The Brexit referendum thread: potential consequences for GB, EU and the Brits in CH

[Jim2007]

	Quote:	JackieH
	He is a British expat in Switzerland. Both of us have worked and lived all our adult live in the UK, he since he was a baby- both of us 100% reliant on British pension. I'd say that makes us expats. You are entitled to disagree, of course. It is visceral and obsessive though, from you, and rather weird and all a bit disturbing though.

You have invested so much of your life in the UK and are dependent on the UK economy for your income, so why are you actual here? Something must have caused you to give it all up and move to Switzerland on retirement.

I left Ireland over three decades ago, most of my working live has been here and at this stage all my immediate family are here, my friends and so on and there is simply no way I'd suddenly decide to return to Ireland. And even if I wanted to the the Ireland I left no longer exists - all my immediate family there are not dead, my friends from college etc are scattered all over the world, the currency, society make up and culture have changed, laws and so on. It's interesting for me to keep up with what is going on, but the reality is that if Sinn Fein was elected in the next election there it would not have any impact on my life at the end of the day. It's their country, they have to live there not me.

I really don't understand where you are coming from....

[JackieH]

I get that it all sounds strange. All my life, in the UK, I felt guilty that I was not there to help my parents. When we retired, and my parents were in their 90s, and in need to increasing help, not wanting to go into care home, I had to jump on a plane and rent a car so often to come and rescue the situation. So we thought we would rent a little place nearby, to spend more time with them, supporting them if their last few years.

Fell in love with this old house as it came up for sale unexpectedly. Sterling was strong, our house in UK quite valuable, and we thought 'hey, why not'- and the rest is history.

But this is not about us, at all. The Pound was almost 2.50 then, it is just over 1 currently. So not easy. But there is not the issue here- tough luck! We thought we would return to the UK as we get older (OH getting close to 80)- but at the moment, this is not an attactive proposition- at all.

As said, not about us, at all. I fell in love with the UK when I was a teenager, the tolerance, music and art scene, the different cultures, and all the places we lived in. But those days are over.

Brexit is a total disaster, and that has nothing to do with our personal situation.But as we are totally dependent on Sterling pensions, and with all our working lives in UK, I feel like an expat. Used to feel at home in UK and at home here. Strange in so many ways, being back now 52 years later - in many ways a bit of a stranger in both places. That is OK- in many ways, it is great. Forces you to think outside the box, not rely on 'givens', not take things for granted. That's all good. (losing 65% + of income due to exchange rates, at a time of rising prices is not good- but hey ho- that's my problem).

I guess Jim that you don't have adult kids in Ireland, and grandchildren and lots of family and friends from not so long ago. Grandkids are in the middle of GCSEs and A'Levels- so not a good time to move. But yes, they are very lucky- as they have access to double nationality with CH, and Ireland too- lots of options for them that most do not have.

Brexit is an unmitigated disaster for the UK, and very very few now still support it. That is totally not about us. It is the reality.

[ZuriRollt]

	Quote:	JackieH
	I get that it all sounds strange. All my life, in the UK, I felt guilty that I was not there to help my parents. When we retired, and my parents were in their 90s, and in need to increasing help, not wanting to go into care home, I had to jump on a plane and rent a car so often to come and rescue the situation. So we thought we would rent a little place nearby, to spend more time with them, supporting them if their last few years. Fell in love with this old house as it came up for sale unexpectedly. Sterling was strong, our house in UK quite valuable, and we thought 'hey, why not'- and the rest is history. But this is not about us, at all. The Pound was almost 2.50 then, it is just over 1 currently. So not easy. But there is not the issue here- tough luck! We thought we would return to the UK as we get older (OH getting close to 80)- but at the moment, this is not an attactive proposition- at all. As said, not about us, at all. I fell in love with the UK when I was a teenager, the tolerance, music and art scene, the different cultures, and all the places we lived in. But those days are over. Brexit is a total disaster, and that has nothing to do with our personal situation.But as we are totally dependent on Sterling pensions, and with all our working lives in UK, I feel like an expat. Used to feel at home in UK and at home here. Strange in so many ways, being back now 52 years later - in many ways a bit of a stranger in both places. That is OK- in many ways, it is great. Forces you to think outside the box, not rely on 'givens', not take things for granted. That's all good. (losing 65% + of income due to exchange rates, at a time of rising prices is not good- but hey ho- that's my problem). I guess Jim that you don't have adult kids in Ireland, and grandchildren and lots of family and friends from not so long ago. Grandkids are in the middle of GCSEs and A'Levels- so not a good time to move. But yes, they are very lucky- as they have access to double nationality with CH, and Ireland too- lots of options for them that most do not have. Brexit is an unmitigated disaster for the UK, and very very few now still support it. That is totally not about us. It is the reality.

