Why young high achievers are leaving Britain

Why young high achievers are leaving Britain

Author: The Times August 5, 2026 Duration: 28:13

‘There’s something wrong when aspirational high achievers see no future for themselves here,’ says Times columnist Cindy Yu. The exodus is small, but growing - the Office for National Statistics says there’s been a fivefold increase in 25-to-34-year-old British nationals leaving the UK since 2022. But why are they off, what are they searching for, and could anything encourage them to stay?


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Guests: 

  • Cindy Yu, columnist and contributing editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.
  • Dan Lowe, physiotherapist and content creator.
  • Jessica Ye, doctor.


Host: Luke Jones

Producers: Olivia Case, Jennifer Kennedy, Shabnam Grewal


We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Why my friends talk about leaving Britain.

Photo: Getty Images

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Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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