People living in the Middle East

Yes but maybe pay something towards their evacuation.

Yes - no free flights to safety.

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

There’s a problem though if tax exiles return before the end of this tax year. The tax bill will be enormous….

Also it seems very unfair that families with the only wage earner living as a tax exile to have children and mothers return here and live without any tax contributions to the NHS, defence, security etc…

GrannyGravy13

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

Yes I agree. Sorry I should have put British citizenship in my original post.

Given the geopolitical context of the ME, ex-pats should be responsible enough to have a get home quick fund- they might need it for family emergencies anyway. They chose to live there, they should take responsibility for any consequences. I absolutely believe we should arrange to bring them home but invoice them.

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.

I hadn't thought about that but I think you're all right.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

GrannyGravy13

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

You are joking , right?

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.