It is always good to stand outside the situation you find yourself in and look at it from the outside in order to assess the situation in a good way. I sometimes go about my everyday life and maybe feel a little dissatisfied about certain things. Thank you for helping me see Gothenburg a little from the outside. It made me feel proud of my city of Gothenburg, that I am Swedish and a citizen of the European Union.
I was the victim of credit card fraud in Göteborg many years ago (I stupidly let the card be taken out of my sight for a few minutes when paying in a restaurant). The bank sorted it out within days and I got my money refunded. But what followed was seven years of being contacted regularly by the police there regarding how their investigation was going, mostly by a lovely lady who had been appointed as my "liaison officer" (they had identified the culprit but were after the organised crime bosses behind the scheme so did not arrest the individual involved). Eventually I was invited back to the city as a material witness in the case that finally was made against the syndicate responsible - a full week put up in a good hotel at the Swedish government's expense, meals included, during which time I was only required in the end to make a full written statement which would be used in court - which took about half an hour or so - and all the time as a "guest" of my "liaison officer" with whom I had a lovely time being shown around by herself, her husband and their mates. So I even got to see what the underside of a Swedish table looks like after a few too many beers. All very civilised, and a lovely memory - if one is going to be defrauded I heartily recommend one arranges it to be in Göteborg! Oh, and yes - drawing comparisons between there and most British cities, especially post-Brexit, could be construed as gratuitous cruelty for many people marooned in the latter. But I think even had you made this video a decade or so ago, it might have run the risk of being similarly construed.
Amazon refused to pay a fair tax on its earnings in Norway so the Norwegian government banned them from operating there. Norway businesses have now developed their own systems and pay taxes on their profits within Norway. Norwegian government, businesses, technology and people all benefit.
Hi Michael! I am Danish. What you have seen in Göteborg goes very well for the rest of Scandinavia and Finland. Life here is pretty easy, we do not lack any food (or beer 😉). The Danish economy is better than the Swedish and been for many years. In 2008 I had my own house (sold it), I did not feel the crisis at all. Some might have felt it, but as I recall it was a bump in the road, not much more. It might not have been the same in other countries, the Danish economy is very strong. Prices in Denmark and Norway are generally much higher than in Sweden. But so are the wages. It is very popular to live in Malmö (SE) and work in Copenhagen (DK). The trip takes 40 minutes by train. Visiting Sweden was clever, 4 countries with one stone. Estonia, a rundown old Soviet country filled with poor people with only a horse and a cow. Hold the picture in your mind, and jump on a plane a visit the country. I guarantee many of your viewers are in for a chock. Where they are now are astonishing and would definitely not been possible without the EU. Keyword: "Digital".
@@robsucher9419 Ohh, if they are honest, they will admit it. Guess where they are going for a good weekend out? Yes, that's correct. Copenhagen is simply in another tier. Mostly due to architecture, history, entertainments (Europe's best Jazz city BTW) and not least the food. I think there are over 10 Michelin restaurants in CPH, and Noma have been the world's best in total of 4 years, IIRC.
@@robsucher9419 Its interesting , like capitals are always interesting. But Copenhagen is miles behind the grandeur of Stockholms 14 Islands in the center, with one of Europes best preserved living medieval city centres. Its simply no competition. Copenhagen doesent have the same amount of surprises as Stockholm for a visiting tourist.
*_Summary:_* The video features a discussion about the quality of life in Sweden, specifically in Gothenburg. The speaker reflects on the opportunities available to young people, including access to free university education and low-interest rates for home buying. They highlight the overall positive living conditions, such as cleanliness, well-maintained parks, and availability of fresh food. Key points include: - The speaker enjoys a visit to Sweden despite the weather, citing good food and a high standard of living. - There are concerns about gun violence in certain areas, attributed to past immigration policies. - Gothenburg appears prosperous, with no visible signs of economic decline like boarded shops or homelessness. - The social welfare system is strong, providing support for the homeless and affordable childcare. - The speaker compares living costs between Gothenburg and Manchester, noting lower rents and childcare costs in Sweden. - Overall, there is a sense of optimism and satisfaction among the residents regarding their lifestyle. The video aims to counter negative perceptions of life in Europe compared to the UK, suggesting that living conditions in Sweden are generally better.
Hello Michael, thank you for your efforts in bringing these very informative travel experiences to us. From this and your previous videos it appears obvious that, in Europe, it’s now a whole new world unlike the declining state of the UK. I’m in my 70s and doubt that the UK will ever recover what it has lost due to its delusions of past Empire and Imperial might, and ‘blitz spirit’ that very few (now in their 80s) personally experienced. Brexit only benefits disaster capitalists and no one else. Best wishes from Oxfordshire 🇪🇺
Your video was nicely put together, Michael, and it was helpful that you spoke to a good number of people who were able to give you a flavour of life in this desirable city. The contrasts between living in the UK and living in Sweden seem notable, particularly in matters of education, healthcare and welfare, and consequently quality of life. Thank you for bringing these issues to our attention, and I applaud your effort in putting together another useful city guide, to show us aspects of life beyond our usual limits of knowledge and appreciation.
The beauty of the Scandinavians is that they put society first . They aren’t greedy grifters or authoritarian communists . Just want to get on with living . They realize that relationships are the most important things .
Thank you Michael, for this interesting tour of Göteborg. Sweden is a socially very advanced country very different from UK class dividing culture. Have a nice Sunday.
You will see a correlation in European countries such as Netherlands, Nordics etc where taxation is much higher than UK but public services, infrastructure, health & social care are sublime in comparison, and guess what, people are happier! 🙏
Incomes are MUCH higher, output / productivity also MUCH higher, my social service regime is accepted. You cannot have one without the other. You have with numbers of immigrants like dirt or panels speak the language have no usable skills and menu deep pathetic to society into which they come. Another reason why the west is absolutely eviscerated by radical left ideas.
@@bradsmith9689 wilders won 25% of vote, so 75% of people didn’t vote for him, and under their PR systems, means he would never be PM. I lived in NL 13 years from 2009-2022, general infrastructure and living standards are far higher than in the UK, public services are not even comparable. They do have a problem with affordable housing though, which is a basic and they need to fix, if people can’t afford somewhere to live then you will erratic election results.
@alistairrobinson3865 we are definitely happier. It would be more difficult to sleep at night if we thought our neighbours might be starving, destitute or lacking basics like heating.
Thank you for your video documentary Michael. I am an ex-pat Brit who now lives in Sweden. I can tell you that life here in Sweden is hard work especially during the cold winters but the dividends of that hard work are very sweet. Very sweet indeed.
Wonderful expose Michael!!! You just proved from the one comment, "a little boring" because it's so peaceful and quiet at your visiting location and there's no fear of getting robbed or rampant stealing in Sweden society because nobody has to rob anybody to survive. Absolutely refreshing to hear!!!! 🍻 Cheers mate🙏🕯️
When the referendum result came through in 2016, you didn't need to be a rocket scientist to foresee the consequences. I started my escape plan in 2017 and since 2018 I have been resident in northern Portugal. The difference between here and the UK as regards quality of life is staggering. Obviously, the weather is better, but that's geography. That said, 7 years in and not one incidence of anti-social behaviour; an incredibly safe environment where I can go anywhere at anytime and be perfectly safe; Supermarkets and markets chock-full of fresh items, fruits, vegetables, meat and fish, with affordable prices. A nice urban living environment - no litter to be seen anywhere. Travel into Porto is fast, safe and efficient, with prices that are so much cheaper than the UK. Plenty of places to go out for a meal, the prices of which compare favourably to the UK. Ready access to health care. All in all, life here is well ahead of life in the UK. As for those who still laud Brexit, I would say that out of the 28 countries in the EU before June 2016, if Brexit is so wonderful, why is it that the other 27 countries show no inclination whatsoever to follow the UK's lead? Perhaps the answer is quite simple - they are not inclined to perform self-harm. Time will indeed be the judge; I think time will show Brexit to be the single biggest mistake since Neville Chamberlain called Hitler a "gentleman" in 1938.
@@dougposkitt1690 and they’re not roused by jingoistic, flag shagging grifters working them up about when Britain was great and lauded itself over everyone.
Why would a country that is a net recipient of EU money want to leave? Make them all pay the same percentage of their national income INTO the EU pot as the UK did and they will soon change their tune. Easy life when you get massive infrastructure investment when other countries are paying for it.
@@sc3pt1c4L whatever we paid into it we got a hell of a lot more out of it. Even Farage infamously had to hold one of his rallies at a venue funded by EU money (as well as taking his salary from the European Council.)
@@whateversunpopular1338 Can you list what we got out of it over and above what we had and would have had anyway with the trade we did with Europe before the EU. Data is my thing, and I'd like to see you give the hard economic data on the facts.
I left Britain four years ago for sunnier climes, and have no intention of ever returning, not even in a wooden overcoat. However, I take no delight in watching such a tragic spectacle unfold, even from a distance, but sadly the UK is what it is I'm afraid, a country in terminal decline.
Going from a British superstore to its Thai equivalent was like going from the third world to the first world. My Tesco superstore in Devon would regularly run out of tomatoes, peppers, fresh fish, etc. - when I went to a Tops superstore in Thailand, there was barely any room to move for so much fresh produce - I'd forgotten what a supermarket should look like ... and of course everything was cheaper.
Looks like a very nice place. Somewhere i could live or at least spend a longer holiday. Of course, they will have their own problems like any community, but they do not let it show with beggars or drop-outs in the street or barricaded shop windows. Thanks for the video Michael ❤
Thanks for another one of these important visits Michael - when I visited Gothenburg in the 90s it put our industrial and port cities to shame, the difference now is exponentially worse. The UK is a shabby outpost of Europe, I fear for our children's collective future.
I have lived in Sweden, Italy, Germany and Netherlands over the last 20 years and I can assure viewers that the quality of life in each of these countries is high and rewarding, plus the freedom of travel and work across Europe magnificent. Michael, you’re spot on! 👍
The UK is so depressing right now. Brexit was the nail in the coffin, and there's no sign that things will improve anytime soon. I guess going abroad, if possible, is the only option left.
@James-KL Italy has a fascist government. I don't know how this can do any good to a country. LGBT rights in Italy are far behind the civilised world.... In the Netherlands, they have voted for Wilders... and people prefer this to a major labour government in the UK. I don't get it.
@edmaximum The EU is worse.. Germany is sinking due to huge mistakes made by Angeka Merkel. The EU is in deep trouble. I think the UK is fine out. This is not the problem. I hope the labour government will do well.
@MrMotown2011 Not true. The cost of life in Spain, for example, is very high. Most people can't afford to rent a place in cities like Madrid or Barcelona. Stop fantasising about the EU. It's a disaster for many people.
As a Gothenburg native it's always nice to see an outsiders perpective on our little corner of the earth. Hope you had a lovely time visiting! Gothenburg stands out abit compared to others cities in Sweden and partly owes some ot that to the vast amount of Dutch and later Scottish immigrants that came here during the younger years of this city. Gothenburg used to have alot of canals in the old part of town, a heritage from the Dutch builders that basically helped found this city.
Its amazing to get a glimpse of a real country, a real society, and real economy for once. Imagine people actually mattering. The US and UK seem barbaric by contrast, like we are inching backwards into the 19th century almost.
The class system in the UK is a real drag on the economy. When opportunities for the best and brightest are restricted just by what school they went to or their accent by then the whole economy suffers. Nepotism and cronyism unfortunately is still rife in the UK.
It tells a lot about a country when a government allows state funded education for the whole population drop in quality behind privately funded education for the few.
