As an outsider I was really shocked to learn that in the UK a landlord can just up the rent for the tenants at will! My rent here in Munich did not go up one cent. Also, there is nothing like a "bedroom" tax here. The system in the UK seems just horrible for average people.

You cannot solve a problem if you refuse to acknowledge its causes

Watching both the US and UK self-destruct has been a total nightmare. People are so easily manipulated by evil politicians.

I saw a homeless person in a doorway. I thought I would like to help him. So I travelled to the most affluent part of the town, searched for the largest mansion with the nicest gardens and popped a few hundred pounds through the letterbox. That money should trickle down to help the homeless person I saw earlier. This is Tory policy.

The fact that food banks are now normalised is a stain on us all

12 years of Tory rule is a horrifying thing

In 2016, after living in Britain for 1 year (I'm Dutch), I visited a village in Somerset one day, and walked through the main shopping street. Many shops were closed, some of the windows were broken, empty bottles rolled over the pavement in the wind, and young families walked by, arguing, with a toddler in the buggy, a bag of sweets in its hands, Mom behind it, with Dad next to his wife, whose body was twice the size of his. She was the loudest of the two, he walked like a beaten dog. Homeless people were sitting on porches. For the first time in my life, I felt as if I was in a warzone, or as if I walked on a film set of it.

It's hard to predict the future until we see this month’s inflation results. However, historical data consistently show that stocks tend to outperform bonds in the long term. Therefore, I'm staying in the market and focusing on selecting high-quality stocks. The challenge lies in identifying these stocks.

The only people in this country not left behind are the multi-millionaires and billionaires.

Pm is richer than the monarch. This is the most out of touch parliament has EVER been

I had never heard of the "bedroom tax" before (not from the UK). I looked it up and couldn't believe what I was reading. That is the most absurd, backwards measure I've ever seen!

The real problem is career politicians who have no benevolent vocation just personal ambition.

"You're having to count every penny, what do you do?" "I'm an accountant" 😂😂

I came across this simple explanation of tory politicians, which I copy here. :- A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a man below. He descended a bit more and shouted: "'Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago but I don't know where I am". The man below replied "You're in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You're between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude". "You must be a technician." said the balloonist. "I am" replied the man "how did you know?" "Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you have told me is probably technically correct, but I've no idea what to make of your information and the fact is, I'm still lost.... Frankly, you've not been much help at all. If anything, you've delayed my trip with your talk." The man below responded, "You must be a Tory politician". "I am" replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?" "Well," said the man "you don't know where you are or where you're going. You have risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise, which you've no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault!!! ................................................................ Sadly, it fits very well with today's tories.

I came back to the UK in mid-2020 as I took an offer of fully scholarship-funded PhD in England and since I moved back, I came across endless issues (bureaucratic, administrative, logistical, even social to the extend), even so, I was living continously in the UK before for over a decade and has a resident status. I was so disappointed, despondent and anxious with what I observed. Level of poverty, crime and general helplessness was staggering - post-Brexit reality hit hard with empty shelves and rising prices of goods/services as "replacement" of immigrants was not that easy as many pro-Brexiters believed, pandemic took another toll on society and business, finally, with war in Ukraine came realisation that business/money brought by Russian oligarchs destabilised huge GB economy, making average live of Brits, unsustainable. A few weeks ago, I decided that I no longer feel comfortable and safe to stay and continue my work with the university. Costs of living went up and scholarship remain painfully low (30 gbp more than lowest national average in 2019!) with growing responsibilities and expectations that doesn't seem to correspond with potential benefits of making such professional and personal sacrifices. I decided to withdrawn and take position back in the EU. As much as it saddened me (as being a doctor was my long-lived dream), I felt that I have to be responsible for my future and stability. That's no longer something that I feel I can achieve back in the UK.

When I was in the UK in 2017, I was surprised how many homeless people I saw on the streets (London). I'd just come from Canada where there were also masses of homeless people (Vancouver). As a Yank, I always assumed we had the corner on that market. It's clear to me now that the middle class is being wiped out everywhere. You've got your rich and your poor, and that's that.

'In England, people are just talking. They don't make any changes.' The man summed up our current situation perfectly. I do wonder if this had been France or Germany, would the people have been so flaccid and spineless in their response? We just endure injustice to extremes and never strike back.

