Author Archives: Ex-pat Scott

Why Ed Davey was wrong on ex pat rescue

I was pleased to hear most of Sir Ed Davey’s question following the PM’s statement on Monday.

I say most, because I thought he was doing well and saying the right things – until the unfair and unwarranted comments in his final sentences.

Now, don’t get me wrong – I’m not about to say that Isabel Oakeshott doesn’t deserve criticism, or indeed being brought down a peg or two; I’m absolutely all for that. However, given the seriousness of the events in the Gulf and of the consequences, it doesn’t seem to me to have been right or appropriate to make what came across as a pretty flippant comment, particularly after the sensible words he spoke before it. There’s a time and place for attacking people like her – this wasn’t it.

It’s also incorrect, though. Most people who have moved from the UK to Dubai aren’t doing it primarily to avoid paying tax. They’re not all bankers, or ‘influencers’, or ex-footballers. They’re teachers, doctors, nurses, social workers – people who have moved because they either can’t get a job in the UK or want to just enhance their own careers. After all, it was only a few weeks ago that Willie Rennie was pointing out the number of teachers who have left Scotland to go to places like Dubai because there’s no jobs at home.

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 29 Comments
Advert

Recent Comments

  • Chloe
    It's not a conductor - it's a fully qualified driver on every DLR train. Driverless it most definitely isn't....
  • Roland
    @Chloe - "Let’s get away from the myth of DLR driverless trains.." Too many years ago I designed computer systems for mass transport systems, the DLR being o...
  • Nonconformistradical
    Quoting from Alex Macfie 3rd Oct '26 - 9:50am "Driverless cars are the ultimate example of this. What if the system breaks down and the passenger is stranded...
  • Joey Vimsante
    I support devolution over changes to the voting system. I support the National devolution for Scotland and Wales. And also devolved regions for England. I t...
  • Jenny Barnes
    The best new cars have a button to turn all that driver "assistance" off. After you have fought the steering because of "lane keeping ", suffered near emergenc...