Quality of life in UK worst in Europe
Survey of ten leading nations puts Britain behind neighbours with France at the top
London: A study suggests the quality of life in Britain is among the worst in Europe.
The research into living costs, income, life span, health, retirement age, holidays and sunshine hours makes depressing reading for the people of Britain.
The situation is so bad that one in three thinks that now would be a good time to emigrate. And France, it seems, is the ideal destination.
The French enjoy the best quality of life in Europe, according to the survey of ten leading European nations, which bases its verdict on France being top for longevity, early retirement and health spending, and near the top in other categories.
The study found that the price of a sample basket of food was £137.13 (Dh793.98) in this country compared with £121.81 in Spain and just £119.57 in France. On diesel costs, British drivers pay an average of £1.179 a litre, against just 98.2p in France. The cost of unleaded petrol, electricity, alcohol and cigarettes in this country is above the European average.
The average UK retirement age is now the fourth highest in Europe at 63.1 years and is set to go higher. Only the Irish, the Dutch and Swedish work until later in life.
Longer life
France, Spain, Germany, Holland, Sweden and Italy all enjoy a longer life expectancy than the UK, where the average stands at 79.16. Workers in the UK have one of the lowest holiday entitlements in Europe at an average of 28 days. France, which has topped the index for the second year running, enjoys the earliest retirement age of 59.3 years, spends the most on health care and has the longest life expectancy at 81.09 years.
Its workers also benefit from 36 days holiday a year. The Director of consumer policy at uSwitch, Ann Robinson, said: "Last year compared to our European neighbours we were miserable but rich."