That chip shop owner is so spot on 'What have we done in the last few months to solve this madness?.... Nothing' The government is all talk and zero action

An excellent documentary, no nonsense, just reality. A portrait of a declining nation.

THIS... Is what real journalism looks like. Telling THE TRUTH.

Thank you John Harris for allowing people to speak on their own behalf, and be heard. A priceless series this.

It is only when people who still have homes, still have “respectable” jobs and social status begun to feel any pain that the stress and insecurity of poverty is acknowledged as real.

I am aware that continuing to invest during periods of volatility can be a smart way to build wealth. I’ve heard testimonies of people accruing over 550k in this red period. What measures can I take to achieve this?

If you are reading this, know that you are worthy of anything you desire. Most times it amazes me greatly how I moved from an average lifestyle to earning over $63k per month, Utter shock is the word. I have understood a lot in the past few years that there are lots of opportunities in the financial market. The only thing is to know where to invest…

The man in the chippy is right , people of Britain talk and do nothing about it and now we have an unelected prime minster with him and his cabinet only being ministers for seven years and now front bench ,

Glad this is back. Shows the reality of what we are going through.

It's not just the people it's the environment, nothing is maintained and everything is falling apart.

Glad to see another ep in this series! I got so much out of watching Anywhere But Westminster a few years ago. Thank you!

This always happens under Tory govts. I remember the 1980s, I was a student in relatively affluent Brighton and travelled up north on Union business. I was shocked, driving through entire industrial estates all locked and boarded up, whole estates a picture of dereliction, shopping centers all closed. It happens every 30-40 years.

Having a PM that is richer than royalty is a serious problem. He is completely disconnected from the plight of the people on the ground.

I could watch an hour of this, John. It's cracking stuff.

Two books from a bygone era come to mind: How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn and Love on the Dole by Dodie Walters. Both books deal with precisely these conditions during the Great Depression in the thirties. In America John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath. The days of wine and roses are truly over.

Everyone tries not to mention the elephant in the room.....The unending harm that Brexit has done and continues to do to the UK.

I love these videos so much. It's such a feet on the ground series that focuses on the everyday person, and while it's heart-breaking to hear how hopeless people feel about their futures, from families to business, it's nice to know that there is some people letting everyday folk have a voice. Great video as usual.

The #1 priority for everyone right now should be investing in non-government alternative income sources. specifically in light of the present global economic crisis. Nowadays, investments in stocks, oil, and virtual currencies are still appealing.

I am from the US I have been watching many shows on the crisis in UK and stunned at the rules, taxes and lack of laws to protect the people. It is horrible that the Royal Monarchy has so much and takes even more from the people. The Council Tax is absurd. Even the poorest have to pay even if they own nothing.

It has been pretty obvious for years that the UK was going to struggle at some point. I am surprised it has taken so long. Look at the trade deficit. It is absolutely massive and has been for years and years. Everything in the UK is imported yet it has little to sell to the rest of the world. The place is the epitome of a fools paradise. Yet few in the UK seem to even realise it let alone begin to get to grips with it. It is all short-termism and hype over substance. Unfortunately the two options going forward are the current complacency and dishonesty leading towards an Argentina style impoverishment or the slow and steady grind of rebuilding the economy and national capabilities. Even if the second path is followed it will result in a fall in living standards for the population and years of frustration. Will that be politically sustainable with a population so unprepared for reality?

Watching this you can see the UK property bubble in action. Empty properties all over the place being held by greedy investors and estate agents who artificially inflate prices, while honest hard working people are being charged for the extra bedrooms they have, which is, at best, a finger in the dam by the Conservative government for this property bubble problem. The thing that these investors and seemingly the government haven't realised is that it isn't just smaller towns and cities that have been hit by the property bubble. High Streets and offices in London are empty now, while rents remain inflated, in a post pandemic time when new things should be opening up, they are closing down. In what should be a time of growth and prosperity after the worst of this pandemic, instead we are seeing more places close down or remain empty. Landlords don't need to adapt to the current economic change, they can leave a property empty for years without being penalised for their damaging actions towards the local community. Property investors have even less motivation to lower their rents to fill their properties. We need actually regulation to ensure property is being used. That it isn't being left empty for investment purposes. That it's helping the community. And that local businesses, renters and home owners aren't being priced out of their homes by the UK property bubble.

A bedroom tax?! Lol only in the Anglophone world can this bs happen. Glad to live in continental Europe.

