Almost my entire family has left the UK to settle in other countries-- I was one of the last to leave and now I've taken off, too. I'm currently living, working and raising my children in Jena, a city in eastern Germany. The eastern German towns and cities are probably the best-kept secret in the world-- they're very low cost of living due to the westward migration that occurred after the fall of the Berlin Wall, but clean, modern, pleasant, economically and culturally vigorous, technologically advanced and creative, with outstanding schools. You do have to learn German eventually but they give you time to do it, and it's not as hard as I thought it would be.

My relatives are scattered all about-- two in France, three in Spain, one in Australia, one in the USA, one in Italy, two in the Netherlands (been getting free Dutch lessons) and one working in China.

Why are we leaving? Much as I love England, the crime here, misery, litter and poor infrastructure are too great to bear.

Janie, Jena, Thuringia, Germany

Your figures show that a grand total of 135000 Brits left in 2005-6, after subtracting a quarter million foreigners returning abroad. That means that around 0.2 of a percent of the population left; probably not a statistically significant figure and one that may well be within the margin of error of the survey - but never let is be said that a journalist allowed facts to get in the way of a story.

Ian, Frederick , USA MD

Having emigrated to Britain from SA,I'm intrigued by the money that I was allegedly given when I moved here. I couldn't even get a student loan,\. I now pay nearly 50% taxes, am law-abiding, but also have to put up with all the xenophobic comments. It seems most views on immigration law come from The Daily Mail
So, now I am on a look-see-decide trip in another country. The thought of returning to Britain is becoming less and less attractive, with the rain, the crime, the continuous whinging, long working hours and high taxation. Also, I do enjoy emigrating.

Lisa, London,

I am living in the UK for 2 years now and I have to say that I am not sick of the weather at all, but there are a few things I am strongly concerned about: antisocial behaviour, binge drinking, drink fuelled violence, ineficiency and incompetence of the national health service, extreme political correctness, big brother and other reality tv shows becoming a central point of political debate and influencing and determining what becomes acceptable social behavior. And of course my favourite is over taxation-you even have to pay if you have a tv and are blind!!! the best ever. Everyone has their rigths but no one cares about their obligations and responsibilities as decent human beings.

Maria, Glasgow, Scotand

Ditto to all the reasons for leaving the UK already printed. Living and working in Spain, I feel safer (and not just from the terrorist threat) and under far less oppressive scrutiny and surveillance. The reality is that thousands of expatriates are working as hard abroad - in many cases even harder- as in the UK in order to make a success of their various entrepreneurial businesses. The underlying rationale seems to be that the drive and determination that led them originally to uproot and emigrate - with all the concomitant sacrifices and stresses involved - ensure they continue to strive and succeed. No one wants to admit to failure!

In my own case, I was sufficiently driven, after my recent arrival here, by the frenetic activity all around to complete my first just-published psychological novel ‘The De Clerambault Code’ which focuses on the surveillance society the UK is fast becoming. And with the greater sense of freedom here, I know it won't be the last!

nora johnson, Marbella, Spain

Ditto to all the reasons for leaving the UK already printed. Living and working in Spain, I feel safer (and not just from the terrorist threat) and under far less oppressive scrutiny and surveillance. The reality is that thousands of expatriates are working as hard abroad - in many cases even harder- as in the UK in order to make a success of their various entrepreneurial businesses. The underlying rationale seems to be that the drive and determination that led them originally to uproot and emigrate - with all the concomitant sacrifices and stresses involved - ensure they continue to strive and succeed. No one wants to admit to failure!

In my own case, I was sufficiently driven, after my recent arrival here, by the frenetic activity all around to complete my first just-published psychological novel ‘The De Clerambault Code’ which focuses on the surveillance society the UK is fast becoming. And with the greater sense of freedom here, I know it won't be the last!

nora johnson, marbella, spain

Ditto to all the reasons for leaving the UK already printed. Living and working in Spain, I feel safer (and not just from the terrorist threat) and under far less oppressive scrutiny and surveillance. The reality is that thousands of expatriates are working as hard abroad - in many cases even harder- as in the UK in order to make a success of their various entrepreneurial businesses. The underlying rationale seems to be that the drive and determination that led them originally to uproot and emigrate - with all the concomitant sacrifices and stresses involved - ensure they continue to strive and succeed. No one wants to admit to failure!

In my own case, I was sufficiently driven, after my arrival here, by the frenetic activity all around to complete my first just-published psychological novel ‘The De Clerambault Code’ which focuses on the surveillance society the UK is fast becoming. And with the greater sense of freedom here, I know it won't be the last!

nora johnson, marbella, spain

I left because of the violence, constant vulgarity, filth and decline of society. England is being flushed down the toilet by it's own people. The streets are full of peoples from other lands, that are only there for a hand out and the British are stupid enough to give them the easy way in. I read with a smile on my face the news of constant violence, sex, drugs, gangs and stupidity. The reason I smile is, I predicted it all and I am proved right daily. The weather has nothing to do with people wanting to get out and away, it is the society breakdown that is causing it all. No one will take the trash if they wish to leave, so you will be stuck with the trash running the country.
You have let the situation get out of control, just like global warming, it is too late because man is greedy and there are no people as greedy as the English, you think a new car makes you look superior, showing off when you buy something that others dont have, childish and shallow.

