London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 25, 2026

Britain is only great if you have money

Britain is only great if you have money

For the less privileged, what the UK has to offer are poorly run state schools, a housing shortage, a collapsing health care system under the Covid-19 pandemic and an economy hit badly by Brexit; the cost of living is high and racial discrimination is real.

Many “blue-ribbons”, roughly the “law and order” advocates, are looking for paybacks from the anti-government crowds.

This is most apparent with those who want to see punitive actions taken by Beijing against those who want to take up the new BN(O) emigration scheme to Britain. One obvious penalty is to cancel their right of abode in Hong Kong. This is drastic and unnecessary, and I hope the central government would not take things so far.

At the moment, Beijing’s response has been a lot of bark but only a small bite. China will stop recognising the BN(O) as a legitimate travel document.

This won’t stop you from leaving the city, as you can always go in and out of it with your identity card. And you can always apply for an SAR passport. Once you have landed in Britain, you can proudly show your BN(O) passport to enter the country. The move is just a tit-for-tat with the British government.

Some people take a bullish view of China, others are extremely bearish, in the lingo of investment. If you don’t see a great future for Hong Kong, and you now have a way of escape under the BN(O), I don’t see what’s wrong with taking it – and of course, accept the consequences if things don’t turn out well.


With the BN(O) some residents of Hong Kong may choose to escape to London, above, or other parts of the UK.


People can argue forever about Britain’s agenda, hidden or otherwise, and who is most to blame for the current state of Hong Kong. But if you have not broken any law and just want to emigrate for whatever reason, well, I say good luck. You shouldn’t have to fear losing your right of abode.

BN(O) migrants may well turn out to be the best advertisement for a rising China, when they report back the realities of life in Britain. The two most important things for a new immigrant family are housing and employment. If both are secured, you and your family may well have a splendid time there. If not, you may end up in a world of hurt.

For the less privileged, what Britain has to offer are poorly run state schools, a housing shortage, a collapsing health care system under the Covid-19 pandemic and an economy hit badly by Brexit. The cost of living is high and racial discrimination is real.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be better off staying put.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
War, Youth Revolt and the Global Struggle for Control
War, Power and the Rising Price of Political Decisions
High Street Sales Suffer Sharpest Summer Decline in Five Years
Wales Approves Higher Taxes on Second Homes and Long-Term Empty Properties
Environment Agency Imposes Record £150 Million Penalty on Water Companies
UK Competition Watchdog Blocks U.S. Takeover of Cambridge Chip Designer
Scotland Unveils Land Reform Bill to Expand Renewable Energy Projects
Northern Ireland Secures £500 Million Technology Investment for Belfast Cybersecurity Hub
NHS Rolls Out AI Triage System Across Major Hospitals in England
UK Strengthens North Sea Naval Cooperation With European Allies
UK Chancellor Commits £7 Billion to Accelerate Manchester-Leeds Rail Link
Bank of England Signals Interest Rate Cuts After Inflation Falls Below Target
Badenoch Rejects Grant Shapps' Bid to Return as Conservative Candidate
BAE Chief Warns Britain Has Underestimated the Risk of War
Burnham Rules Out New Scottish Independence Referendum in First Talks With Swinney
UK Government Strengthens Northern Economic Agenda Through Manchester Headquarters and Regional Partnerships
United Kingdom Opens New Furness Peninsula Coastal Route Under King Charles the Third England Coast Path
England Reduces Business Costs for Hospitality Sector Through New Relief Package
United Kingdom Allocates Seven Point Three Million Pounds for Zero-Emission Aviation Research
United Kingdom Begins Restoration Works on Portishead Railway Line After Six Decades Without Passenger Services
United States Tariff Measures Create New Trade Challenges for United Kingdom and European Union Businesses
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Meets Scottish and Welsh Leaders to Promote Regional Growth Cooperation
United Kingdom Government Announces Twenty Percent Business Rates Cut for Pubs, Clubs, and Music Venues
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Opens Manchester Government Headquarters to Shift Decision-Making Away From Westminster
United Kingdom Defence Ministry Says Armed Forces Ready After Iran Accuses London Over US Military Strikes
United Kingdom Inflation Falls to Two Point Six Percent as Prime Minister Andy Burnham Gains Economic Breathing Room
OpenAI Sued After ChatGPT Allegedly Discouraged Emergency Care Before Near-Fatal Embolism
Viral Video Raises Questions Over Twelve-Dollar Croissants at Manhattan Bakery
UK Balances Security Commitments With Economic Growth Priorities
Retail and Hospitality Sectors Navigate Consumer Caution and Tax Changes
Key Trends to Watch
British Land Appoints Joanne McNamara as New Chief Executive Officer
UK Government Names New Life Peers Including Former Military and Civil Service Leaders
Institute of Directors Urges Government Action on Employment Costs and Skills Shortages
IMF Raises UK 2026 Growth Forecast to One Percent
UK Retail Sales Growth Slows Sharply as Households Cut Discretionary Spending
UK Ten-Year Bond Yields Remain Above Five Percent as Government Faces Higher Debt Costs
UK Government Plans Earlier End to Low-Value Import Duty Exemption for Online Retail Parcels
Reform UK Leads Tight Westminster Voting Poll as Conservatives and Labour Remain Close
Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group Completes First Arctic and North Atlantic Mission Phase
Andy Burnham Government Cuts Business Rates for Pubs and Music Venues by Twenty Percent
UK Inflation Falls to Two Point Six Percent in June as Food and Fuel Prices Ease
Andy Burnham Becomes UK Prime Minister Facing Growth Challenges and Fiscal Pressure
UK Government Reviews Long-Term Balance Between Cost Relief, Industry Support, and Public Investment Priorities
BBC Could Receive Permanent Royal Charter Under Government Proposal
Northern Ireland Proposes End to Severe Weather Exemptions for Electricity Compensation Rules
Andy Burnham Holds Talks With UK Devolved Leaders on Regional Cooperation and Devolution
House of Lords Launches Inquiry Into Risks Facing UK Democratic Institutions
ScottishPower Renewables Plans Major Rebuild of Whitelee Wind Farm With Fewer Larger Turbines
UK and Italy Leaders Discuss Global Combat Air Programme and Future European Cooperation
×