We all have our own personal history. And yes, the exchange rate CHF/GPB has varied over the years. This doesn’t give you the right to trash those people on the Forum that decided to leave the UK much earlier than you, and establish a life here.

You provoke me into saying „why don‘t you go back to where you came from?“

Satisfied now? Feel at home finally?

[marton]

@JackieH

About "(losing 65% + of income due to exchange rates)", I am surprised at this.

My UK pensions valued in CHF have been relatively constant over the last eight years. The annual UK increases based on inflation seem to balance the exchange rate falls.

Certainly, the UK state pension is increased annually, perhaps you have another pension that is not so increased.

After some study of exchange rates, I have my UK state pension paid to me in CHF as they get the best rates.
My company pension is paid in sterling as I get a better rate from my bank than they did when it was paid in CHF.

I did think about having my company pension paid into a sterling account and using Wise, or similar, to convert to CHF but I have been too lazy to take my idea further.

[ZuriRollt]

	Quote:	marton
	@JackieH About "(losing 65% + of income due to exchange rates)", I am surprised at this. My UK pensions valued in CHF have been relatively constant over the last eight years. The annual UK increases based on inflation seem to balance the exchange rate falls. Certainly, the UK state pension is increased annually, perhaps you have another pension that is not so increased. After some study of exchange rates, I have my UK state pension paid to me in CHF as they get the best rates. My company pension is paid in sterling as I get a better rate from my bank than they did when it was paid in CHF. I did think about having my company pension paid into a sterling account and using Wise, or similar, to convert to CHF but I have been too lazy to take my idea further.

Don‘t know about the UK, but all Swiss Pension funds are rebalanced daily according to FX rates (apparently I designed a thingy that would do that at a big Swiss bank).

[marton]

Just for laughs as it is Friday I was watching the German TV news today about the Ukraine EU summit and despite Brexit most of the EU signs were in English.
Seems Ireland and Malta have an excessive influence

[Urs Max]

	Quote:	marton
	Seems Ireland and Malta have an excessive influence

IIRC neither has defined English as their official language, the UK was the only one. Nonetheless it remains an official EU despite Brexit, this as long as it's listed in Regulation No 1.

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	k_and_e
	a former expat actually, if she has lived in the UK and returned to CH.

I believe the term for that is a re-pat. There’s a term for everything these days.

[JackieH]

	Quote:	ZuriRollt
	We all have our own personal history. And yes, the exchange rate CHF/GPB has varied over the years. This doesn’t give you the right to trash those people on the Forum that decided to leave the UK much earlier than you, and establish a life here. You provoke me into saying „why don‘t you go back to where you came from?“ Satisfied now? Feel at home finally?

Where on earth did I 'trash' anyone. I said it was different. And yes, our situation is probably very unique. Jim asked the question- I answered as honestly as I could, And continued to say, that Brexit is a disaster for the UK, and that our particular situation is irrelevant in this discussion.

Why do you comment on Swiss pensions? We are reliant on UK state pensions, paid in Sterling. When we arrived it was paid at 2.48, early January at just over 1.00. How is that not 60% loss?

I have not provoked you in saying 'why don't you go back where you come from' - that is for sure. And I even explaine- where we come from is NOT attractive at all at the moment. It has changed beyond recognition in last few years- and with one of us in cancer remission pushing 80, the NHS is not a safe proposition.

As said, BREXIT was and is just populist nonsense, and massively damaging for the UK. FACT. And the vast majority of UK people, bar those in Boston/Skegness (go figure) are the only ones who have not yet massively changed their mind and realised they were fraudulently lied to and conned. FACT.

[JackieH]

	Quote:	Belgianmum
	I believe the term for that is a re-pat. There’s a term for everything these days.

Yes, interesting term, thanks. Does not apply to my OH though, does it?

[st2lemans]

	Quote:	JackieH
	Yes, interesting term, thanks. Does not apply to my OH though, does it?

No, he's an immigrant.

Tom

[Flakk]

	Quote:	JackieH
	Why do you comment on Swiss pensions? We are reliant on UK state pensions, paid in Sterling. When we arrived it was paid at 2.48, early January at just over 1.00. How is that not 60% loss?

