Every country has pockets of stupidity and nonsense. What makes right now things tougher and exacerbates the problem, is the housing crisis to which a lot of strain has been added on top with refugees being invited over in fairly large numbers which frustrates many, but I think both sides are wrong actually.

The problem with UK, especially England, is the class system. Even Irish friends of mine said, they always felt like a "lesser human" in England, no matter how well they did. Certain circles were just off-limits to them.