We regret moving back to a nastier UK
BACK in 2003, dismayed with what Tony Blair and the Labour Party were doing to our country, my wife and I decided to retire to Poitou-Charente in south-west France. We bought a farmhouse, learned French, paid local taxes, made contributions into the health regime and were absorbed, as best we could, into the local community. We found a lifestyle that was reminiscent of Britain 50 years ago: low crime, young people respectful of their elders, politeness and a good quality of life. We enjoyed 12 years in France, learning the different cultural ways of the country. Personal circumstances made us consider coming back and, from a distance, Britain seemed in good shape. So we returned three years ago, buying a house and resettling into our home country. However, we have been mortified by the changes in society in such a short time. The police, NHS, social services, education and the local authorities all appear in turmoil. Violence and crime is rife, immigration out of control and politicians are behaving shamefully at a critical time for the country. We are awaiting the outcome of Brexit before we decide if we will return to France. ALAN BERESFORD, Ripponden, W. Yorks. MY PARTNER and I have lived abroad for six years and knew that we would have to provide for our healthcare ourselves. We have both had serious health problems while abroad, but put money aside for this and have never returned to the UK in order to claim NHS treatment. Our UK pensions are paid into UK banks and we pay UK tax on this money. It makes us value the NHS more now we are unable to avail ourselves of it, but we do not moan about it as we made a conscious choice to leave. I do not begrudge the ongoing small contribution through taxation that I continue to make to my home country. As for pension increases, why would we not be entitled to something we worked for and continue to pay for?
M. J. BICK, Mersin, Turkey.