Worlds apart isn't it. That said Scandinavia probably has never been a good example to compare against the UK. The high taxes (but strong social system) is a different path followed. The UK wants to emulate the USA it seems (cannot think why) so we end up with low(er) taxes but poor public services and social welfare. I would swap with Sweden any day or the week. (Except I can't of course because of brexit ☹)
@@normanpearson8753 I think basic tax is much higher in Sweden, around 30-35% which in turn allows for the superb social system. Top rate tax is certainly higher than UK. The overall tax burden in uk seems high because of all the sneaky ways they extract tax from you but it isn't spent, as far as I can see, in an equitable way. We seem to waste so much here.
@@carluxx77b Well both systems put most of the burden on the low- to medium income households. Perhaps it might seem like we have figured out taxation here in Sweden, but we haven't, tax evasion is the name of the game among those with enough assets to make it worth their time... and honestly sometimes it ain't even worth working more or asking for a higher salary because you hit a higher tax bracket. Then certain kinds of taxes are extremely deceiving, my family for example own a farmstead which we have built on for generations. We payed a lot of money to rebuild a inefficient electrical system, connect fiber optic cables and install solar panels. All of this was just so we could switch to EV's and since we were already digging, the fiber optic cable just made sense. This caused a massive value increase on the property, which in turn increased the housing tax. We were able to deal with it, since we are a large family sharing costs, but it felt extremely punishing since we are by no means a wealthy family in general, our wealth is essentially the fact we have some land and have built houses on it... many rivers lead to one ocean and all of that. So taxes ain't always on point here... why should we be punished for making our lives less impactful on the environment, it just don't make much sense to me. It would considering the political climate, make more sense they would pay us to fix these things.
I have a lot of family in Sweden, and have visited there many times over the years. Their quality of life has always been fantastic and is vastly superior to ours. When they are over here, they are appalled at just how bad things have become...especially after brexshit. Roll on Scottish freedom from Wasteminster, and to becoming a normal independent European country at last. People in Sweden could not believe we were hauled out of Europe against our will. 🏴 🇸🇪
Clean, organised, hard working and a logical people. No food banks, vaping shops or bookmakers on every corner that I could see. And best of all, no Tories destroying the very fabric of their society.
@@stephenspence-d9q This year was the first time I'd voted in a general election since the nineteen-nineties. I'll never vote again, except when it's another referendum for Scotland's independence.
Thank you Michael, Sweden a wonderful Country, thank you for shewing, just shews up Brexit Britain for what it really is - inward looking, poor, down at heel, cheerless. My Son and his Family live and Work in Germany and it is similar to Sweden.
Thank you Michael What a shame the UK has been run by such a bunch of greedy fools for so long. Living in Spain, life is much better here, maybe you should come to Granada next time. Keep up the great work
I actually moved to Gothenburg from the UK after the Brexit vote but before we officially left. My quality of life has drastically improved and I even managed to buy a house out here. I’m now in the final stages of obtaining Swedish citizenship. Best decision I ever made.
I guess you were against "multicultural enrichment" when you lived in UK, but as many Brits (and Dutch, and Germans, and French, and Italians, and Americans, and Boers from South Africa, all COLONIZERS!!!) who have "fled" to Sweden you embrace it here like any other "refugees" from wherever. IT IS ALWAYS A BAD IDEA TO LET REFUGEES IN NO MATTER WHERE THEY COME FROM.
You should have compared it to Malmö.. as a Norwegian we do our Christmas shopping in Gothenburg.. or Copenhagen. It used to be London, but that's impossible now.. I know Norway is a bit special, but.. I got my higher education in the UK and hold a UK passport.. I am absolutely against the form the Schengen system works currently, but the UK was never part of that so... Now sending your children to study abroad no longer involves the UK, and we have reverted to Germany, as was traditional, or Australia or Latin America.. I'm afraid.. even going to the UK for a holiday as was a regular thing, is not tempting at all, and as I can retire anywhere I want now, due to the sovereign wealth fund etc.. England is not an option. It looks like it did in the 70s everywhere and feels dead and troubled. Brexit has been the straw that broke the back. I think.. and Stil .. no solution to all the immigrants and the underprivileged and religiously victimim players. A dire place on an island with.. nothing but the worst things the US can export
I am the English guy that served you, and we spoke, in one of the pubs during your stay. It was a pleasure to meet you and chat with you! Great video, and keep on highlighting the dire situation within Britain!
@AjarComet101 - Hi Scott - thank you for your kind words. It was a great pleasure meeting you. I really enjoyed the time I spent at John Scotts Caleo and hope I can return one day. I wish you all the very best - Michael 😊
Another world compared to here. I was thinking about the difference between the shopping centre in Gothenburg and, as an example, the Potteries Shopping Centre in Hanley. In Hanley you see about 20 people around, half the shops are closed and others poor quality. Just as bad in the Eu?! What a joke!
Whenever you make these videos, Michael, I'm always struck by how friendly and intelligent the people you speak to are and also by the spotlessness of the streets. It certainly looks like a lovely place and no wonder those who live there are filled with such optimism.
In all fairness. The Scandinavian countries have long been way ahead of most of Europe in terms of standards of living, but most importantly, the appliance of "common sense" & practical logic in the way their Governments run them. There is also a certain pride in their country the like of which I have not seen in years in Britain. They also steer well clear of the "Feudal System" of Governance as is practiced even now in 21st. Century Britain.
Thankyou for the video, im from Belfast i moved to Sweden in 2007 with my swedish wife. We live in Stockholm, Sweden has good standard of living very good health service, community service education system and transport network. It's a cashless society we pay mostly by card or phone, many places don't take cash. Even public toilet you need your card. I had to become a swedish citizen as i couldn't travel in Europe with out Visa's for each country. So i still don't have a blue passport. I love your videos i have followed you since Brexit, i am pessimistic about UK i think it will crash soon.
I admire your style. A very profesionally done video with some nice background musical tracts. Real creditable interviews. Very interesting responses. A fact-finding visit well worth your time and effort.
@@MichaelLambert1 an interesting factoid: the young gentleman being interviewed said that he is employed by OPERA. I happen to be a shareholder of that company.
Dear Mr. Lambert, I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to express my deep sadness about the current state of affairs following Brexit. As someone who has always valued unity, cooperation, and progress, the departure of the UK from the European Union feels like a profound loss on many levels. Since the referendum in 2016, we've witnessed significant shifts in both the UK's position in the world and the quality of life for many of its citizens. Comparing our situation to that of our European neighbors is particularly disheartening. Economically, the figures speak for themselves. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that Brexit will reduce the UK’s GDP by about 4% in the long term, a level of contraction that directly impacts industries, businesses, and household incomes. Meanwhile, EU countries have maintained trade agreements, which have allowed for smoother transactions and fewer disruptions. In contrast, British companies are facing new tariffs, delays at borders, and a complex regulatory environment that is making it harder to remain competitive on the global stage. In terms of workforce, we’ve also felt the strain. In many sectors, from agriculture to healthcare, the reduction of free movement has resulted in staff shortages that our EU neighbors are not experiencing to the same degree. For example, the hospitality and farming industries in the UK have struggled to fill vacancies that were once filled by EU workers, while many EU countries continue to benefit from the free flow of skilled and unskilled labor. From a personal and cultural perspective, the divide feels just as stark. Traveling freely across Europe is now more complicated, with UK citizens losing the automatic right to live, work, and study in 27 countries. Meanwhile, EU nationals continue to enjoy these freedoms, allowing them to expand their horizons and build stronger, interconnected futures. It’s hard not to feel that Brexit has left the UK more isolated, while our European counterparts remain united and forward-looking. While I fully understand the reasons behind the desire for sovereignty and control, I can’t help but reflect on whether the cost of this independence has been too high for the everyday citizen, who is now facing economic strain, diminished opportunities, and a more uncertain future. Perhaps, as you mentioned in your video, it’s time for our political representatives to re-evaluate their priorities. When MPs in the UK begin to face the same challenges and costs as the rest of the population, we might start to see the changes that benefit all of us, rather than a select few. I’m grateful for your insights and your thoughtful presentation. I hope this period of reflection leads to a future where we can rebuild and find new ways to thrive, despite the challenges we now face. Kind regards, D
I have visited Sweden on several occasions, training Swedish firefighters. The thing that how layed back and happy swedes were and content with their lives. I also spent several weeks in Malmo and found the stories of gun fights in the streets and Muslim no-go areas to be hugely exaggerated. On my last visit I lived in the Muslim area of Limhamm with no problems at all.
@@brianferguson7840 Calling Limhamn a Muslim area just tells me how little you have grasped of the place. Limhamn is Malmö's posh area, and definitely not a Muslim area. There haven't been ANY Muslims there until the past couple of years. And when some were moved into some apartments, there was a huge outcry. Since then, there has been several shootings in the area. As you must have seen, there are mainly villas there, and there is not a single Muslim living in those expensive houses. You go live in Rosengård next time, THAT'S a Muslim area. And being a teacher of fire fighters, you must have been told about the huge problems with attacks on firefighters and ambulance staff. They can't go into many areas without police protection. And the problem with migrants setting cars on fire, and now a new modus operandi, setting entrances a fire instead of bombing or grenades. I find your comment naive and ignorant beyound.
Excellent real-life video documenting what a better world could look like in the UK (and other parts of Europe, too). I'm sure not everything is perfect in Sweden, as they live in the same planet, so they are not immune to complex problems and challenges we are all facing. Yet I can see dedicated cycle lanes, street cars, and no homeless tents like in the UK.
And it is probably much like in Denmark. It is not only now that child care is cheap. 34 years ago I had a job abroad and came home to Denmark to study. My boyfriend lived in a completely different place in Europe and had just started his career. We hadn't planned it, but at that moment I found out I was pregnant. So what now? I asked the municipality if they knew of a place where I could get an apartment and got one straight away. I studied, got my state education grant. Got my child and paused education for a year, but was still provided for as a single mum. Then when I returned to my studies I got child care for free. I really can't complain about anything. As a young unmarried woman I could study and have children at the same time. Paid by taxes, they invest in people being able to get ahead regardless of the situation they are in. And it is probably a good investment in the long run. The question about homeless people. It sounds like a joke, but some just choose to be it: everyone is entitled to a place to live and being provided for, but some feel even more isolated sitting alone somewhere.
Having worked in psychiatry for much of my life, I have to admit that some people indeed do "choose" homelessness, but that's not all of them, and in particular children aren't responsible when their parents aren't able to live an ordinary life and follow the same rules as everyone else. For the sake of these kids, I'm prepared to support their parents with shelter and whatever can be arranged, even if the adults appear to be spoiling our support, again and again.
I live in Belfast and my partner is Swedish. Belfast has changed A LOT, probably the most out of any UK/Irish city in terms of development and demographics, even gentrification, but the standard of services/quality of life/wages is pretty much stagnant/in a complete decline. Your money does not go far here anymore. I think I'll be making the move to Sweden in the next 5 years. The country puts a spring in my step and makes my heart sing
UK is becoming more and more like a Dickens' novel. Yes, that miserable. Mainland Europe and Merde Island are like different planets. All I have to do is listen to one of the UK national radio stations to get a daily update on stabbings, NHS failings and general all-round decay. Oh, and Brexit. Starmer is a nice guy, but he is deluded if he thinks that EU will give a centimetre without UK sticking to original agreements.
It won't be Starmer's fight. He still has to appease the brexiteers and work with what he's been given. There would need to be a whole new political generation in UK and EU, at least another decade or so, before UK joining could even be on the table, with a lot of inching back towards it with policies and agreements before that ever happens either. I hope I live long enough to see the mends and amends made, and I'm American! Watching the UK kneecap itself has been an ongoing tragedy. These trends, for the US, UK, and other applicable places, we need to break these political and economic trends.
