Fraidy Cat

Ok, Americans, I am beginning to realise how badly misinformed you are on UK politics so let’s blitz this. 1. There is NO “welfare” in Britain. There are specific allowances and support systems in place for the vulnerable and deprived, but we call this benefits/universal credit. If you asked for the “welfare centre” here no one would know what you meant. It depends massively on where you live and what your situation is. 2. The NHS is not “welfare”. It’s not “what poor people have to do”. The vast majority of people use it. 3. You can’t get benefits in the UK unless you are legally allowed to stay here, are established as unable to work, facing extreme poverty, or are actively looking for work. You’d be given a leaflet on applying for jobs. 4. You can’t get council housing (welfare housing) in the UK unless you have no funds to support yourself in the private market AND you are unable to house yourself on your wages/income. Often they will place you in temporary shared hostel housing , not your own place, especially if you don’t have kids. You don’t just get a “free house”. 5. No, illegal immigrants don’t qualify for anything. You’ll be denied assistance if you don’t have the correct documentation as a refugee, citizen, resident, etc. You can’t just turn up and get money and education. 6. We pay councils (like mini states) tax on top of our normal tax for residency in that area and they are responsible for a LOT of local services and funding decisions. Nothing to do with Keir Starmer. 7. You have councillors and MPs. Both are elected. The first are usually civil servants who know how to do things, the second are more career politicians. Sometimes you get a “angry at the government” idiot candidate as a councillor and you’re fucked because he’s a crook and out for himself. 8. No, the king can’t intervene in politics or change any laws. The last person who did was Edward VII in the 1900s and he was ordered to after an election/parliamentary ruling. He’s basically Melania Trump power wise. 9. No, we don’t all support the royalty. It’s mostly for tourist so and grandmas. No one really talks about them. 10. No, we aren’t overrun by Muslims. London, Birmingham and Bradford are large urban immigrant areas but 60 years ago the same rhetoric was about Irish people and Black Caribbean people. Racists gonna racist.