Last time the FX was around 2.48 was 2007. Then the basic single person UK state pension was £4,540. Now it's £8,122. A near 80% increase.

In CHF terms it has gone from about 11,300 to about 9,100, a near 20% drop. Not nice but not 60% either.

[greenmount]

It will be nice from all of you to just ignore each other's posts for a while...

JackieH, you live in a very beautiful country right now. Make the most of it because there are so many people including from the UK who would like so much to exchange places. Not really exchange places because I don't know anyone over 60 who would move to a different country but would maybe like to have the same living standards, life style etc. Pensioners have a very difficult life in many many places, you can't even compare. And they had also worked for 40 or more years etc. many in intellectual professions like teachers, health providers etc.
If I were you I would try to get the whole picture...

[st2lemans]

	Quote:	Flakk
	Last time the FX was around 2.48 was 2007. Then the basic single person UK state pension was £4,540. Now it's £8,122. A near 80% increase. In CHF terms it has gone from about 11,300 to about 9,100, a near 20% drop. Not nice but not 60% either.

My friend from the UK lived here for 30 years, became Swiss, and moved back to the UK to retire.

Win-win, Swiss pension, UK prices!

Tom

[Jim2007]

	Quote:	marton
	Just for laughs as it is Friday I was watching the German TV news today about the Ukraine EU summit and despite Brexit most of the EU signs were in English. Seems Ireland and Malta have an excessive influence

Ireland does not sponsor English as a working EU language, they sponsor Irish which is a corresponding language... And they have always used French as their diplomatic language, with German being added as a second language a couple of years ago. I believe Malta sponsors Maltese which is also a corresponding language, but no idea what language their diplomats use.

I believe there was a move after BREXIT to get away from the idea that a language needed a sponsoring member state, but I lost interest in the topic so no idea where it is at now.

[JackieH]

	Quote:	greenmount
	It will be nice from all of you to just ignore each other's posts for a while... JackieH, you live in a very beautiful country right now. Make the most of it because there are so many people including from the UK who would like so much to exchange places. Not really exchange places because I don't know anyone over 60 who would move to a different country but would maybe like to have the same living standards, life style etc. Pensioners have a very difficult life in many many places, you can't even compare. And they had also worked for 40 or more years etc. many in intellectual professions like teachers, health providers etc. If I were you I would try to get the whole picture...

Oh I do, I can assure you.

Brexit is a totaly disaster- for the UK - our personal situation is irrelevant. But should I accept someone's obsessive and constant personal attacks and even lies. No, I will not.

Tom, when did your friends go back to UK? Yes, financially it would make sense for us, although we have no Swiss pension. But going back to this current UK? With the NHS in the state it is, and the deep deep divisions in society, and constant stirikes, etc. You must be joking! Inflation is ramapant too.

Enough about me. Jim asked- I replied. End of.

Back to the utter sh*t show that is Brexit. Everyone in the UK agrees, bar Skegness and Boston- nuff said.

[marton]

	Quote:	Flakk
	Last time the FX was around 2.48 was 2007. Then the basic single person UK state pension was £4,540. Now it's £8,122. A near 80% increase. In CHF terms it has gone from about 11,300 to about 9,100, a near 20% drop. Not nice but not 60% either.

I have made that point in a similar way several times but have been ignored.

Just to be pedantic that higher figure of £8,122 starts being paid in April.

[st2lemans]

	Quote:	JackieH
	Tom, when did your friends go back to UK?

2015 or so.

And he is pro BREXIT.

Tom

[Biro]

	Quote:	JackieH
	Oh I do, I can assure you. Brexit is a totaly disaster- for the UK - our personal situation is irrelevant. But should I accept someone's obsessive and constant personal attacks and even lies. No, I will not. Tom, when did your friends go back to UK? Yes, financially it would make sense for us, although we have no Swiss pension. But going back to this current UK? With the NHS in the state it is, and the deep deep divisions in society, and constant stirikes, etc. You must be joking! Inflation is ramapant too. Enough about me. Jim asked- I replied. End of. Back to the utter sh*t show that is Brexit. Everyone in the UK agrees, bar Skegness and Boston- nuff said.

Wow, i never knew that, Is Brexit really a total disaster, this must be first time it's been mentioned in 31'218 pages, however did we miss that out, boys & girls ?

[ZuriRollt]

	Quote:	Biro
	Wow, i never knew that, Is Brexit really a total disaster, this must be first time it's been mentioned in 31'218 pages, however did we miss that out, boys & girls ?

Please stay gender neutral