing its utmost to provide jobs for local people, the whole place is being dug up and receiving a make-over. But, sadly, British businesses are closing at an alarming rate and the Chinese seem bent on invading the place.

SaritaBarcelona

The Chinese are hell-bent on world domination, and with their way of financing and running their businesses, not one will be having a closing down sale, you can bet your life on it... The Brits, and the Spanish too, would never work the number of hours the Chinese put in.

manamama

I am sure the Spanish supermarkets will suffer ...

Maybe the Brits in the tourist area eat at British restaurants, but their money doesn't end there, it goes to the owners of the restaurant, who in turn pay for spanish produce..and from there ?

..it's economics - a continous cycle where in the end the area benefits greatly.

Those who are happy to see the Brits go cannot see the big picture.

missile

One brit businessman told me chinese get prefential treatment to start up I suspect that it might be sour grapes?

Madridboy

Or should that read "Spanish people appreciate the presence of brit money"?

jackytoo

Many of the comments below that article were saying they are fed up of tourism and don't care if the Brits never come back. They think it is time the Junta started creating "real" jobs that have nothing to do with tourism.

cricketman

In many senses I agree - Spain relies too much on construction and tourism.

But it shouldnt be down to the Junta, it should be the people themselves starting up these businesses, through of course they need the support from the state.

Here is the latest initiative to try and get people to think more positively about the crisis:

http://estosololoarreglamosentretodos.org/

tawaghorne

Fly from Stanstad to Jerez by Ryanair

agoreira

Love to, but it's about a 5 hour drive each way for me!