Having lived in both Paris and London during the last decade, I can’t really agree with your observations. Taxes in France and the U.K. are very comparable for the middle class down: ~20% for national insurance and ~10% for income tax vs something much more complicated, but which amounts to about the same. London is great, but Paris is actually very similar in most respects (though quite different culturally). But when you step outside the capital, inequality is much worse in the U.K. Other cities in England really aren’t that nice compared to, say, Strasbourg, Lille or Lyon. And the trains fall apart so getting anywhere is a pain in the neck. And broadband is rubbish.