@Minimmalmythicist Hospitals, carehomes, hospitality are just three of many industries n the UK that are short of staff.Off course unemployment rates have fallen - we are awash with vacanices!
@Minimmalmythicist Yes, the likes of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, other EU members were always better than the UK. Yes, we do need to reserve some rationality when we use Michael's videos as comparability evidence with the UK. Nevertheless I am grateful for Michael's videos. It's far more valuable than hearing Brexiteers, and Brexiters, where the former are too gutless to admit error, and the latter are too emabarrassed, claiming the EU also having the same probems.
@Minimmalmythicist Then, with respect, if you deem Michael's content as propaganda on the opposite sprectrum to GB News then the issue is entirely yours. Even though you didn't vote for Brexit, I sense that you have difficulty removing tribalism out of politics. It surprises me that you adopt this stance because Brexit has produced nothing favourable for the UK. Michael reads all posted comments. If you have suggestions on how Michael can best illustrate to his readers the damage of Brexit failure, then do write them. Personally, I'm grateful for Michael's videos. It is a great annoyance to me that Brexit truths are widely ignored by mainstream media, and only available to the public who are interested enough to seek it via a handful of political UTubers.
Sweden is an example we Italian try to follow; thanks to their civility and forward thinking we have improved too. It is the EU that allowed it. Thank you Sweden thank you EU.
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Yes, I have seen some improvements in Italy, among them it seems to have become cleaner. I visited in the 2000s, and one time around 2012. Especially in the 2000, some places, including in Rome, looked like a dumping ground. But I have seen that it's starting to improve, very nice! :)
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Now you just need to make sidewalks in many more streets (Sweden and Norway - at least in cities - tend to have many sidewalks often (not always) even out in suburb neighborhoods - if there's no sidewalk, it's nearly always because it's a low traffic street), and better cycling infrastructure.
An excellent video Michael but sad to say that Britain has self harmed and just keeps sinking .There is not one thing left in UK for the people .Transport , health , public services are in shreds .Outside of central London it really is mess. Gothenburg is wonderful and has not changed a bit .Makes all the difference when a government creates a society where all have a chance ...
Sweden was miles ahead years ago. Nothing has changed in class ridden, Geographicaly divided UK. Brexit or no Brexit. As long as there is no consensus among the politely parties/population, rejoining will never happen and there is no chance of that consensus!
Sweden has done well from their social and longterm forward thinking. Up until the early '70s, Gothenburg was one of the major builders of ships to the world. Now all gone, but they have invested in IT and high-tech companies and they are good at it! There also appears to be greater pride in their environment and along with Norway have had recycling schemes for so many decades now. Sure - on a Sunday morning in central Gothenburg or Stavanger - there are fast food packages and wrappers in the street - but wait an hour or so and the streetsweepers will have been along to clear it all. In UK - it is common to see people sitting on a bench in their town/village, eating fast food and simply getting up and walking away - leaving the crap behind them on the bench. UK has a societal problem as well as financial.
Please do visit Norway. I am half Norwegian, so not without bias concerning Sverige or "swer-ie" as there norse would say it, Norway was one of the four foundered members of NATO in 1949 and since oil has prospered without blowing their new found wealth. Not in the EU but powerfully connected at the hip, it trades seesmlessly with the Union. A fascinating case. I would love your take on this unique case for a country. Best wishes from George in UK
You have Oil, and you managedit well like the Shetlands, the English squander their assets in fatuous ideologies. Crap. It is nothing to do with Open borders. It is a strange fact that Sweden has experienced two assassinations before they were a member of the EU. Olaf Palma, probably because he knew too much about Oliver North, and the foreign Secretary ind for the same reasons> Sweden and Boffers are in the armaments industry, an industry without scruple and capable of crossing all borders, and it is possible that Princess Diana was ki led not by the Duke of Edinburgh as the absurd English Media writes, with their eye for everything irrelevant but because of her work in campaigning about anti personnel mines. Her first charity and a sign of a young woman beginning to have opinion of her own and finding her feet . It is rumoured that she had won the Nobel Prize for Peace, and the British Armaments Industry would not want a Nobel laureate as queen. May I remind you that the only assassinations for political reasons in this country was committed by a crazed Brexiteer. Not an immigrant sonny, but an English home born cretin, You talk such utter rubbish you people in your obsessions. You use statistics which are actually merely correlation coefficients that exclude associated factors. In my work, to avoid that absurdity we used Eigenvector Analysis an nested Block Analysis of Variance that employ matrices. Do you know what they are? One of the delightful asides on our membership of the EU is that since we have left Afghani refugees from the Taliban have introduced cricket back into Germany and it is a growing sport. The English members of the EU made no effort to share their singular culture with Europe but the Afghans, not even in the British Empire or Commonwealth went to Germany and it is their contribution. Your obsessions cloud your mind, they pervert statistics, they exclude anything inconvenient to your obsession, they misrepresent data you are product of a massive English Pomposity hysteria and arrogance, You know nothing.. Verdi's The Masked Ball is about the assassination of Gustave III, and they were not members of the Open Borders then although it is interesting to note that all the Scandinavian countries have had open boarders for the Laps and it is my impression that part of the agreement was also the USSR. The English Media, their press, their lower middle class are hysterics xenophobes and hypocrites. You have a rotten education system, you are ill informed because you allowed Murdoch to subvert the BBC and the Tories to Infiltrate it> Before Murdoch contaminated the English people risked their lives to listen to the BBC to receive reliable news of the War, and that included Germans, French Resistance, and Russian but because the English are now jus an ignorant rabble you believe any crap in circulation including the fatuous legends of Peter Hitchins, David Starkey and the Daily Mail. You are hysterics, immature, and puerile.
@@MichaelLambert1 I would value your opinion on Norway for sure. There are some lovely if relatively small cities and towns beside Oslo, which is probably not the most attractive place architecturally. Best wishes from George
Mike, in Swede you can get a dentist appointment from one day to the next, just by making an enquiry at the clinic's reception desk. Dentistry is relatively cheap and very good quality.
Why dont GB join EU again? I think we should stick together in Europe and cooperate with eachother and things will be better for all of us, thank you for a good video.
I just got back from a cruise. I was : Florence, Pisa, Genoa, Marseille, Barcelona, Valencia, Palma and Milan. The idea that it's as bad as the UK everywhere is laughable.
@Minimmalmythicist I hate to break it to you, but I live in Switzerland. I can see Germany sind Austria from my house and I can be in France , Italy or Lichtenstein for my next meal any time I want. I've lived on the Continent for much of my adult life. The UK looks more like Tanzania than anywhere over here.
@@stephenspence-d9q No. I live here. I have a German passport. I was here when the wall came down. Last time I was in the former DDR about 12 years ago it felt like being in France ca 1948. But it was quite charming. No. The UK is dead. My home town is Weston-super-Mare. I haven't seen anything as bad as that here and even Stonetown in Zanzibar was better off. I was there im September. Mexico had more going on than the UK.
Wow not a single boarded up shop, can’t see any homeless people in the street, high end shops instead of endless pound shops, betting shops and takeaways. But hey, we got our ‘sovrontee’ back. 🙄
The scandinavian lifestyle is unattainable for most countries in the world. You need a fairly high average IQ in the nation and a homogenic population with high trust levels that don't steal your stuff as soon as they see an opportunity. Thats why Sweden is falling apart right now since we're losing all those things. The same goes for Britain. The country has too many trash people these days that are having children, so unfortunately it can never be attained again.
That is because you never tried. You never attempt to take full advantage of what was on offer. You spent your time complaining and seeking exceptions with the inevitable out come. In Ireland back in the 70s joining the EEC was presented as the biggest opportunity to come along and only fools would fail to take advantage of it. And that made all the difference.
Apart from the typical wooden houses, it doesn't look much different from my city. What I found breathtaking in Sweden, however, are the Stockholms skärgård, the Stockholm archipelago in summer. Next time I will visit the archipelago in Västervik in Småland. Greetings from Germany
I visit sandviken ever year. Its not a fancy town by any means. Working class town, id say. Big difference is i never feel unsafe or intimidated like you do in uk towns. People leave their bikes unlocked outside their houses. In the uk; they'd be gone in minutes!
I took my Granddaughter to an indoor playground in our town yesterday. There was a corner with shelves filled with snacks, sweets and toys. Nobody holding an eye on the goods and we paid with Mobile Pay. Oh I forgot to say we are in Denmark.
One day you should visit Luxembourg and especially the little town of Schengen, Michael. That’s a location where you can literally feel what the EU means and that it’s about much more than a thriving economy.
Much of Sweden reminds me to Southern England in the 90s when we had a brief glimpse of civilisation. Imagine living in a country where an educated, happy population is desirable and worked for by the government, rather than the incessant maintenance of a class system and neoliberal dogma. Hey ho.
@@jamesmc1272 Of course. Pre Blair when the mining and steel industries were closed by a government without a plan B. When privatisation of state-owned industries began in earnest and when national and personal debt became a way of life. When the North Sea oil and gas reserves were given away to corporations. When unemployment was through the roof and the poor man's vote was bought by council house sell-offs. Those pre-Blair days were marvellous. The Swedes are no doubt envious.
@@TomBartram-b1c Yes, a big tunnel is being built between Rødbyhavn and Puttgarden that shortens the transport times between Germany and Scandinavia significantly.
Yes, I have seen this in Sweden and Finland certainly but also Germany. It has made me feel so depressed returning to the UK. It's as though the surroundings have been allowed to degrade and locals have become accustomed to living in degraded conditions. Very sad indeed.
Hi Michael, it is good that you makes this videos so maybe the Toris and Labor see that what they are saying is not true. I am a subscriber to your videos and i live in the capital of Sweden and we also have a lot of water around the city. So Michael cep up the good work and i like your videos.👍👍
Gothenburg, Sweden Shows How Far The UK Has Fallen Behind Since Brexit 1157am 19.10.24 dear swedes, if you are unlucky enough to live in a neighbourhood of migrants or ancestors of migrants and you are having you rlife made a misery... you will be picked at and made irate with niggling demands on your time and patience. only for the guys making your life a misery to shout: o, look at this terrible man and what he is doing... etc etc etc........................................... as in UK so over there, i surmise. i wonder what generation of migrant i live amidst, here?
The fact that the guy could choose to go and spend the winter in Spain, no questions asked demonstrates the value of "Freedom of Movement." Here, Brexiteers seemed obsessed with the idea that everybody would want to come here. But, it worked _both_ ways and it was wonderful. I also (again) on one of your trips noticed a complete absence of litter! 😉😉
My son who is an awarded (multiple red dot design awards) designer faced difficulties in the UK to find work with the down turn in design with Dyson for example closing UK design. He is moving to Gothenberg, Sweden with his family to take up a roll as a senior designer for Volvo. I don’t believe they will return to Brexit broken UK. Everything about his new life in Sweden is major uplift from the chaos here. I am saying that as someone who is very international and would not stay in the UK except I am too old to start again.
Many moons ago, pre-internet days, I had a couple of Swedish "pen friends", remember them?, who came to England for their first ever visit. They went to all the obvious places whilst in London (museums, theatre's etc.), but I went to meet them, and showed them around the more "seedier side" of London. I think they enjoyed the experience, but they couldn't wait to get home! They later wrote to me saying it wasn't quite what they had expected. I bet they'd really love it now!
