Britain's youngest and brightest flee UK as middle-earners taxed out

That group accounted for two-thirds of all departing British nationals during the same period.

The trend shows little sign of slowing, according to research examining attitudes among younger adults.

A study by the Adam Smith Institute found that a quarter of those aged 18 to 30 are either seriously considering or actively preparing to move overseas.

High taxation, weak economic growth and rising living costs were cited as the main reasons for wanting to leave the UK.

Maxwell Marlow, director of public affairs at the Adam Smith Institute, said: "Young people feel quite p***ed off."

This is reinforced by ONS data on Tuesday showing that unemployment rose again to 5.1 per cent, with Britain's young being hit hardest.

Mr Marlow added: "Even if you work your socks off, you're going to struggle to pay for your mortgage and holidays."

One family who has already made the move is that of Tom Price-Daniel, a London-based business owner.

The 40-year-old relocated his family to South Africa in October, leaving their Earlsfield terrace for a five-bedroom home with a swimming pool in the coastal town of Hermanus.

Despite owning property in the capital and running his own company, he said higher earnings in Britain no longer translated into the lifestyle he expected.

Mr Price-Daniel said: "I started to get really angry because it would cost like 40, 50 quid for the kids' tea."

He added: "I suddenly realised that I didn't have the level of freedom that I perhaps thought I had."

He said Labour’s election victory marked a turning point in his decision to leave.

Mr Price-Daniel said he watched the prospect of financial security "ebb away" once the new Government took office.

His children now attend a local private school in South Africa costing £260 monthly each.

That figure is roughly equivalent, he said, to what the family previously paid for after-school activities in Britain.

Another example is Oliver Anwar, an entrepreneur from Manchester.

He moved to Dubai when Labour came to power 18 months ago after turning 30, and runs an online health coaching business called Elite Performance.

Mr Anwar said he sensed what he described as a "crabs in the bucket mentality" developing in the UK.

"I kind of felt like there wasn't much hope."

He added: "There is a lot of bleak pessimism in the UK whereby people don't want you to succeed."

While the absence of income tax was a factor, he said other considerations also played a role.

Mr Anwar said Dubai offered a greater sense of personal safety than he experienced in the UK.

"It's just way safer than walking around in Manchester."

He added: "I don't think entrepreneurs have problems with paying taxes if they know the environment they're going to be in is safe."

Simon Bashorun, a partner at wealth management firm Rathbones, said the destinations being chosen reflect broader motivations.

Mr Bashorun said: "We're seeing an outlay of talented people starting businesses who are employing people."

He added: "The perception among politicians is they will make their money and come back, but I don't see that happening."

He said enquiries are increasingly focused on countries such as France and the United States rather than traditional tax havens like Monaco.

That, he said, suggests people are seeking opportunities to build wealth and improve quality of life rather than simply reduce tax bills.

South Africa, where Mr Price-Daniel now lives, offers no specific tax advantages.

However, he said the cost of living there is around 80 per cent lower than in Britain.

Concerns about crime also feature in decisions to leave the UK.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales recorded 9.4 million incidents in the year ending March 2025.

That represented a seven per cent increase on the previous year.

For some earners, rising taxation combined with reports of crime and long NHS waiting lists have influenced their choices.

Mr Price-Daniel said his gated community in Hermanus provides "the same lifestyle that was afforded to our parents."

He said it may be safer than parts of Wandsworth.

Neither Mr Price-Daniel nor Mr Anwar said they plan to return without significant change in Britain.

Mr Anwar said: "At the moment it kind of feels like they've treated business owners like a magic money tree."

"They keep just picking the fruit and not watering it."