I grew up in Basinggrad. It was always pretty awful, but I visited my mother the other week and it was heartbreaking.

As a Dane, it's so odd to me how fish and chips shops import cod from Denmark, and we don't even have fish and chips shops over here.

Honestly, my landlady is a saint. She has not increased my rent and I could probably pay a little bit more if needed. Renters are at the mercy of a kind landlord but they do exist.

Brexit fans: The UK doesn't need the EU. We can survive on our own! The conservative party will represent us! Liz Truss: Hold my beer. Conservative party: We love the people of the UK. We have to represent the working class. Liz Truss: Hold my beer. Five Conservative Prime Ministers, all from the Conservative party. All failed.

It astounds me how the British press avoids mentioning Brexit as a major underlying cause for this recession. It's like the whole country wants to be in denial, 'nothing to see here, I see the unicorns all around, yes, thank you'.

My husband is English and I'm American. We live on continental Europe, and every time we visit the UK things seem to be, well, sadder. So many closed shops, so many people who look like they've been left out and left behind. We couldn't live the lifestyle we currently live in Austria were we to move to the UK unless we earned perhaps triple what we do now. Wouldn't want to try.

"For every complex problem, there is a solution which is clear, simple, and wrong."

I visited GB in 2019 and was amazed at the social disconnect and the feeling of being in a 3rd world country. On my return to Australia l literally kissed the ground thankful that we lead a much higher standard of living.

Everytime i visit UK, i see increasing construction projects, people are driving cool electric cars, fancy restaurants etc. but it seems wealth is not distributed even

The main shopping centre in my city, one of the first in the country built in the mid 80s, sold for £110 million 15 years ago. It's almost empty and currently up for sale for £7 million, it's a ghost town now, he's right that charity shops are all that's left.

11:28 His no to "would you vote conservative again" was so quick and hurt.

Large cod from a chippy in Cardiff is 4 quid. I have no idea why they're blaming Brexit for £7 cod. They need to look at themselves before they blame Brexit and anyone else.

So let me put it this way, as a 24 year old who can expect at most to make about 24k a year, where is the incentive to even try when this is all I can expect to live like?

2 simple rules for life; No.1 - Never trust a tory No.2 - Never forget rule number 1

I live in Basingstoke and our tory mp has been the same one since i can remember. nobody ever sees her around town and she doesnt do anything of note to help local issues like our football team being booted out of there stadium due to the land owners wanting flats to go there instead.. hopefully things will change in the next GE but i doubt it as alot of people just complain but dont vote for opposite parties

Until the UK brings in proportional representation, these problems will persist.

Thanks for informing us on what's going on in the U.K. I would like to see more of this about what's going on in other parts of the country.

Yeah but, Brexit and Farage said "we would do just fine"?!

I can't believe what is happening in Britain, the biggest problem I have is with the voters who continually vote for Tory politicians. They are literally inflicting untold pain and suffering on their fellow citizens. How do they sleep at night?

I lived in London for 4 years in the 90's, before heading out of Europe. I am heartbroken to see the Uk in such a state, not only physical but morally. Brexit has a lot to play in todays situation. Unfortunately, I am afraid that we are witnessing the beginning of a downward spiral.

THIS VID JUST CONFIRM HOW THE BRITS UNDERESTIMATED THE DEVASTATING CHOICE OF BREXIT.

What I have noticed is a lot of things in supermarkets are going up in one day by 40p ,50p a pound, everything is going up quite a lot without explanation.

I feel like social media has blinded a lot of people about the serious problems that's happening in the UK. There is genuine despair around the country yet people blissfully ignore it and bury their heads in Tiktok, instagram, youtube and Netflix and pretend everything is all right when it isn't. People 30-40 years ago wouldn't have never stood for this epic disaster.

Politicians no matter where they are completely out of touch with reality in real life 😢

"You do it to yourself, you do. And that's why it really hurts. Is that you do it to yourself, just you. You and no one else. You do it to yourself" 　♪　♪

Scotland needs to leave the UK before it goes bust.

6:30 'Like an accelerated prime ministership' Not wrong there, so prophetic!

Whats going on here has been slowly brewing for decades now. England have for a very long time now been one of the most unequal contries in europe. Exiting the union and covid was just the last straw. English society and economics simply could not deal with it and now things are falling apart, and will continue so for as long as it doesn't see any signifigant reforms.

