Britain has become one of the favourite places to live for the thousands of French disenchanted with life in their home country. Traditionally, France has been the retreat of choice for Britons hoping for a better lifestyle in Europe but now that trend looks set to be reversed as thousands of French move to Britain. There are now 300,000 French people living in Britain and the French embassy says Britain hosts the largest French community in Europe with London, Manchester and Kent favourite locations for French expatriates.
Segola Chambon typifies one of the many young graduates looking to kick-start their careers in London. She came to London after graduating and started work as a school teacher. Then she became a shop assistant, worked in a tourist office and now works as a team leader for a property firm. Mrs Chambon says many of the French find they can progress faster in their jobs in Britain. "If you work hard, you can do really well." She recently bought a house with her husband in south-west London and looks set to live in Britain permanently. "Initially I came for six months but I have lived here for four years and now I want to stay." French entrepreneurs find it easier to set up and run businesses in Britain and the super-rich set buy property to avoid paying high levels of French wealth tax.
A lot of Brits buy property in France, especially the south, and translocate there anticipating a utopian way of life. Fools. This seems like a fair exchange to me. |