Tag: United Kingdom

It's about this time of year that you begin to question the whole enterprise of being an expat.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: After Boris suspended parliament, I began to think that maybe beneath the frenzied manner he was actually a skillful operator who was going to bend the rules to buy time until he could call an election that he thought he could win. But after last week's Supreme ...

With its liberal values, beautiful piers and classically English pebbly beach, Brighton is an attractive and quirky escape from London, especially on a scorching summer's day.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: New UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will succeed or fail on the back of the single dominant issue that dominates British politics: Brexit.

Are Londoners too polite to be considered friendly? Is their unfailing etiquette holding them back?

The impact of Brexit indecision cannot be understated. Continuing delays mean that households and businesses remain hostage to the crippling economic uncertainty that has already been plaguing the UK since the referendum in 2016.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: A major step in the right direction and potentially a watershed moment for a more sustainable global future. Is it too much to hope Australia could follow next?

When one thinks of England, a visit to Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and Saint Paul's Cathedral is usually what comes to mind.

You have recently arrived in London and have gotten crook but have been too busy enjoying yourself to sort out your medical affairs. There's no need to reach for the panic button just yet,. There are plenty of ways to seek medical advice in the UK that won’t leave you ...

OPINION & ANALYSIS: The possibility of a general election is very real. If the third vote were lost, an election could offer a way of winning a new majority to implement May’s deal.

Now that the latest dates for a meaningful vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal have passed, what’s next and what can you do with your money?

OPINION & ANALYSIS: In the current impasse and unusual circumstances, unexpected and unusual things may still happen.

We have compiled some more guidelines on Brexit in the case of a No Deal.

Once out in the open air it doesn’t take long to start connecting the dots. You can quickly learn there’s no need to take the tube from Covent Garden to Trafalgar Square.

Have you have ever had to survive a dismal London winter? Oh yes, it's worth a moan while you yearn for home.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: With the clear majority voting against a no-deal Brexit, the ticking clock works in the prime minister’s favour.

Life and death matters: here's a snapshot of what it's like if you are born in and live in the UK rather than Australia. It may surprise you.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: As the UK’s withdrawal date of March 29 is written into UK law, time is of the essence. There are six possible options for the prime minister at this stage.

So you are coming to live in London. How do you find a place to live, find a job, get a UK mobile phone, open a bank account, register with a doctor and make new friends?

The supper-eating, loo-going, sofa-sitting Brits do not eat 'dessert', only 'pudding'. And certainly never, ever say 'pardon'.

The annual allowance for tax relief on pensions has been fixed at the current level of £40,000 since 6 April 2014. The previous allowance was £50,000 and prior to 6 April 2011, the annual allowance was as high as £255,000.

ANALYSIS: Theresa May has managed to push her deal through this most recent hurdle by getting cabinet approval. However, getting parliamentary support promises to be a far more traumatic and quite possibly unachievable task.

Rather not Uber? London's black taxi's are part of the authentic London experience. And you could even try a rickshaw.

Yes, we understand that in the eyes of many Brits we all come from a land of sun, surf, sea and sand. So, why would we ever choose to live in the cold and wet? We love you! Please be nice...

OPINION & ANALYSIS: The prudent thing for Theresa May to do at this late stage would be to place all the realistically available options on the table and hold a free vote in parliament.

The 'Queen of the World' documentary will offer insight into the Queen’s role and the baton she is passing to the younger members of the royal family.

SPECIAL FEATURE: The prospect of additional costs, disruption and complexity when travelling to the EU is becoming a likely scenario in the event of a “no deal” Brexit.

Life in the UK doesn’t always mean a series of problems to be solved. Here’s how ladies should see the silver lining on London’s grey autumnal clouds.

When Paul arrived in London he discovered the American tourist. Then he wound up being one... sort of.

Stepping past the Tube barriers at Richmond is like walking into that delightful English village of your imagination.

I dirtied up my spotless trainers to ensure that they didn’t look appealing enough to steal, before daring to set foot into the tower block estate. I was in for quite a surprise...

SPECIAL FEATURE: Young Australians on Britain's Youth Mobility Scheme are the ideal migrant for both the state and employers alike as they take on precarious but skilled jobs in the UK labour market, without the electoral costs of permanent migration.

The new British citizenship solution is giving some people with British descent renewed hope of obtaining UK nationality through their parents and grandparents.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Just as republicans can enjoy the spectacle of a royal wedding without abandoning the idea of an Australian head of state, we need to remind ourselves that Trump is, literally, not our president.

Britain's Home Office has announced that it will henceforth exclude doctors and nurses from the cap on the Tier 2 Skilled Worker Visa.

Take your Monopoly piece with you and stay out of jail (down behind Kings Cross, by the way) and keep an eye out for the little man in the top hat.

The beautiful Peak District is an ideal place to enjoy some peace and quiet with someone special. With stately homes set against picture perfect rolling hills, lush meadows and leafy forests this is where English romance was born.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Could it be that the Brexit vote and election of Donald Trump in 2016 diminished the soft power of the UK and US?

Tea is supposed to brew before adding milk, however this is London and if the coffee is burnt and bitter you can assume the tea will be scalding and flavourless.

Forget about Brexit, Wimbledon, and even the football World Cup; instead for the next three months it will be all about the heatwaves.

One of the immigration routes in to the United Kingdom that is often overlooked is the Tier 1 Entrepreneur immigration route that is available to entrepreneur teams.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Today the Commonwealth exists as an organisation in search of a rationale. When this coalition of whimsy meets a hard policy issue, its solidarity falls victim to its diversity, while its breadth of membership can’t deliver real weight and gravitas in the present day.

Had I finally found where I was meant to exist in the world? Did I belong in the UK more than I belong in Australia?

When you receive your first UK visa or permit, your Indefinite Leave to Remain application may seem far in the future. However, the preparation for your Indefinite Leave to Remain should start from your first arrival in the UK.

Home is beckoning and you are ready to pack up and leave London. Before you do, think about all the things you're going to miss about the city and make the most of the time you have left. Or if you are long gone, here's some reminiscing.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Despite the added complication of Brexit negotiations and the nostalgic attachment to past glory, the prospect of Commonwealth becoming Empire 2.0 remains, as The Economist suggested, “cobblers”.

To assist Tier 2 Visa holders to ensure that they fulfil the requirements of the Minimum Pay Threshold, we have answered some of the concerns and questions of readers on the topic.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Public housing might get some people off the streets, but it also puts many people permanently onto the backs of the taxpayer. Albeit well-intentioned, it is a poor substitute for a vibrant private housing market.

OPINION & ANALYSIS: Britain’s media have made much of the “Aussie flu” sweeping across the northern hemisphere, but is there evidence the land Down Under is to blame?

When you make the big jump for a stint in the UK, there's a lot in your life that is going to change and you will need to adjust in a major way. Here's some top advice on how, from someone who has taken the leap.