So, they were in a new place briefly, and enjoyed it, then you showcased all the shit and they decided it wasn't so good? Ok, so Michael has just done the first part of that scenario, when do we get to see him trawling the gettos and back streets?
@@sc3pt1c4L They were here for 2 weeks, and wanted to see more of the off-beat down-to-earth type of stuff in London, like markets, record shops, cafes etc. So I took them to little obscure record shops, clothes shops etc. that you'd only know about if you were pretty familiar with the back streets of London. It was a side of London they were unaware of, instead of the glitzy/trendy stuff the brochures showed them, and they enjoyed it, because they would never have known about that "side of the tracks" if I hadn't shown it to them. The point is..., that sort of stuff isn't there as much as it use to be, and most of the places we went to are now boarded up 'n gone.
@@brucster99b2 Well I agree. Take the natives out of their capital city, and the shops and services they provided go too. Walk down through Whitechapel. No more record shops, its all sari shops and Turkish restaurants.
@@sc3pt1c4L I use to visit London at least once a month on my record hunts back in the 90's, and after a while you to got to know the cool shops to hit. Same with markets 'n cafes. So we eventually had it sussed exactly where we were going to go for records, markets and a cuppa! But it's changed so much now, that I gave up going years ago.
We visited Stockholm a few years ago and I agree with you, the quality of life is very nice and they are way ahead of us in things like integrated transport.
The preserved parts of Stockholm are lovely in many ways, sure. But only the upper classes lives there nowadays. The working class moved out during the 1970s and 80s.
Look at how badly Sweden did in the Paralympics even allowing for population . I thought that they were a country that taxed high for social welfare reasons .
What is bad in Sweden is that we lack your voice from Britain in EU as a counter to the countries in the south that just want monetary contribution from EU or Hungary that want Russia to win the current war in Ukraine. I much rather see a hungexit than the sad brexit.
Wow, looks like the transit trolleys are running all over and on time, probably better than in most UK cities, but I don't really know. Best quote of this video and a total ROAR! Asking the young man why or what did he think was the reasoning for the UK deciding to leave the EU? *"I have no idea why they would do that."* Yeah! Ya think? :-)
Thank you for doing this. Quite a few of us travel across Europe regularly and this has been clear for decades. I think there are complex issues at play. The UK has failed to invest in infrastructure and business for decades; asset accumulators (very rich) want to milk the assets short term; the middle class in the UK and US have heen destroyed (the middle class underpin a democratic capitalist society and without them it starts to fall apart); somehow in the UK we just fail to plan things from a systems engineering point of view long term (poor education, poor culture); Scandinavian countries generally agree that tax is fine, that we have social responsibilities; they were also wise in having sovereign wealth funds, there countries are less unequal across counties etc.....I could go on but we just fail in the UK to have consistent sound evidence based policy.....and then we add in stupid divisive decisions like Brexit (driven by reaction and a failed national psyche about we are perfect we won the war blah blah).
Spot on. I've watched the decline of Britain from within for over 40 years. No plan, all short-term self interest, no investment in education. Even the poorer countries in Europe enjoy a far better standard of living from what I've seen first hand on my many travels.
@@bcgraham3512 Yes, you can't blame Brexit for everything. Take the North sea oil for example. How the Norwegians handled it compared to the British. The Norweigan oil fund contributes to the Norwegian budget with 10-20% annually . Despite this the Norewegian oil fund continues to grow since the Norwegians have a limit of only usiing 3% of its value every year. The British did not set up an oil fund but spent the income on tax cuts and immediate needs without thinking about the future.
@@bcgraham3512 Only Margaret Thatcher reversed that decline...by ushering in a low-tax economy which transformed commerce and industry. We became ENTERPRISE Britain. But it was all destroyed by New Labour and the return of socialism. Blair tackled ''poverty'' by ushering in Benefits Britain and colossal welfare dependency.
As Labour continue in its desperate hunt for a few billion in supposed ‘savings’, let’s confront the harsh truth: the cost of Brexit has already ballooned to £24 billion, with an additional £6.4 billion yet to come. On top of that, the Treasury is grappling with an estimated £30-40 billion loss in receipts due to the severe economic damage inflicted by this misguided venture. This past weekend, Johnson faced an unrelenting grilling from Nick Ferrari, who surprisingly caught him off guard. Johnson could barely muster a score for Brexit’s performance and instead resorted to a pathetic defence of “constitutional purity” (sic) while making demonstrably false claims about the government’s Covid response. The phrase “have your cake and eat it” has morphed into “have your cake and choke on it,” perfectly encapsulating the disastrous fallout of this whole escapade.
I think it would really help if you compare rates of taxation as many of the places you visit pay much more and therefore get the benefits. We have made paying tax a bad thing rather than collective responsibility for an equal well-being. You get what you pay for. Loved this video Michael thank you so much for all you do.
@@paullarne The US has a better constitution than the EU. Bill of Rights to die for, they elect the president, based on English common law and justice. If there was a choice the US would be it.
@@robsucher9419 Let's be honest, the EU wants to be a country, having acquired nearly all the trappings of one. It needs a constitution limiting its powers to legislate and formulate policy, clearly defined boundaries between laws that can be passed by Brussels and its member states and all its bureaucratic branches be elected by the people. Yes, the EU serves itself. The people are just an obstacle to get around.
My aunt lived there in the 80s. She moved to the UK. Sweden has months of little light in winter, it can be very bleak and depressing during those months. It takes a certain mindset to enjoy those conditions on an annual cycle.
What the UK and the US do is divide society by capitalist individualism. Aside of al that free education and cheap childcare and health care, one basic example is running housing as a company at least in Finland. For all attached housing one buys an apartment or a town house as a share of the whole complex based on square metres. This allows for investment in basic infra to be run as a unit (plumbing, insulation, heating etc.). This way the housing Ltd. gets a loan as decided by the shareholders/inhabitants and everyone then gets to decide whether to pay for it in installments or at one go. That is, nobody's individual finances rarely prevent the upgrade of their housing.
Great video. Pre EU we were the dirty man of Europe with raw sewage on many beaches and I. C. I. dumping chemical waste in the North Sea. Now we have got our sovereignty back we can reclaim our title. Brown Flag beaches.
I really like your videos on uk brexit they are very interesting and it is a pity more uk people do not appreciate them i was very interested on your visits to some of the eu cities you visited i was wondering if you would visit an irish city i think it would give a good comparison to uk on my last visit to uk i could not believe how bad it has become in a lot of places it shocked me i did not realize how bad it was.Thank you again for your great videos
The way back for the UK is possible and looks like this: 1. The UK cannot return to the EU in its current condition. A second membership would be like the EU injecting itself with HIV. 2. The right-wing rich incite people against the EU through their right-wing media. To this day. 3. The right-wing rich incite people against the EU through their influence in private schools. 4. Nobody in a “club” accepts a prospective member who agitates against the club. 4. 9 out of 10 Brits never learned at school what the UK gets back in benefits for their annual contribution. They have been kept stupid. That hasn't changed since brexit. 5. If things are different in 30 or 40 years, a second membership is possible. 6. By then the UK must have become a modern democracy. Now it is a musty Charles Dickens country with views from 200 years ago. 7. The EU will not accept a country that does not have a written constitution. Where a party with 1/3 of the votes can have an absolute majority in government. 8. The EU will no longer accept any country where a referendum concerning the EU can be held without a quorum. 9. Experience has shown that the EU will no longer accept any country where the candidate country is only interested in gaining an economic advantage from membership. But otherwise to work and agitate against everything that goes beyond that. 10. If the UK fulfills this (and a bit more), it can submit an application that has the prospect of being considered by the EU. 11. Then the UK only has to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria.
![Chris Langan - The Interview THEY Didn't Want You To See - CTMU [Full Version; Timestamps]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9miVG2xT5jY/mqdefault.jpg)
Notice that most Swedes speak better English than most English people do? I wonder what that tells us about English attitudes to education?
Hope you enjoyed your time here in Sweden. Gothenburg is lovely and well worth a visit 💙💛
It is always good to stand outside the situation you find yourself in and look at it from the outside in order to assess the situation in a good way. I sometimes go about my everyday life and maybe feel a little dissatisfied about certain things. Thank you for helping me see Gothenburg a little from the outside. It made me feel proud of my city of Gothenburg, that I am Swedish and a citizen of the European Union.
I was the victim of credit card fraud in Göteborg many years ago (I stupidly let the card be taken out of my sight for a few minutes when paying in a restaurant). The bank sorted it out within days and I got my money refunded. But what followed was seven years of being contacted regularly by the police there regarding how their investigation was going, mostly by a lovely lady who had been appointed as my "liaison officer" (they had identified the culprit but were after the organised crime bosses behind the scheme so did not arrest the individual involved).
Eventually I was invited back to the city as a material witness in the case that finally was made against the syndicate responsible - a full week put up in a good hotel at the Swedish government's expense, meals included, during which time I was only required in the end to make a full written statement which would be used in court - which took about half an hour or so - and all the time as a "guest" of my "liaison officer" with whom I had a lovely time being shown around by herself, her husband and their mates. So I even got to see what the underside of a Swedish table looks like after a few too many beers.
All very civilised, and a lovely memory - if one is going to be defrauded I heartily recommend one arranges it to be in Göteborg!
Oh, and yes - drawing comparisons between there and most British cities, especially post-Brexit, could be construed as gratuitous cruelty for many people marooned in the latter. But I think even had you made this video a decade or so ago, it might have run the risk of being similarly construed.
As opposed to being defrauded in the UK by the Tories, in plain sight and no criminal investigation conducted at all.
@@SonOfVikingsuch an excellent post 👍
You're certainly a handsome looking man (or a "Chad" in newspeak) if you received that kind of special treatment from your liaison officer.
Amazon refused to pay a fair tax on its earnings in Norway so the Norwegian government banned them from operating there. Norway businesses have now developed their own systems and pay taxes on their profits within Norway. Norwegian government, businesses, technology and people all benefit.
If only they would do this in the UK.
Hi Michael!
I am Danish. What you have seen in Göteborg goes very well for the rest of Scandinavia and Finland. Life here is pretty easy, we do not lack any food (or beer 😉).
The Danish economy is better than the Swedish and been for many years.
In 2008 I had my own house (sold it), I did not feel the crisis at all. Some might have felt it, but as I recall it was a bump in the road, not much more. It might not have been the same in other countries, the Danish economy is very strong.
Prices in Denmark and Norway are generally much higher than in Sweden. But so are the wages. It is very popular to live in Malmö (SE) and work in Copenhagen (DK). The trip takes 40 minutes by train.
Visiting Sweden was clever, 4 countries with one stone.
Estonia, a rundown old Soviet country filled with poor people with only a horse and a cow. Hold the picture in your mind, and jump on a plane a visit the country. I guarantee many of your viewers are in for a chock. Where they are now are astonishing and would definitely not been possible without the EU. Keyword: "Digital".
And Copenhagen is a bit more interesting than Stockholm and Goteborg. Not that any Swede would agree 😉
@@robsucher9419 Ohh, if they are honest, they will admit it. Guess where they are going for a good weekend out? Yes, that's correct.
Copenhagen is simply in another tier. Mostly due to architecture, history, entertainments (Europe's best Jazz city BTW) and not least the food. I think there are over 10 Michelin restaurants in CPH, and Noma have been the world's best in total of 4 years, IIRC.
There is no shortage of food or beer in Britain. There is plenty of it where I live.
@@stephenspence-d9q Off course not.