You had 12 years to sort it out omg

More! People need to see more of this. The consequences of all that has come before this.

This is what happens when you live on an island that widely ignores that they are just a ( small ) part of the world.

My main home is in Basingstoke and my second is Hornsea, East Yorkshire. the town has gone downhill and is not affluent. Many people who work here are in service industry care home jobs and can barely afford to live from month to month. BUT the nail shops, pubs, betting shops and vape shops r full. People smoke and drink so I have to ask people: WHERE R YOUR FINANCIAL PRIORITIES? People are not the brightest stars in the sky in Basingstoke and I find the town to be very working class. I have always been careful with money and do not frequent the above businesses. It is a London-overspill town that has gone terribly wrong.

Basingstoke was a very prosperous town in 20-th century, but now... It's very depressing indeed.

That video is so accurate I live in old Basingstoke and sometimes I run through the business estate and there are a lot of empty buildings

You know I used to think we were a down to earth pragmatic nation, ‘sensible’ I think sums it up that’s why I thought that Brexit had no chance. I went into the Brexit debate really late I had avoided the news for months but I can honestly say I looked as objectively as possible on the pros and cons and just couldn’t see anything but disaster. I failed to understand we are the victims of misinformation as much as the U.S and we may think our education system is superior but I beg to differ. It was all about nostalgia for a time that never was and yes, tabloid diarrhoea and that old affliction xenophobia. I’m afraid we did get the government we deserved. Let’s hope we can learn from this dreadful experience.

Does the bedroom tax apply to everyone or just renters or just people in subsidized housing? Could the lady with the sones who have grown and left bring in a renter?

I lost my motorbike in that car park! I've no sense of direction, it's not helped when it all looks the same.

This is only the beginning. The worst is yet to come.

I'm sure the majority of people who are currently moaning about high living costs must be queuing to vote for Tories over the last 12 years. As Joseph de Maistre once said, "Every nation gets the government it deserves."

Thanks, Guardian. We could have had Corbyn. You put this lot in. Well done. Why aren’t you claiming credit, Guardian?

All the people in that food bank queue? They voted for the tories because they wanted to leave the EU.

The chip shop owner is right. We just take a beating and accept it.

I wonder how many of they interviewees voted for Brexit and felt (believed) that being poorer was worth it for the "sovereignty"?? Now that reality is biting what do they think of a hard Brexit they got?

Thats Brexit Effect... mostly.. You just can't admit to yourself...... There is a proverb in Turkish. 'The one who falls does not cry.'

This is very well produced and enlightening. Thank you.

Love these videos, they're the best thing the guardian puts out because they just let people talk.

Why on earth would you leave one of the planet's largest trading blocks?

Majority of Brits voted Tory party and the Majority voted Brexit. Today they are enjoying the results, but not so positive outcome for all.

Even in my city, I see so many businesses shutting down out of the blue, the charity shops are fuller than usual and everything is a total disaster.

I am from the U.S, the economy is no better here with rising costs of everything, mainly housings and food. Gun violence is out of control. England has always been a great interest with fascinating places to visit back in the early 80s and 90s. It's hard to view Britain that alot has changed, nothing is the same anymore. The economy and the global pandemic crippled our way of life.

Reminds me of whats happening in my country, Sri Lanka. Except that inflations at 65% and pekole are looking to escape to England! Minus the cold ofc. English have to worry about increased heating costs as well. We go through daily powercuts

British people praying for people in the queue might be one of the most british things ever

Who will be the first politician to come out and admit Brexit was a big mistake?

Brexit was a huge mistake & the faster UK rectifies that mistake the faster it recovers-UK was part of a 600 million market & now we are just some small forgotten island

“That come back as a morale issue, do you want to treat people like dirt or do you actually respect people” sums up this Tory government that statement

This is journalism at its best in my opinion 👏🏿

Pulling out of the Worlds biggest Trade Market was super intelligent

If we are being honest, we need to admit this isn't just the fault of one party. Its the entire governing class.

I used to work on Basing View. That brown building at 04:13 was Wiggins (later Arjo Wiggins) Teape. It won an award. At the end of it was Fanum House, the AA Head Office

“Growing the pie”. How do you grow the pie when you’ve cut off your access to all the ingredients?

I could watch your videos all day John. Real life as it plays out. Nothing filtered or varnished. These are quite priviliged encounters and conversations.There's no wonder that many people have stopped voting.