Nigel Farage issues four-word verdict as young people say they want to leave the UK

Nigel Farage said "this can't go on" after it emerged young people want to flee the UK. He issued a damning verdict after new polling found 8% of people aged 18 to 30 are actively planning to emigrate and another 20% are seriously considering it. It means more than one in four young people have seriously considered moving abroad.

In addition, another 30% have briefly considered leaving and only 35% of people aged 18 to 3 say they have never thought about quitting the UK. Fears that they will never be able to afford to buy a home, low wages and high taxes are among the biggest reasons for wanting to go somewhere else.

Mr Farage, Leader of Reform UK, said: "It's sad but not a surprise that ambitious young Brits are increasingly looking overseas for opportunities.

"High taxes and stagnant wages have crushed aspiration and punished hard work.

"This can't go on. We must give the next generation the freedom to thrive, raise families, and build a bright future here in the UK."

The survey was commissioned by think tank the Adam Smith Institute. Jack Rankin, Conservative Member of Parliament for Windsor, said: "The Government's dismal failure to deliver growth, accessible and cheap housing, and record high taxation is not just crushing Britain, but it's driving our future away.

"These devastating findings by the Adam Smith Institute show that Britain needs to be freed from the dead hand of the state; freedom should be the order of the day, so young people feel confident enough to stay in our country and reverse the fraying intergenerational social contract."

Emma Schubart, Data and Insights Manager at the Adam Smith Institute, said:

"The youngest generation of British workers are sending a clear message. They feel overtaxed, underhoused and undervalued. If our political class continues to ignore these warning signs, we risk exporting our talent at precisely the moment when it is most needed.

"With the country already facing a wealth exodus thanks, in large part, to its reckless decision to scrap the non-dom tax regime, the Treasury can hardly afford to lose an entire generation of ambitious young people as well. Addressing these challenges is not just a matter of fairness - it is essential to securing Britain's long-term economic and social future.

"Young Britons urgently need evidence that ambition and hard work still translate into security and success in this country."

This latest data comes amid growing concerns about intergenerational inequality. Sluggish growth, a broken planning system and a sky-high tax burden have left many young people feeling worse off than their parents, unable to build independent lives.

The polling found 65% of young people believe it will become more difficult to find affordable housing in the next five years. 38% say "much more difficult," 27% "somewhat more difficult".

Just 21% think it will get easier. Fears are shared almost equally regardless of political views and the polling found 63% of young Conservatives, 65% of Labour, and 68% of Reform UK voters say housing access will worsen.

In addition, 50% of people aged 18 to 30 say most people their age struggle to make ends meet. The polling found 43% say some do and only 5% think most do not struggle.

Again, there is broad consensus across parties with 54% of Conservative, 50% of Labour voters and 49% of Reform UK saying most struggle.