We Want Out Of This Country: Middle-Class British Families

A majority of middle-class British families would like to leave the United Kingdom, citing, among other factors, the weakening economy, poor weather, pricey housing and deteriorating morality and cultural standards, according to a survey by the University of Huddersfield.

Many of the 1,200 respondents said they would prefer to Australia – where "old-fashioned British values, thriving community spirit and a more relaxed way of life" still exist.

They also sought to escape the increasingly corrosive and stressful life in Britain, with parents wanting their “children to grow up in a country with a stronger sense of community than they believe exists in the UK” and one without a "celebrity-obsessed culture."

The survey of was commissioned by the Government of South Australia’s Office of Agent General to coincide with Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee.

“The comparative prosperity of our nation and children is fundamental to our sense of 'Britishness'," said Professor Paul Ward, co-director of Huddersfield's Academy of British and Irish Studies and the survey’s author, according to the Daily Telegraph.

“But losing this position in the world's economy is prompting many Brits to reconsider where they live. Many are choosing places founded by British settlers which retain core British values, or values similar to them, but are more affluent and in a better position to invest in economic drivers for the future such as health, education and transport."

Ward added: "Many of the families we speak to, tell us they want to live in a community that embodies old-fashioned British values while enjoying a warmer climate and better work-life balance."

Others polled picked the United States as an attractive destination, followed by New Zealand, Canada, Spain, France and Italy.

Not surprisingly, the government of South Australia is seeking to recruit highly-skilled immigrants from Britain.

Matt Johnson, the South Australian deputy Agent General, told The Daily Telegraph: “Our study provides an interesting insight into the aspirations of British people. Interest is very strong and bear in mind also that we now pre-screen all attendees to ensure we're speaking with the right demographic – age, skills, language and experience-wise. The reality is, you can't buy the sun. Brits continue to be really interested in Australia."

According to the Herald Sun newspaper, about 25,000 Britons migrate to Australia every year – however, many return home partially because they miss their families 10,000 miles away.

Between 2005 and 2010 almost 30 percent of Britons who emigrated to Australia went back to the UK.