People living in the Middle East

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

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

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.

And it's not over yet.

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.

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.

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

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”.

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

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.

Maremia

I think their safety is important. Hope something can be worked out quickly.

So do I. I also think they’re perfectly capable of covering the cost of repatriation.

I agree - they should the actual cost. They are already costing.the FCO a lot with all the extra work planning for a possible evacuation. Ex pats made a choice to go abroad, They should accept the consequences of that choice like they accept low/no tax.

It’s not the taxpayers’ fault either? This group of expats are seriously into not paying UK tax rates. Fault is an interesting concept in this context.

The going rate for a BA ticket is probably going to escalate - whenever they start flying again.

MartavTaurus

Certainly evacuate them, then charge them the going rate for a BA ticket.

That sounds fair because it’s not their fault they can’t book their own flights back to the UK.

Certainly evacuate them, then charge them the going rate for a BA ticket.

GrannyGravy13

If they are British Citizens then yes they should be offered reparation.

You are joking , right?

A friend of mine was repatriated from Pakistani in the early 70’s, she had to forfeit her passport until costs were paid off.

tuliptree sorry, I can’t remember the payment details, it was something a friend who lives in Tel Aviv told me about (verified, not hearsay).

The paying mechanism wasn’t the off putting factor; it was the price tag £4000 for a family of 4 to be taken to Cyprus, and then the cost of onward travel.

lixy

A seat on the military flight that brought British citizens out of Israel after the October attack cost more than £1000.
I agree that evacuation flights should be arranged and should be free at the point of flight.
I also think that a one way evacuation flight should not cost more than a British Airways business return ticket. I know emergency flights are expensive, but that ticket price prevented many from evacuation.

Did people have to pay up front? And some people had no credit cards or friends or families with credit cards or a Jewish charity to askI’m sorry but I find it hard to believe that people had to stay there because no one including the British Embassy couldn’t lend them a £1000

A seat on the military flight that brought British citizens out of Israel after the October attack cost more than £1000.
I agree that evacuation flights should be arranged and should be free at the point of flight.
I also think that a one way evacuation flight should not cost more than a British Airways business return ticket. I know emergency flights are expensive, but that ticket price prevented many from evacuation.

And before this thread goes down the usual rabbit hole, those of us whom think they should pay ALSO think ( I believe) that they should be brought home safely.

Doodledog

I agree that they should be invoiced. Being a British citizen should not mean that people are entitled to a free ride on the backs of those who work and pay tax in this country (whether British citizens or not). I would definitely try to get them 'home', free at point of flight, but would charge them for doing so.

If a British Citizen is stranded anywhere in the world, the embassy will lend them money to get home if necessary but they have to sign an undertaking to repay.

I think they should be repatriated, I would hate to see anyone in danger especially the children. However I would not be adverse to them paying the air fare.

I think their safety is important. Hope something can be worked out quickly.