@@robsucher9419 Its interesting , like capitals are always interesting. But Copenhagen is miles behind the grandeur of Stockholms 14 Islands in the center, with one of Europes best preserved living medieval city centres. Its simply no competition. Copenhagen doesent have the same amount of surprises as Stockholm for a visiting tourist.
*_Summary:_* The video features a discussion about the quality of life in Sweden, specifically in Gothenburg. The speaker reflects on the opportunities available to young people, including access to free university education and low-interest rates for home buying. They highlight the overall positive living conditions, such as cleanliness, well-maintained parks, and availability of fresh food.
Key points include:
- The speaker enjoys a visit to Sweden despite the weather, citing good food and a high standard of living.
- There are concerns about gun violence in certain areas, attributed to past immigration policies.
- Gothenburg appears prosperous, with no visible signs of economic decline like boarded shops or homelessness.
- The social welfare system is strong, providing support for the homeless and affordable childcare.
- The speaker compares living costs between Gothenburg and Manchester, noting lower rents and childcare costs in Sweden.
- Overall, there is a sense of optimism and satisfaction among the residents regarding their lifestyle.
The video aims to counter negative perceptions of life in Europe compared to the UK, suggesting that living conditions in Sweden are generally better.
Great summary - thank you @MrMotown2011 😊
@@MichaelLambert1 You're welcome Michael, Keep up the good work. We're loving your videos all the way from central Europe!
Hello Michael, thank you for your efforts in bringing these very informative travel experiences to us. From this and your previous videos it appears obvious that, in Europe, it’s now a whole new world unlike the declining state of the UK. I’m in my 70s and doubt that the UK will ever recover what it has lost due to its delusions of past Empire and Imperial might, and ‘blitz spirit’ that very few (now in their 80s) personally experienced. Brexit only benefits disaster capitalists and no one else.
Best wishes from Oxfordshire 🇪🇺
Your video was nicely put together, Michael, and it was helpful that you spoke to a good number of people who were able to give you a flavour of life in this desirable city.
The contrasts between living in the UK and living in Sweden seem notable, particularly in matters of education, healthcare and welfare, and consequently quality of life.
Thank you for bringing these issues to our attention, and I applaud your effort in putting together another useful city guide, to show us aspects of life beyond our usual limits of knowledge and appreciation.
Thank you @mtm4a 😊
The beauty of the Scandinavians is that they put society first . They aren’t greedy grifters or authoritarian communists . Just want to get on with living . They realize that relationships are the most important things .
Thank you Michael, for this interesting tour of Göteborg. Sweden is a socially very advanced country very different from UK class dividing culture. Have a nice Sunday.
@@dprout3392 that’s an understatement. Sweden looks heavenly, UK like hell.
You will see a correlation in European countries such as Netherlands, Nordics etc where taxation is much higher than UK but public services, infrastructure, health & social care are sublime in comparison, and guess what, people are happier! 🙏
Incomes are MUCH higher, output / productivity also MUCH higher, my social service regime is accepted. You cannot have one without the other. You have with numbers of immigrants like dirt or panels speak the language have no usable skills and menu deep pathetic to society into which they come. Another reason why the west is absolutely eviscerated by radical left ideas.
@@alistairrobinson3865 Geert Wilders is the most popular politician in the Netherlands. They seem very happy.
@@bradsmith9689 wilders won 25% of vote, so 75% of people didn’t vote for him, and under their PR systems, means he would never be PM.
I lived in NL 13 years from 2009-2022, general infrastructure and living standards are far higher than in the UK, public services are not even comparable.
They do have a problem with affordable housing though, which is a basic and they need to fix, if people can’t afford somewhere to live then you will erratic election results.
@bradsmith9689 they're happy inspite of him. Unfortunately xenophobia is a blight on many a western land.
@alistairrobinson3865 we are definitely happier. It would be more difficult to sleep at night if we thought our neighbours might be starving, destitute or lacking basics like heating.
Thank you for your video documentary Michael.
I am an ex-pat Brit who now lives in Sweden. I can tell you that life here in Sweden is hard work especially during the cold winters but the dividends of that hard work are very sweet. Very sweet indeed.
Wonderful expose Michael!!!
You just proved from the one comment, "a little boring" because it's so peaceful and quiet at your visiting location and there's no fear of getting robbed or rampant stealing in Sweden society because nobody has to rob anybody to survive. Absolutely refreshing to hear!!!! 🍻 Cheers mate🙏🕯️
@gavinturner5565 - Thanks Gavin 😊
When the referendum result came through in 2016, you didn't need to be a rocket scientist to foresee the consequences. I started my escape plan in 2017 and since 2018 I have been resident in northern Portugal. The difference between here and the UK as regards quality of life is staggering. Obviously, the weather is better, but that's geography. That said, 7 years in and not one incidence of anti-social behaviour; an incredibly safe environment where I can go anywhere at anytime and be perfectly safe; Supermarkets and markets chock-full of fresh items, fruits, vegetables, meat and fish, with affordable prices. A nice urban living environment - no litter to be seen anywhere. Travel into Porto is fast, safe and efficient, with prices that are so much cheaper than the UK. Plenty of places to go out for a meal, the prices of which compare favourably to the UK. Ready access to health care. All in all, life here is well ahead of life in the UK. As for those who still laud Brexit, I would say that out of the 28 countries in the EU before June 2016, if Brexit is so wonderful, why is it that the other 27 countries show no inclination whatsoever to follow the UK's lead? Perhaps the answer is quite simple - they are not inclined to perform self-harm. Time will indeed be the judge; I think time will show Brexit to be the single biggest mistake since Neville Chamberlain called Hitler a "gentleman" in 1938.
@@dougposkitt1690 and they’re not roused by jingoistic, flag shagging grifters working them up about when Britain was great and lauded itself over everyone.
Why would a country that is a net recipient of EU money want to leave? Make them all pay the same percentage of their national income INTO the EU pot as the UK did and they will soon change their tune. Easy life when you get massive infrastructure investment when other countries are paying for it.
@@sc3pt1c4L whatever we paid into it we got a hell of a lot more out of it. Even Farage infamously had to hold one of his rallies at a venue funded by EU money (as well as taking his salary from the European Council.)
The Brits seem to conveniently forget about Chamberlain. Another English person scammed.
@@whateversunpopular1338 Can you list what we got out of it over and above what we had and would have had anyway with the trade we did with Europe before the EU. Data is my thing, and I'd like to see you give the hard economic data on the facts.
Well done Michael for putting the reality of things across on your videos, I appreciate your efforts.
Thanks Martin 😊
I left Britain four years ago for sunnier climes, and have no intention of ever returning, not even in a wooden overcoat. However, I take no delight in watching such a tragic spectacle unfold, even from a distance, but sadly the UK is what it is I'm afraid, a country in terminal decline.
@@johnwheat5199 cause d by the Tories
Going from a British superstore to its Thai equivalent was like going from the third world to the first world. My Tesco superstore in Devon would regularly run out of tomatoes, peppers, fresh fish, etc. - when I went to a Tops superstore in Thailand, there was barely any room to move for so much fresh produce - I'd forgotten what a supermarket should look like ... and of course everything was cheaper.
Looks like a very nice place. Somewhere i could live or at least spend a longer holiday.
Of course, they will have their own problems like any community, but they do not let it show with beggars or drop-outs in the street or barricaded shop windows.
Thanks for the video Michael ❤
Thanks for another one of these important visits Michael - when I visited Gothenburg in the 90s it put our industrial and port cities to shame, the difference now is exponentially worse. The UK is a shabby outpost of Europe, I fear for our children's collective future.
@claraross5429 Much appreciated Clara - thank you 😊
I have lived in Sweden, Italy, Germany and Netherlands over the last 20 years and I can assure viewers that the quality of life in each of these countries is high and rewarding, plus the freedom of travel and work across Europe magnificent. Michael, you’re spot on! 👍
The UK is so depressing right now. Brexit was the nail in the coffin, and there's no sign that things will improve anytime soon. I guess going abroad, if possible, is the only option left.
@@edmaximum going abroad for me was the best option, Life is actually affordable in the EU without relying on benefits.
@James-KL Italy has a fascist government. I don't know how this can do any good to a country. LGBT rights in Italy are far behind the civilised world.... In the Netherlands, they have voted for Wilders... and people prefer this to a major labour government in the UK. I don't get it.
@edmaximum The EU is worse.. Germany is sinking due to huge mistakes made by Angeka Merkel. The EU is in deep trouble. I think the UK is fine out. This is not the problem. I hope the labour government will do well.
@MrMotown2011 Not true. The cost of life in Spain, for example, is very high. Most people can't afford to rent a place in cities like Madrid or Barcelona. Stop fantasising about the EU. It's a disaster for many people.
As a Gothenburg native it's always nice to see an outsiders perpective on our little corner of the earth. Hope you had a lovely time visiting!
Gothenburg stands out abit compared to others cities in Sweden and partly owes some ot that to the vast amount of Dutch and later Scottish immigrants that came here during the younger years of this city. Gothenburg used to have alot of canals in the old part of town, a heritage from the Dutch builders that basically helped found this city.
@rikardtornblom6410 - Thanks Rikard, I really enjoyed my visit 😊
Great info...cheers!
Its amazing to get a glimpse of a real country, a real society, and real economy for once. Imagine people actually mattering. The US and UK seem barbaric by contrast, like we are inching backwards into the 19th century almost.
The class system in the UK is a real drag on the economy. When opportunities for the best and brightest are restricted just by what school they went to or their accent by then the whole economy suffers. Nepotism and cronyism unfortunately is still rife in the UK.
It tells a lot about a country when a government allows state funded education for the whole population drop in quality behind privately funded education for the few.
Worlds apart isn't it. That said Scandinavia probably has never been a good example to compare against the UK. The high taxes (but strong social system) is a different path followed. The UK wants to emulate the USA it seems (cannot think why) so we end up with low(er) taxes but poor public services and social welfare. I would swap with Sweden any day or the week. (Except I can't of course because of brexit ☹)
@@carluxx77b I think taxes are high here in U.K. ( People always do , of course) .Am I wrong?
@@normanpearson8753 I think basic tax is much higher in Sweden, around 30-35% which in turn allows for the superb social system. Top rate tax is certainly higher than UK. The overall tax burden in uk seems high because of all the sneaky ways they extract tax from you but it isn't spent, as far as I can see, in an equitable way. We seem to waste so much here.
@@carluxx77b Well both systems put most of the burden on the low- to medium income households.
Perhaps it might seem like we have figured out taxation here in Sweden, but we haven't, tax evasion is the name of the game among those with enough assets to make it worth their time... and honestly sometimes it ain't even worth working more or asking for a higher salary because you hit a higher tax bracket.
Then certain kinds of taxes are extremely deceiving, my family for example own a farmstead which we have built on for generations.
We payed a lot of money to rebuild a inefficient electrical system, connect fiber optic cables and install solar panels. All of this was just so we could switch to EV's and since we were already digging, the fiber optic cable just made sense. This caused a massive value increase on the property, which in turn increased the housing tax. We were able to deal with it, since we are a large family sharing costs, but it felt extremely punishing since we are by no means a wealthy family in general, our wealth is essentially the fact we have some land and have built houses on it... many rivers lead to one ocean and all of that.
So taxes ain't always on point here... why should we be punished for making our lives less impactful on the environment, it just don't make much sense to me. It would considering the political climate, make more sense they would pay us to fix these things.
I have a lot of family in Sweden, and have visited there many times over the years.
Their quality of life has always been fantastic and is vastly superior to ours.
When they are over here, they are appalled at just how bad things have become...especially after brexshit.
Roll on Scottish freedom from Wasteminster, and to becoming a normal independent European country at last.
