Emma Schubart, the Data and Insights Manager at the Adam Smith Institute, has claimed that we are "betraying a generation" after a shocking new poll proved that young Britons are planning to leave the UK.
The research found that 28 per cent of young Britons aged 18–34 are either actively planning (eight per cent) or have seriously considered (20 per cent) emigrating.
A further 30 per cent have briefly thought about it, while just 35 per cent said they had never considered leaving the UK.
Schubart warned the findings expose a stark truth for Britain’s future workforce, tax base and economy.
GB NEWS
|Schubart warned the findings expose a stark truth for Britain’s future workforce, tax base and economy
She told GB News: "Oh, pretty stark for Britain. What are the consequences? Well, let's think about it.
"If young people leave en masse and the good news is, they’re not doing that yet but they very well could, and they at least really want to. If they leave en masse, we lose those tax receipts, and we lose the innovation and creativity that the younger generation provides.
"We already know that smart, ambitious young people are going to places like Silicon Valley. We lose all of those contributions. We essentially betray an entire generation our future.
"And then the people who do decide to stay, because they can’t leave or won’t leave, just experience a decrease in quality of life and higher taxes forever. So I don’t think it gets more stark than that."
GB News host Alex Armstrong responded: "And of course, it perpetuates the issue of migration which is at the top of everyone’s minds at the moment, topping almost every poll and being what the public wants sorted out as a priority.
"This just makes that even worse, because we do need young people to enter the workforce and we particularly need young British people to enter the workforce and stay here if we don’t want those migration numbers to keep going up."
She responded: "Yes, you’re exactly right.
"One thing that we’re seeing is that one in five well, actually, more than one in four are, as you say, seriously considering or actively planning to leave.
"And while migration is definitely exacerbating all of these concerns, as your viewers well know, we also have to admit that it’s extremely rational for people to want to leave this country, because politicians aren’t taking their concerns seriously."
GB NEWS
|Alex Armstrong pointed to the issue of migration
She added: "I think the first step is probably to believe young people when they say, “This isn’t good enough. I don’t see a viable future for myself or for my family.”
"It’s going to take some political courage to do so. It might not be popular with an entire constituency, but that’s the first step. We need more courageous leaders.
"At the Adam Smith Institute, we’re very interested in things like housing. I think your viewers know that housing is not as affordable as it should be, and not enough building is happening.
"A lot of that is exacerbated by the migration crisis, as you say. But it’s a really good first step to prove to young people that the belief that if you work hard in this country, you can actually afford to live in a sustainable and affordable home is still possible."