Great Britain is 'worst place to live in Europe'
Wednesday, September 22 06:55 pm
Research by uSwitch has revealed that high living costs, below average government spending on health and education, lack of holidays and late retirement have contributed to a bleak picture for Brits.Skip related content
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To make matters worse, the UK no longer enjoys the highest net household income in the continent. Last year it was £10,000 above the European average, whereas now it is just £2,314 ahead, slipping below Ireland, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Britons in search of quality of life might want to move to France, as it held on to the top spot in the index for the second year in succession.
Spain came second, while Denmark, Poland and Germany helped to make up the top five spots, with all these countries offering more days of holiday and a lower retirement age than the UK and Ireland.
Recently, a study by Aviva and accountants Deloitte found that the UK has the biggest pension gap in Europe, with Britons needing to increase the amount they save each year to have a good retirement income.
Labour Emulates the Coalition
Ed Miliband in his first Conference speech did not say anything new or exactly set the heather on fire, as neither does Iain Gray in the Scottish parliament, in contrast to the fiery and stimulating speeches of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, who put Scotland first in everything they say and do. Reading between the lines it was the Labour Party which mattered most, its survival, its regeneration and its attainment to power once again.
Red Ed has just finished his speech, it was a pep-talk for a "new generation". What was new? "Sorry about the war, it wasn't anything to do with me folks", was about it. To Guido it still sounded like left-lurching, deficit raising, money wasting, demotivating, buzz wording, fool talking, high taxing, fast spending, ever wasting, vote losing, Labour.
Labour Emulates the Coalition
Ed Miliband in his first Conference speech did not say anything new or exactly set the heather on fire, as neither does Iain Gray in the Scottish parliament, in contrast to the fiery and stimulating speeches of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, who put Scotland first in everything they say and do. Reading between the lines it was the Labour Party which mattered most, its survival, its regeneration and its attainment to power once again.
Red Ed has just finished his speech, it was a pep-talk for a "new generation". What was new? "Sorry about the war, it wasn't anything to do with me folks", was about it. To Guido it still sounded like left-lurching, deficit raising, money wasting, demotivating, buzz wording, fool talking, high taxing, fast spending, ever wasting, vote losing, Labour.
Scots becoming healthier, survey
The Scottish Health Survey, published today, gives a detailed picture of the health of the Scottish population and monitors obesity, diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol intake, dental health and CVD.
The survey results show:
* A decrease in the number of people classed as overweight - for the first time since 1995, when the survey began.
* A drop in the number of children with an unhealthy BMI. The number of boys who have a BMI outwith the healthy range has dropped to 31.0 per cent from 38.2 per cent in 2008. 28.3 per cent of girls have a BMI outwith the healthy range - compared to 28.7 per cent in 2008.
* Children are eating healthier foods such as high fibre bread and oily fish and less chips, crisps, sweets and non-diet soft drinks.
Minister for Public Health and Sport Shona Robison said:
"The survey results for 2009 are encouraging, although we still have a lot of work to do to.
"Although it is too soon to predict a downward trend, I am pleased to see that the number of people who have an unhealthy BMI has reduced for the first time since the survey began.
"Obesity is a huge health challenge to Scotland so it is fantastic to see a reduction in the number of children who have a BMI outwith the healthy range.
"A healthy diet is incredibly important for children's long term health so it is good to see that they are eating less junk food and enjoying more healthier options like oily fish.
"This report will inform the way that we continue to address these issues."
* A decrease in the number of people classed as overweight - for the first time since 1995, when the survey began.
* A drop in the number of children with an unhealthy BMI. The number of boys who have a BMI outwith the healthy range has dropped to 31.0 per cent from 38.2 per cent in 2008. 28.3 per cent of girls have a BMI outwith the healthy range - compared to 28.7 per cent in 2008.
* Children are eating healthier foods such as high fibre bread and oily fish and less chips, crisps, sweets and non-diet soft drinks.
Minister for Public Health and Sport Shona Robison said:
"The survey results for 2009 are encouraging, although we still have a lot of work to do to.
"Although it is too soon to predict a downward trend, I am pleased to see that the number of people who have an unhealthy BMI has reduced for the first time since the survey began.
"Obesity is a huge health challenge to Scotland so it is fantastic to see a reduction in the number of children who have a BMI outwith the healthy range.
"A healthy diet is incredibly important for children's long term health so it is good to see that they are eating less junk food and enjoying more healthier options like oily fish.
"This report will inform the way that we continue to address these issues."
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