People in Sweden could not believe we were hauled out of Europe against our will.
🏴 🇸🇪
All depends where you go in England. Our villages are nicer and at least as well kept as Swedens!
@@gimmesometruth7341 What on earth have english villages got to do with my post!?
That is such a bizarre comment to make. 🤔
@andrewmaccallum2367 All parts of the UK are not the same. Thr towns tend to not be as nice as the villages here. Most of the villages are beautiful.
@@gimmesometruth7341 Can you please just stop now with your rose tinted nonsense about quintessential English villages.
@@andrewmaccallum2367NO!
Clean, organised, hard working and a logical people. No food banks, vaping shops or bookmakers on every corner that I could see. And best of all, no Tories destroying the very fabric of their society.
Exactly, no Tories ransacking the public purse for their own personal wealth and those of their cronies and Tory donors.
@@Ayeright. No, you have got Labour to do it for you now instead.
@@stephenspence-d9q Indeed! Two cheeks of the same arse.
@@stephenspence-d9q This year was the first time I'd voted in a general election since the nineteen-nineties. I'll never vote again, except when it's another referendum for Scotland's independence.
@@Ayeright. Good for you the rigged two party system is not worth voting for.
I loved the night life with restaurants open and the vision of people strolling along the busy walkways.Lovely.
Thank you Michael, Sweden a wonderful Country, thank you for shewing, just shews up Brexit Britain for what it really is - inward looking, poor, down at heel, cheerless. My Son and his Family live and Work in Germany and it is similar to Sweden.
Thank you Michael
What a shame the UK has been run by such a bunch of greedy fools for so long. Living in Spain, life is much better here, maybe you should come to Granada next time.
Keep up the great work
Thanks Alan 😊
Granada is a lovely place...except it gets a tad hot during summer
I actually moved to Gothenburg from the UK after the Brexit vote but before we officially left. My quality of life has drastically improved and I even managed to buy a house out here. I’m now in the final stages of obtaining Swedish citizenship. Best decision I ever made.
How long did it take to get citizenship
@@muhc8550 5 years of living here, plus I’m currently 13 months into the application.
I guess you were against "multicultural enrichment" when you lived in UK, but as many Brits (and Dutch, and Germans, and French, and Italians, and Americans, and Boers from South Africa, all COLONIZERS!!!) who have "fled" to Sweden you embrace it here like any other "refugees" from wherever. IT IS ALWAYS A BAD IDEA TO LET REFUGEES IN NO MATTER WHERE THEY COME FROM.
Good to get a glimpse of what life is like in the First World.
@@indricotherium4802 pure blox.. ever been for a job there? Or tried to rent a appartment even when in fulltime employment?
greetings from sweden. it seems you hade a good time here.
I did! Thank you 😊
Hi Michael, Just to say i love it when you take us places...hope you are well...best wishes....
Thanks Gizmo - I hope to visit a few more EU cities 😊
I'll look forward to that, I can't go anywhere under my own steam these days. Thanks again for your excellent videos....
I lived in Gothenburg. Sweden is miles ahead of the uk.
You should have compared it to Malmö.. as a Norwegian we do our Christmas shopping in Gothenburg.. or Copenhagen. It used to be London, but that's impossible now..
I know Norway is a bit special, but.. I got my higher education in the UK and hold a UK passport.. I am absolutely against the form the Schengen system works currently, but the UK was never part of that so... Now sending your children to study abroad no longer involves the UK, and we have reverted to Germany, as was traditional, or Australia or Latin America..
I'm afraid.. even going to the UK for a holiday as was a regular thing, is not tempting at all, and as I can retire anywhere I want now, due to the sovereign wealth fund etc.. England is not an option. It looks like it did in the 70s everywhere and feels dead and troubled. Brexit has been the straw that broke the back. I think.. and Stil .. no solution to all the immigrants and the underprivileged and religiously victimim players. A dire place on an island with.. nothing but the worst things the US can export
I am the English guy that served you, and we spoke, in one of the pubs during your stay. It was a pleasure to meet you and chat with you! Great video, and keep on highlighting the dire situation within Britain!
@AjarComet101 - Hi Scott - thank you for your kind words. It was a great pleasure meeting you. I really enjoyed the time I spent at John Scotts Caleo and hope I can return one day. I wish you all the very best - Michael 😊
Another world compared to here. I was thinking about the difference between the shopping centre in Gothenburg and, as an example, the Potteries Shopping Centre in Hanley. In Hanley you see about 20 people around, half the shops are closed and others poor quality. Just as bad in the Eu?! What a joke!
Whenever you make these videos, Michael, I'm always struck by how friendly and intelligent the people you speak to are and also by the spotlessness of the streets. It certainly looks like a lovely place and no wonder those who live there are filled with such optimism.
Yes, and the fact that they speak multiple languages. Whereas the English can just about master one.
I thought I saw a piece of litter ..... but it was a light reflected in a puddle!
😅😅
😁
No it was a smear on your rose coloured spectacles.
HaHaHa
In all fairness. The Scandinavian countries have long been way ahead of most of Europe in terms of standards of living, but most importantly, the appliance of "common sense" & practical logic in the way their Governments run them. There is also a certain pride in their country the like of which I have not seen in years in Britain. They also steer well clear of the "Feudal System" of Governance as is practiced even now in 21st. Century Britain.
Enjoyed the video micheal well done,was in gottenburg 2years ago,lovely country, lovely people,,,
Thankyou for the video, im from Belfast i moved to Sweden in 2007 with my swedish wife. We live in Stockholm, Sweden has good standard of living very good health service, community service education system and transport network. It's a cashless society we pay mostly by card or phone, many places don't take cash. Even public toilet you need your card. I had to become a swedish citizen as i couldn't travel in Europe with out Visa's for each country. So i still don't have a blue passport. I love your videos i have followed you since Brexit, i am pessimistic about UK i think it will crash soon.
Thank you @beable42 😊
I admire your style. A very profesionally done video with some nice background musical tracts. Real creditable interviews. Very interesting responses.
A fact-finding visit well worth your time and effort.
Thank you very much @caruso2303 - much appreciated 😊
@@MichaelLambert1 an interesting factoid: the young gentleman being interviewed said that he is employed by OPERA. I happen to be a shareholder of that company.
Dear Mr. Lambert,
I hope this email finds you well.
I wanted to take a moment to express my deep sadness about the current state of affairs following Brexit. As someone who has always valued unity, cooperation, and progress, the departure of the UK from the European Union feels like a profound loss on many levels.
Since the referendum in 2016, we've witnessed significant shifts in both the UK's position in the world and the quality of life for many of its citizens. Comparing our situation to that of our European neighbors is particularly disheartening.
Economically, the figures speak for themselves. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that Brexit will reduce the UK’s GDP by about 4% in the long term, a level of contraction that directly impacts industries, businesses, and household incomes. Meanwhile, EU countries have maintained trade agreements, which have allowed for smoother transactions and fewer disruptions. In contrast, British companies are facing new tariffs, delays at borders, and a complex regulatory environment that is making it harder to remain competitive on the global stage.
In terms of workforce, we’ve also felt the strain. In many sectors, from agriculture to healthcare, the reduction of free movement has resulted in staff shortages that our EU neighbors are not experiencing to the same degree. For example, the hospitality and farming industries in the UK have struggled to fill vacancies that were once filled by EU workers, while many EU countries continue to benefit from the free flow of skilled and unskilled labor.
From a personal and cultural perspective, the divide feels just as stark. Traveling freely across Europe is now more complicated, with UK citizens losing the automatic right to live, work, and study in 27 countries. Meanwhile, EU nationals continue to enjoy these freedoms, allowing them to expand their horizons and build stronger, interconnected futures.
It’s hard not to feel that Brexit has left the UK more isolated, while our European counterparts remain united and forward-looking. While I fully understand the reasons behind the desire for sovereignty and control, I can’t help but reflect on whether the cost of this independence has been too high for the everyday citizen, who is now facing economic strain, diminished opportunities, and a more uncertain future.
Perhaps, as you mentioned in your video, it’s time for our political representatives to re-evaluate their priorities. When MPs in the UK begin to face the same challenges and costs as the rest of the population, we might start to see the changes that benefit all of us, rather than a select few.
I’m grateful for your insights and your thoughtful presentation. I hope this period of reflection leads to a future where we can rebuild and find new ways to thrive, despite the challenges we now face.
Kind regards,
D
@danielleme1950 - Thank you very much Danielle 😊
OBR is full of Remain zealots pumping out far-left propaganda.
Think I will move to Sweden. Oh no I can’t Brexit stopped that!
Get a grip. You could migrate there before the EU and still can now if you have the means and the skills.
@@sc3pt1c4L I think you need to get a grip and fully understand the situation.
I have visited Sweden on several occasions, training Swedish firefighters. The thing that how layed back and happy swedes were and content with their lives. I also spent several weeks in Malmo and found the stories of gun fights in the streets and Muslim no-go areas to be hugely exaggerated.
On my last visit I lived in the Muslim area of Limhamm with no problems at all.
@@brianferguson7840 Calling Limhamn a Muslim area just tells me how little you have grasped of the place. Limhamn is Malmö's posh area, and definitely not a Muslim area. There haven't been ANY Muslims there until the past couple of years. And when some were moved into some apartments, there was a huge outcry. Since then, there has been several shootings in the area. As you must have seen, there are mainly villas there, and there is not a single Muslim living in those expensive houses. You go live in Rosengård next time, THAT'S a Muslim area. And being a teacher of fire fighters, you must have been told about the huge problems with attacks on firefighters and ambulance staff. They can't go into many areas without police protection. And the problem with migrants setting cars on fire, and now a new modus operandi, setting entrances a fire instead of bombing or grenades. I find your comment naive and ignorant beyound.
cheers, michael - i do enjoy the walkabout videos, and, the interviews were informative, thanks!
Thank you @CthulhuInc 😊
Excellent real-life video documenting what a better world could look like in the UK (and other parts of Europe, too).
I'm sure not everything is perfect in Sweden, as they live in the same planet, so they are not immune to complex problems and challenges we are all facing.
Yet I can see dedicated cycle lanes, street cars, and no homeless tents like in the UK.
And it is probably much like in Denmark. It is not only now that child care is cheap. 34 years ago I had a job abroad and came home to Denmark to study. My boyfriend lived in a completely different place in Europe and had just started his career. We hadn't planned it, but at that moment I found out I was pregnant. So what now?
I asked the municipality if they knew of a place where I could get an apartment and got one straight away. I studied, got my state education grant. Got my child and paused education for a year, but was still provided for as a single mum. Then when I returned to my studies I got child care for free. I really can't complain about anything. As a young unmarried woman I could study and have children at the same time.
Paid by taxes, they invest in people being able to get ahead regardless of the situation they are in. And it is probably a good investment in the long run. The question about homeless people. It sounds like a joke, but some just choose to be it: everyone is entitled to a place to live and being provided for, but some feel even more isolated sitting alone somewhere.
Having worked in psychiatry for much of my life, I have to admit that some people indeed do "choose" homelessness, but that's not all of them, and in particular children aren't responsible when their parents aren't able to live an ordinary life and follow the same rules as everyone else.
For the sake of these kids, I'm prepared to support their parents with shelter and whatever can be arranged, even if the adults appear to be spoiling our support, again and again.
Thank-you Michael. Again, enlightening.
Thank you for a great video.
