People living in the Middle East

Witzend

Dubai is a massive hub - I dare say plenty of people who are now stuck there were just transiting on their way to Australia, Singapore, and other stops east, or on their way back from such places.

This thread is about people living out there

Witzend

Dubai is a massive hub - I dare say plenty of people who are now stuck there were just transiting on their way to Australia, Singapore, and other stops east, or on their way back from such places.

Indeed. We stopped over for 24 or so hours on our way back from our honeymoon in the Maldives 36 years ago. Dislikes it even then.
That’s not who this thread is about though, it’s about “ex-pats”.

I have friends working for the UK government in the ME . They pay normal UK tax . Not everyone is a tax dodging ex-pat .

seasider

I have friends working for the UK government in the ME . They pay normal UK tax . Not everyone is a tax dodging ex-pat .

No. Just the majority. Who can well afford to cover their own costs.

seasider

I have friends working for the UK government in the ME . They pay normal UK tax . Not everyone is a tax dodging ex-pat .

Your friends do not count as expats - they are Crown servants.

And it's not over yet.

Two families I know (one my Goddaughter) still have properties in the UK. They pay council taxes, road fund licence for car, tax on their rental income from their home rental.

If push comes to shove and they need repatriation of course all British citizens should be offered the chance of a safe passage.

Unless you know the financial details of every ex-pat, it seems rather heartless to put finances over lives.

First and foremost get them out of there.
Sorting out repayment can come once they are safe

British citizens being repatriated for their safety do pay, it's not a free service.

AGAA4

First and foremost get them out of there.
Sorting out repayment can come once they are safe

I totally agree with you on this 👍

GrannyGravy13

Two families I know (one my Goddaughter) still have properties in the UK. They pay council taxes, road fund licence for car, tax on their rental income from their home rental.

If push comes to shove and they need repatriation of course all British citizens should be offered the chance of a safe passage.

Unless you know the financial details of every ex-pat, it seems rather heartless to put finances over lives.

No-ones putting finances over lives. Some of us just agree they should pay for their ticket. This is normal embassy practice and they already have a form for it. They will not pay the full cost to us of the FCO time needed to sort this out.

Tuliptree

GrannyGravy13

Two families I know (one my Goddaughter) still have properties in the UK. They pay council taxes, road fund licence for car, tax on their rental income from their home rental.

If push comes to shove and they need repatriation of course all British citizens should be offered the chance of a safe passage.

Unless you know the financial details of every ex-pat, it seems rather heartless to put finances over lives.

No-ones putting finances over lives. Some of us just agree they should pay for their ticket. This is normal embassy practice and they already have a form for it. They will not pay the full cost to us of the FCO time needed to sort this out.

I have not said they shouldn’t pay.

If they need to be repatriated, then the Government should do so PDQ and sort payment out once they are safe on UK soil.

Presumably there are military personnel and families.

They need bringing home asap I think.

AGAA4

First and foremost get them out of there.
Sorting out repayment can come once they are safe

Absolutely, but sorted out it must be.

Get them safe. Then deal with the money.

Maremia

Get them safe. Then deal with the money.

Easy to do it simultaneously I’m sure - and much more time efficient than chasing thrm up afterwards. The UK have asked UK citizens to register with them -it can bs part of the registration process -who knows, they might even have credit cards like wot I have . Stop making it sound so difficult - it really isn’t.

I haven’t seen any news yet about expats queing to come home. Atm I think it’s people stuck in transit isn’t it that are being dealt with if possible and I doubt there’s any fly now pay later rubbish going on

Tuliptree

Yes - no free flights to safety.

What if they lived on benefits so not only paid no tax but worse just claimed other peoples, should they have to pay? I seen to remember us rescuing many from China during Covid.

Well Mojj we’re talking about a very different situation with a very different demographic. I can’t remember about Covid and evacuating Chinese people. But anyway it’s not relevant. There’s no logical argument at all for expats in ME getting free flights. The UK is working on evacuation planning -that’s their role.

GrannyGravy13

AGAA4

First and foremost get them out of there.
Sorting out repayment can come once they are safe

I totally agree with you on this 👍

So do I, and I don't think anyone has said differently? I do think they should be helped to get out, but if they have made their home elsewhere, and are not paying tax here, I don't think British taxpayers (or non-Brits who pay tax in the UK) have a responsibility to fund their flights. Of course they should be able to board without paying, but they should definitely be charged.

People who are there (or who are passing through) on holiday are a different matter, I think.

Regardless of payments, I hope all F&F of posters make it home swiftly and safely. It must be a huge worry if you have loved ones trapped in a war zone.

I am British and am an Immigrant living in Luxembourg.

If there was a need to be repatriated back to the UK due to war here I would be very grateful to the British Government if they help me get out of danger.

However I would expect to contribute to the cost of doing so.

IMO, Expats should pay. It's a consequence of their decision to live there and avoid UK taxes. Other British citizens, just passing through/returning should pay the cost to the Gov (for repatriation etc) of the flight they would have used for forward travel/to return home.

Surely the people you are talking about, irrespective of their nationality, have chosen to live in the Middle East in order to avoid taxation in the countries in which they are citizens?

Or have I misunderstood the issue?

If my original statement is correct, then my feeling is that they must themselves pay for getting out of what is now a war zone into safety. Why on earth should the tax payers in their countries have to indirectly pay for their transport? They are already defrauding the country in which they are citizens of the tax they owe.

I notice all the talk of Sarah Ferguson possibly relocating to Dubai has gone quiet. 😂

It’s not really defrauding the original countries who educated them, enabled employment opportunities and educated them to a level where incredible salaries become payable… it’s just showing a callous disregard for any payback via taxation to support any group less advantaged than themselves. I find it hard to believe that any lawyer really is worth £1 million plus a year but that’s the going rate in the middle east banks….