Tag Archives: isabel oakeshott

Why Ed Davey was wrong on ex pat rescue

By Ex-pat Scott | Wed 4th March 2026 - 6:16 pm

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.

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Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged | 29 Comments
Mark Pack

Peter Watt’s Inside Out: book review

By Mark Pack | Sat 20th February 2010 - 12:19 pm

When I sat down to read Peter Watt’s memoirs, Inside Out, I was curious to find the answer to two questions.

First, I’d met him regularly at Electoral Commission meetings before he became Labour’s General Secretary and he always struck me as a bright, enthusiastic – and young – person. When he was appointed General Secretary I was intrigued as to how someone who seemed so much younger and less experienced in the ways of the Labour Party than previous General Secretaries had made it to the top. For him, it was just nine years from starting work for Labour …

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Posted in Books and Election law | Also tagged , , , and | 1 Comment
Sara Bedford

Daily View 2×2: 12 January 2010

By Sara Bedford | Tue 12th January 2010 - 8:55 am

On this day in 2001, Sven Goran Eriksson took over as manager of the England football team. On the same day, the carers of eight year old Victoria Climbié, who died after being tortured and fed like a dog, were found guilty of her murder, leading to questions being asked of Haringey Social Services.

Today is the 281st anniversary of the birth of Edmund Burke. It’s also the 59th and 56th birthdays respectively of  US radio ‘personalities’ Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern.

2 Big Stories

Four steps to a fairer Britain

Yesterday saw Nick Clegg set out the priorities which will be at the heart of the party’s …

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Posted in Daily View and General Election | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and | Leave a comment
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