I live in Belfast and my partner is Swedish. Belfast has changed A LOT, probably the most out of any UK/Irish city in terms of development and demographics, even gentrification, but the standard of services/quality of life/wages is pretty much stagnant/in a complete decline. Your money does not go far here anymore. I think I'll be making the move to Sweden in the next 5 years. The country puts a spring in my step and makes my heart sing
Judging by the comments, I can say with complete confidence that the UK is doomed. So long and thanks for all the fish.. and chips.
UK is becoming more and more like a Dickens' novel. Yes, that miserable. Mainland Europe and Merde Island are like different planets. All I have to do is listen to one of the UK national radio stations to get a daily update on stabbings, NHS failings and general all-round decay. Oh, and Brexit. Starmer is a nice guy, but he is deluded if he thinks that EU will give a centimetre without UK sticking to original agreements.
It's becoming more and more of the north korea of Europe 😢
It won't be Starmer's fight. He still has to appease the brexiteers and work with what he's been given. There would need to be a whole new political generation in UK and EU, at least another decade or so, before UK joining could even be on the table, with a lot of inching back towards it with policies and agreements before that ever happens either. I hope I live long enough to see the mends and amends made, and I'm American! Watching the UK kneecap itself has been an ongoing tragedy. These trends, for the US, UK, and other applicable places, we need to break these political and economic trends.
@Minimmalmythicist Hospitals, carehomes, hospitality are just three of many industries n the UK that are short of staff.Off course unemployment rates have fallen - we are awash with vacanices!
@Minimmalmythicist Yes, the likes of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, other EU members were always better than the UK. Yes, we do need to reserve some rationality when we use Michael's videos as comparability evidence with the UK.
Nevertheless I am grateful for Michael's videos. It's far more valuable than hearing Brexiteers, and Brexiters, where the former are too gutless to admit error, and the latter are too emabarrassed, claiming the EU also having the same probems.
@Minimmalmythicist Then, with respect, if you deem Michael's content as propaganda on the opposite sprectrum to GB News then the issue is entirely yours. Even though you didn't vote for Brexit, I sense that you have difficulty removing tribalism out of politics. It surprises me that you adopt this stance because Brexit has produced nothing favourable for the UK.
Michael reads all posted comments. If you have suggestions on how Michael can best illustrate to his readers the damage of Brexit failure, then do write them.
Personally, I'm grateful for Michael's videos. It is a great annoyance to me that Brexit truths are widely ignored by mainstream media, and only available to the public who are interested enough to seek it via a handful of political UTubers.
Sweden is an example we Italian try to follow; thanks to their civility and forward thinking we have improved too. It is the EU that allowed it. Thank you Sweden thank you EU.
Yes, I have seen some improvements in Italy, among them it seems to have become cleaner. I visited in the 2000s, and one time around 2012. Especially in the 2000, some places, including in Rome, looked like a dumping ground. But I have seen that it's starting to improve, very nice! :)
Now you just need to make sidewalks in many more streets (Sweden and Norway - at least in cities - tend to have many sidewalks often (not always) even out in suburb neighborhoods - if there's no sidewalk, it's nearly always because it's a low traffic street), and better cycling infrastructure.
An excellent video Michael but sad to say that Britain has self harmed and just keeps sinking .There is not one thing left in UK for the people .Transport , health , public services are in shreds .Outside of central London it really is mess. Gothenburg is wonderful and has not changed a bit .Makes all the difference when a government creates a society where all have a chance ...
Thanks Helena 😊
Nice to see ..looks a bit cold, Michael Still shorts weather here In the Evil Empire! Best wishes ❤️ from Greece.
Sweden was miles ahead years ago. Nothing has changed in class ridden, Geographicaly divided UK. Brexit or no Brexit. As long as there is no consensus among the politely parties/population, rejoining will never happen and there is no chance of that consensus!
Sweden has done well from their social and longterm forward thinking. Up until the early '70s, Gothenburg was one of the major builders of ships to the world. Now all gone, but they have invested in IT and high-tech companies and they are good at it! There also appears to be greater pride in their environment and along with Norway have had recycling schemes for so many decades now. Sure - on a Sunday morning in central Gothenburg or Stavanger - there are fast food packages and wrappers in the street - but wait an hour or so and the streetsweepers will have been along to clear it all. In UK - it is common to see people sitting on a bench in their town/village, eating fast food and simply getting up and walking away - leaving the crap behind them on the bench. UK has a societal problem as well as financial.
Well said, the young guy at 22:00. All of the people explaining themselves very well and in a second language.
We start to learn English at the age of 9.
Please do visit Norway. I am half Norwegian, so not without bias concerning Sverige or "swer-ie" as there norse would say it, Norway was one of the four foundered members of NATO in 1949 and since oil has prospered without blowing their new found wealth.
Not in the EU but powerfully connected at the hip, it trades seesmlessly with the Union. A fascinating case.
I would love your take on this unique case for a country.
Best wishes from George in UK
You have Oil, and you managedit well like the Shetlands, the English squander their assets in fatuous ideologies.
Crap. It is nothing to do with Open borders. It is a strange fact that Sweden has experienced two assassinations before they were a member of the EU. Olaf Palma, probably because he knew too much about Oliver North, and the foreign Secretary ind for the same reasons> Sweden and Boffers are in the armaments industry, an industry without scruple and capable of crossing all borders, and it is possible that Princess Diana was ki led not by the Duke of Edinburgh as the absurd English Media writes, with their eye for everything irrelevant but because of her work in campaigning about anti personnel mines. Her first charity and a sign of a young woman beginning to have opinion of her own and finding her feet . It is rumoured that she had won the Nobel Prize for Peace, and the British Armaments Industry would not want a Nobel laureate as queen. May I remind you that the only assassinations for political reasons in this country was committed by a crazed Brexiteer. Not an immigrant sonny, but an English home born cretin, You talk such utter rubbish you people in your obsessions. You use statistics which are actually merely correlation coefficients that exclude associated factors. In my work, to avoid that absurdity we used Eigenvector Analysis an nested Block Analysis of Variance that employ matrices. Do you know what they are?
One of the delightful asides on our membership of the EU is that since we have left Afghani refugees from the Taliban have introduced cricket back into Germany and it is a growing sport. The English members of the EU made no effort to share their singular culture with Europe but the Afghans, not even in the British Empire or Commonwealth went to Germany and it is their contribution. Your obsessions cloud your mind, they pervert statistics, they exclude anything inconvenient to your obsession, they misrepresent data you are product of a massive English Pomposity hysteria and arrogance, You know nothing.. Verdi's The Masked Ball is about the assassination of Gustave III, and they were not members of the Open Borders then although it is interesting to note that all the Scandinavian countries have had open boarders for the Laps and it is my impression that part of the agreement was also the USSR. The English Media, their press, their lower middle class are hysterics xenophobes and hypocrites. You have a rotten education system, you are ill informed because you allowed Murdoch to subvert the BBC and the Tories to Infiltrate it> Before Murdoch contaminated the English people risked their lives to listen to the BBC to receive reliable news of the War, and that included Germans, French Resistance, and Russian but because the English are now jus an ignorant rabble you believe any crap in circulation including the fatuous legends of Peter Hitchins, David Starkey and the Daily Mail. You are hysterics, immature, and puerile.
😊 Thanks George - I may well visit there at some stage
@@MichaelLambert1 I would value your opinion on Norway for sure. There are some lovely if relatively small cities and towns beside Oslo, which is probably not the most attractive place architecturally.
Best wishes from George
The UK hasn't squandered their oil money. They put it where they think it belongs. In a tax-haven account of filthy rich overlords.
Mike, in Swede you can get a dentist appointment from one day to the next, just by making an enquiry at the clinic's reception desk. Dentistry is relatively cheap and very good quality.
Thanks very much Mr Lambert 👍👍👍
Why dont GB join EU again? I think we should stick together in Europe and cooperate with eachother and things will be better for all of us, thank you for a good video.
GB doesn't vote for MPs who think like you.
And on top of that, you need an approval by all member-governments in the EU. That's not a given.
It is how all cities should be … clean… orderly … decent… healthy… polite…! Like it…! ❤
I just got back from a cruise. I was : Florence, Pisa, Genoa, Marseille, Barcelona, Valencia, Palma and Milan. The idea that it's as bad as the UK everywhere is laughable.
@Minimmalmythicist I hate to break it to you, but I live in Switzerland. I can see Germany sind Austria from my house and I can be in France , Italy or Lichtenstein for my next meal any time I want. I've lived on the Continent for much of my adult life. The UK looks more like Tanzania than anywhere over here.
You experienced a perfect example of holiday fever.
@@stephenspence-d9q No. I live here. I have a German passport. I was here when the wall came down. Last time I was in the former DDR about 12 years ago it felt like being in France ca 1948. But it was quite charming. No. The UK is dead. My home town is Weston-super-Mare. I haven't seen anything as bad as that here and even Stonetown in Zanzibar was better off. I was there im September. Mexico had more going on than the UK.
Take London out of the economic equation and the rest of England has a GDP per capita roughly equal to the state of Mississippi,maybe even worse?
Wow not a single boarded up shop, can’t see any homeless people in the street, high end shops instead of endless pound shops, betting shops and takeaways. But hey, we got our ‘sovrontee’ back. 🙄
The Swedish lifestyle is unobtainable for Britain in or outside of The EU. We never had that lifestyle as members.
The scandinavian lifestyle is unattainable for most countries in the world. You need a fairly high average IQ in the nation and a homogenic population with high trust levels that don't steal your stuff as soon as they see an opportunity. Thats why Sweden is falling apart right now since we're losing all those things. The same goes for Britain. The country has too many trash people these days that are having children, so unfortunately it can never be attained again.
That is because you never tried. You never attempt to take full advantage of what was on offer. You spent your time complaining and seeking exceptions with the inevitable out come. In Ireland back in the 70s joining the EEC was presented as the biggest opportunity to come along and only fools would fail to take advantage of it. And that made all the difference.
Apart from the typical wooden houses, it doesn't look much different from my city. What I found breathtaking in Sweden, however, are the Stockholms skärgård, the Stockholm archipelago in summer. Next time I will visit the archipelago in Västervik in Småland. Greetings from Germany
I visit sandviken ever year. Its not a fancy town by any means. Working class town, id say. Big difference is i never feel unsafe or intimidated like you do in uk towns. People leave their bikes unlocked outside their houses. In the uk; they'd be gone in minutes!
I took my Granddaughter to an indoor playground in our town yesterday. There was a corner with shelves filled with snacks, sweets and toys. Nobody holding an eye on the goods and we paid with Mobile Pay. Oh I forgot to say we are in Denmark.
It reminds me of what our town centre looked like 30 years ago 😦
Thanks Michael..I am glad that you had a positive time in Göteborg..Have a good week end.
Thanks, you too! 😊
One day you should visit Luxembourg and especially the little town of Schengen, Michael.
That’s a location where you can literally feel what the EU means and that it’s about much more than a thriving economy.
I've already invited him!😉🇱🇺
Much of Sweden reminds me to Southern England in the 90s when we had a brief glimpse of civilisation. Imagine living in a country where an educated, happy population is desirable and worked for by the government, rather than the incessant maintenance of a class system and neoliberal dogma. Hey ho.
yes Pre Blair.
@@jamesmc1272 Of course. Pre Blair when the mining and steel industries were closed by a government without a plan B. When privatisation of state-owned industries began in earnest and when national and personal debt became a way of life. When the North Sea oil and gas reserves were given away to corporations. When unemployment was through the roof and the poor man's vote was bought by council house sell-offs. Those pre-Blair days were marvellous. The Swedes are no doubt envious.
The new tunnel between Germany and Denmark through the Baltic Sea will connect Scandinavia even more to the EU and boost the economy.
Ah yes this is exactly what we need, consume more crap.