James, alabama, usa

Prehaps the government should take note of this increase. My family and I intend to emigrate to New Zealand, not for better weather but for a better place to bring up our children where there are'nt gangs carrying knives & guns on every corner and criminals with more rights than law abiding people. This country is on a socially downward spiral and the government seem more interested political correctness & taxes than solving these problems. I dont see living in the UK getting better under any of the present political parties and I doubt I am the only person that feels this way.

Justin, Nottingham,

I moved to Spain in 2004 because after 12 years as a Police Officer in Coventry I'd had enough. I now live in rural Spain, my village is celebrating its fiesta this weekend and I love it. Everyone asks if we've any plans to go back. What for? The wages may be low in Spain but so are the prices as is the crime rate. The life style, the weather and the people make my life a pleasure to live as opposed the existence I endured before.

Mark Tissington, Hondon de los Frailes, Spain

We did it, one less paramedic and one less Nurse in the UK.

New south wales, Western Australia and even south australia now recruit UK Paramedics.

Queensland Ambulance Service is looking to recruit up to 750 external applicant Paramedics, managers, control room staff (mostly british) over 3 years.

John, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Could this have something to do with unbridled immigration in Britain? Could it be that letting almost everyone in and so showing scant regard for Britain's identity gives off a sense that no one actually cares about the country any more? If a country no longer believes in itself, why should its long time citizens?

Ted, Rome, Italy

Fifteen years ago my wife, three children and I settled in France. Nowadays our small village has become inundated with English people who , having finished their active lives, have come for the sun, the cheap wine & the relative cheapness of the houses. Many of them whine about contemporary England but what I find amazing is that whilst they lived there they contributed, positively or by negligence, to the very faults they now find so inacceptable. We English always were gifted with a developed sense of self-righteous hypocrisy . PS We decided to leave so that our children should be at ease within a wider european culture and because I, personally, believed that the crude materialism unleashed during the Thatcher years would destroy the very qualities which I held dear in what is still my country.

Tony Harding, Aude, France

I'm not sure it's just the weather. Iraq, Gordon Brown, the growing tax burden, public services still dire, the nanny state - they all carry a share of the blame.

Mark Brown, London, UK

I left the UK for Cyprus back in 2003 and I don't regret it for a moment.
I now live blissfully in a country of extremely low crime, very low taxes and Community Charges (£75 a year for my 6 bedroom house and 3 acre garden), strong family values, fairly priced food and drink. And totally free of something we all laugh about here called Political correctness.
Oh not to mention the consistently good Springs and Summers that prevent us from still walking around in the UK rain with faces like fiddles

Chris Parsons, Kouklia , C

Can you blame them?

What sort of future do we have here with Blair’s Famous Human rights.

Keep any murdering scum protect them look after them.

Don't worry about the wife’s feelings.

Let’s see if we can get a few more I am sure this new Labour lot will find some excuse to keep released non British prisoners.

Unless you have been living in a bubble you must know who I am talking about.

No wonder decent people leave.

John Ryan, Oldbury, UK

As a migrant to the UK, none of this comes as a surprise - especially the mention of the leap in those of foreign origin leaving the UK.

Due to a rule change my UK ancestry visa now needs to be extended for 12 months to comply - at the same full price as a new 5-year visa. This after already paying for the current visa, years of paying taxes (with no recourse to public funds!) and contributions to the NHS - because the government decided to make the change retro-active to make more money!

Add mounds of paperwork and insane bureaucracy, not to mention BIA granting residency to CONVICTED CRIMINALS to become would-be Tube Bombers, non-deportation of convicted criminals while law-abiding people get put through the wringer and a partner who wants to move to Canada instead, this all has me seriously considering my future contributions to life in Britain.

If places like Israel and Hungary can have "right of return" for their ethnicities in diaspora to come home, why not Britain?

Richard, Britsol, UK

i'm sure weather is not the only reason people are leaving it may also have something to do with crime figures,police response times,poorly funded health service and now we read about criminals being let out of prison early.This country is fast becoming the dumping ground of europe while the government seems to be turning a blind eye.with all the funding they give to immigrants when they arrive perhaps they should provide money for people to leave the country for a better life.Just one question,who is going to be left to pay tax????

Brian, Mansfield,

These figures come as no surprise. I know of many colleagues and friends who have made the decision to work/live abroad in recent years. The combination of the UK weather and increasingly high levels of taxation (leaving less disposable income) have given the impetus to those seeking an improved quality of life in overseas locations.

David Powell, Higham, Kent, UK