@@toniownez who's we, are you in Denmark?
😂😂😂😂
Denmark is on the main euro landmass,so tunnel?
@@TomBartram-b1c
Yes, a big tunnel is being built between Rødbyhavn and Puttgarden that shortens the transport times between Germany and Scandinavia significantly.
Yes, I have seen this in Sweden and Finland certainly but also Germany. It has made me feel so depressed returning to the UK. It's as though the surroundings have been allowed to degrade and locals have become accustomed to living in degraded conditions. Very sad indeed.
Hi Michael, it is good that you makes this videos so maybe the Toris and Labor see that what they are saying is not true. I am a subscriber to your videos and i live in the capital of Sweden and we also have a lot of water around the city. So Michael cep up the good work and i like your videos.👍👍
Thank you very much. @MCML50
Gothenburg, Sweden Shows How Far The UK Has Fallen Behind Since Brexit 1157am 19.10.24 dear swedes, if you are unlucky enough to live in a neighbourhood of migrants or ancestors of migrants and you are having you rlife made a misery... you will be picked at and made irate with niggling demands on your time and patience. only for the guys making your life a misery to shout: o, look at this terrible man and what he is doing... etc etc etc........................................... as in UK so over there, i surmise. i wonder what generation of migrant i live amidst, here?
My kids left the uk for malmo. Despite the bad rep they are happier and living on way better standards thanks they could ever aspire in London
But the crime?
Yes, There are good places found even in Malmö
If you use London as a benchmark then that is not hard to acheive.
The fact that the guy could choose to go and spend the winter in Spain, no questions asked demonstrates the value of "Freedom of Movement." Here, Brexiteers seemed obsessed with the idea that everybody would want to come here. But, it worked _both_ ways and it was wonderful.
I also (again) on one of your trips noticed a complete absence of litter! 😉😉
My son who is an awarded (multiple red dot design awards) designer faced difficulties in the UK to find work with the down turn in design with Dyson for example closing UK design. He is moving to Gothenberg, Sweden with his family to take up a roll as a senior designer for Volvo. I don’t believe they will return to Brexit broken UK. Everything about his new life in Sweden is major uplift from the chaos here. I am saying that as someone who is very international and would not stay in the UK except I am too old to start again.
Role not roll.
Well done. It is good to hear different views of what is considered a good lifestyle.
..full of fun, seems to be the ideal
Come to Wrocław in Poland, a very similar vibe with beautiful parks.
Visited last year. It's a beautiful city with lots of renovation happening. Loved the Botanic gardens too. Enjoy!
Many moons ago, pre-internet days, I had a couple of Swedish "pen friends", remember them?, who came to England for their first ever visit. They went to all the obvious places whilst in London (museums, theatre's etc.), but I went to meet them, and showed them around the more "seedier side" of London. I think they enjoyed the experience, but they couldn't wait to get home! They later wrote to me saying it wasn't quite what they had expected. I bet they'd really love it now!
So, they were in a new place briefly, and enjoyed it, then you showcased all the shit and they decided it wasn't so good? Ok, so Michael has just done the first part of that scenario, when do we get to see him trawling the gettos and back streets?
@@sc3pt1c4L They were here for 2 weeks, and wanted to see more of the off-beat down-to-earth type of stuff in London, like markets, record shops, cafes etc. So I took them to little obscure record shops, clothes shops etc. that you'd only know about if you were pretty familiar with the back streets of London. It was a side of London they were unaware of, instead of the glitzy/trendy stuff the brochures showed them, and they enjoyed it, because they would never have known about that "side of the tracks" if I hadn't shown it to them.
The point is..., that sort of stuff isn't there as much as it use to be, and most of the places we went to are now boarded up 'n gone.
@@brucster99b2 Well I agree. Take the natives out of their capital city, and the shops and services they provided go too. Walk down through Whitechapel. No more record shops, its all sari shops and Turkish restaurants.
@@sc3pt1c4L I use to visit London at least once a month on my record hunts back in the 90's, and after a while you to got to know the cool shops to hit. Same with markets 'n cafes. So we eventually had it sussed exactly where we were going to go for records, markets and a cuppa! But it's changed so much now, that I gave up going years ago.
We visited Stockholm a few years ago and I agree with you, the quality of life is very nice and they are way ahead of us in things like integrated transport.
The preserved parts of Stockholm are lovely in many ways, sure.
But only the upper classes lives there nowadays. The working class moved out during the 1970s and 80s.
Look at how badly Sweden did in the Paralympics even allowing for population . I thought that they were a country that taxed high for social welfare reasons .
Another poignantly truthful video Michael. Thank you.
Thank you 😊
What is bad in Sweden is that we lack your voice from Britain in EU as a counter to the countries in the south that just want monetary contribution from EU or Hungary that want Russia to win the current war in Ukraine. I much rather see a hungexit than the sad brexit.
Wow, looks like the transit trolleys are running all over and on time, probably better than in most UK cities, but I don't really know. Best quote of this video and a total ROAR! Asking the young man why or what did he think was the reasoning for the UK deciding to leave the EU? *"I have no idea why they would do that."* Yeah! Ya think?
:-)
Been there a few times and the Swedes can really show us how to live life!
Thank you for doing this. Quite a few of us travel across Europe regularly and this has been clear for decades. I think there are complex issues at play. The UK has failed to invest in infrastructure and business for decades; asset accumulators (very rich) want to milk the assets short term; the middle class in the UK and US have heen destroyed (the middle class underpin a democratic capitalist society and without them it starts to fall apart); somehow in the UK we just fail to plan things from a systems engineering point of view long term (poor education, poor culture); Scandinavian countries generally agree that tax is fine, that we have social responsibilities; they were also wise in having sovereign wealth funds, there countries are less unequal across counties etc.....I could go on but we just fail in the UK to have consistent sound evidence based policy.....and then we add in stupid divisive decisions like Brexit (driven by reaction and a failed national psyche about we are perfect we won the war blah blah).
Spot on. I've watched the decline of Britain from within for over 40 years. No plan, all short-term self interest, no investment in education. Even the poorer countries in Europe enjoy a far better standard of living from what I've seen first hand on my many travels.
@@bcgraham3512 Yes, you can't blame Brexit for everything. Take the North sea oil for example. How the Norwegians handled it compared to the British. The Norweigan oil fund contributes to the Norwegian budget with 10-20% annually . Despite this the Norewegian oil fund continues to grow since the Norwegians have a limit of only usiing 3% of its value every year.
The British did not set up an oil fund but spent the income on tax cuts and immediate needs without thinking about the future.
@@matswinberg5045 UK spent the oil money propping up failed, bankrupt state industries to avoid inevitable mass job losses.
@@bcgraham3512 Only Margaret Thatcher reversed that decline...by ushering in a low-tax economy which transformed commerce and industry.
We became ENTERPRISE Britain. But it was all destroyed by New Labour and the return of socialism.
Blair tackled ''poverty'' by ushering in Benefits Britain and colossal welfare dependency.
As Labour continue in its desperate hunt for a few billion in supposed ‘savings’, let’s confront the harsh truth: the cost of Brexit has already ballooned to £24 billion, with an additional £6.4 billion yet to come. On top of that, the Treasury is grappling with an estimated £30-40 billion loss in receipts due to the severe economic damage inflicted by this misguided venture.
This past weekend, Johnson faced an unrelenting grilling from Nick Ferrari, who surprisingly caught him off guard. Johnson could barely muster a score for Brexit’s performance and instead resorted to a pathetic defence of “constitutional purity” (sic) while making demonstrably false claims about the government’s Covid response.
The phrase “have your cake and eat it” has morphed into “have your cake and choke on it,” perfectly encapsulating the disastrous fallout of this whole escapade.
I think it would really help if you compare rates of taxation as many of the places you visit pay much more and therefore get the benefits. We have made paying tax a bad thing rather than collective responsibility for an equal well-being. You get what you pay for. Loved this video Michael thank you so much for all you do.
Thank you 😊
Your taxation and borrowing is an all time!
I'd rather be part of the EU than USA.
@@paullarne The US has a better constitution than the EU. Bill of Rights to die for, they elect the president, based on English common law and justice.
If there was a choice the US would be it.
@@Sjb-on5xt Don't be ridiculous. You can't directly compare the EU's set of Treaties with US Constitution - they serve different purposes.
FFS.
@@robsucher9419 Let's be honest, the EU wants to be a country, having acquired nearly all the trappings of one. It needs a constitution limiting its powers to legislate and formulate policy, clearly defined boundaries between laws that can be passed by Brussels and its member states and all its bureaucratic branches be elected by the people. Yes, the EU serves itself. The people are just an obstacle to get around.
My aunt lived there in the 80s. She moved to the UK. Sweden has months of little light in winter, it can be very bleak and depressing during those months. It takes a certain mindset to enjoy those conditions on an annual cycle.
This depression thing is a myth. Those of us who are born here are used to it and there's ways to keep the gloom at bay.
@@annicaesplund6613I wish you were right!
What the UK and the US do is divide society by capitalist individualism.
Aside of al that free education and cheap childcare and health care, one basic example is running housing as a company at least in Finland. For all attached housing one buys an apartment or a town house as a share of the whole complex based on square metres. This allows for investment in basic infra to be run as a unit (plumbing, insulation, heating etc.). This way the housing Ltd. gets a loan as decided by the shareholders/inhabitants and everyone then gets to decide whether to pay for it in installments or at one go. That is, nobody's individual finances rarely prevent the upgrade of their housing.
Great video. Pre EU we were the dirty man of Europe with raw sewage on many beaches and I. C. I. dumping chemical waste in the North Sea. Now we have got our sovereignty back we can reclaim our title. Brown Flag beaches.
Definitely keep the show on the road if you can Michael, this is great stuff!
Thanks 😊
you make great videos......keep goin
Thank you very much @banshees9 😊
I really like your videos on uk brexit they are very interesting and it is a pity more uk people do not appreciate them i was very interested on your visits to some of the eu cities you visited i was wondering if you would visit an irish city i think it would give a good comparison to uk on my last visit to uk i could not believe how bad it has become in a lot of places it shocked me i did not realize how bad it was.Thank you again for your great videos
@raycurtin-o5k - Thank you very much Ray. I am hoping to visit Ireland in the next few months. It is definitely on my list. 😊
The way back for the UK is possible and looks like this:
1.
The UK cannot return to the EU in its current condition.
A second membership would be like the EU injecting itself with HIV.
2.
The right-wing rich incite people against the EU through their right-wing media. To this day.
3.
The right-wing rich incite people against the EU through their influence in private schools.
4.
Nobody in a “club” accepts a prospective member who agitates against the club.
4.
9 out of 10 Brits never learned at school what the UK gets back in benefits for their annual contribution. They have been kept stupid. That hasn't changed since brexit.
5.
If things are different in 30 or 40 years, a second membership is possible.
6.
By then the UK must have become a modern democracy. Now it is a musty Charles Dickens country with views from 200 years ago.
7.
The EU will not accept a country that does not have a written constitution. Where a party with 1/3 of the votes can have an absolute majority in government.
8.
The EU will no longer accept any country where a referendum concerning the EU can be held without a quorum.
9.
Experience has shown that the EU will no longer accept any country where the candidate country is only interested in gaining an economic advantage from membership. But otherwise to work and agitate against everything that goes beyond that.
10.
If the UK fulfills this (and a bit more), it can submit an application that has the prospect of being considered by the EU.
11.
Then the UK only has to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria.
Point 9… I’m sure Moldova, Albania, Montenegro and Ukraine cannot wait to grab all that lovely German money!