Evacuation from Libya

[sweetgilly]

AIBU to expect those individuals who accept high tax free salaried positions in hostile environments, to then meet the costs of evacuation should the need arise. Why should the British tax payer meet the costs?

give it rest with done that already you're not the definitive opinion moderator on mn

if everyone stuck to the suggestionThis has been done already today and yesterday then mn would be v quiet

you see, essentially it is all the same themes
mil
facebook
dh said this/that
baby in nursery
and ole gimmers saying we did that already.search the archives.i'll get the popcorn

Sorry Niceguy they're putting themselves at incredible risk for money. It's prefectly feasible to expect people who take these jobs in future to sign something to the effect that if they need bailing out in the future they'd be expected to contribute towards it.

If you go on holiday without insurance you have to pay for repatriation if you have an accident,how is this different?

The difference with your analogy and the NHS is that said people on stonking salaries have contributed towards it,these people haven't.

One of the papers has a quote from an ex-pat who said "we are looking forward to it all being over so we can get back to our wonderful life there". Hmmm yes wonderful for you, not so wonderful for the natives. I do think it's very arrogant of people to live in countries like Libya and not appreciate what life is like for the people of that country, and understand that you cannot take the good aspects of life in a volatile dictatorship but complain and expect to be a priorty when things go wrong. Certainly not unreasonable for them to pay for their flights out IMO.

Oh in that case we'd better send the poor home then cos they've not contributed towards the NHS have they?

I simply cannot believe that some people are so narrow minded that they want to charge a few hundred fellow UK citizens to be rescued from a war zone.

And of course make the sweeping generalisation that everyone who is in Libya has to be rich.

I was in Egypt the week before it all kicked off and a couple of my colleagues were stranded there. None of us are remotely on "stonking salaries".

We're not talking about Egypt but Libya,totally different kettle of fish.

The poor don't have a choice,these people do.

How was it different? Are you now going to only charge "rich" people if enough locals get shot?

Nope,I just think when you take on these jobs(or send your workers)you should pay some kind of insurance like every other person has to when going on holiday.

Not really a big ask is it,especially when you've contributed little in recent years to the taxpayer who you expect to bail you out.

Why can the companies not pay? Surely they can have insurance to cover their costs for just such eventualities?

One of the fundamental obligations of any government is to protect its citizens.

There are no conditions attached to that. In other words, it does not depend upon where in the world that person is, the colour of his skin, nor his income. If he is a British passport holder, he is protected. Period. In fact, that protection is now extended to all EU citizens and reciprocal arrangements are also in place.

Being rich or poor should not be a factor at all when the shit hits the fan, nor whether you have contributed to the system or not.

If you happen to find yourself in a foreign land with no help, you can turn up to any EU embassy and they will help you. None will invoice you afterwards.

Once you attach conditions to government protection you are on a very slippery slope indeed.

Not everyone gets a choice about working there - if you'rein theoil industry there areonly so many places where you can get work

Op with everything going on atm is this really the best thing you could find to direct your rage at?

a responsible govt looks after its citizens and rallies to help when desperate situations occur

Well I don't think as a nation we can afford to pay for such big rescue missions without some help when the people being rescued willingly put themselves in danger-for money and make no contribution to the taxpayer they expect to protect them.

Times change,maybe current policy needs to change. Plenty of vulnerable poor people in this country are facing cuts,maybe it's time expats enjoying huge salaries experienced the reality of the British taxpayer ie as a nation we can no longer fund expensive rescue missions without help particularly when the people being rescued are more than able to contribute.

The navy ship that rescued these people today is now being de-commissioned, so all those sailors who risked their lives for a paltry salary are now out of a job.

It's a war - there are mercenaries shooting people all over the place and a government using aircraft against its own people.

Whether you have paid insurance or not is neither here nor there. It's not going to help those workers now!

Not only are you ignorant but you are heartless and stupid.

splashyy

Thats a very odd thing to say. Its topical fgs.

And as for insurance. That's just naive.

Firstly insurance companies cannot insure against war. Its simply impossible for them. How would an insurance company be able to arrange a flight into a hostile territory? Even the UK government waited until they had permission and they have the option of sending air support if they wanted.

And what if things were worse and we needed to send over a destroyer, fighter escorts, a contingent of special forces and some helicopters to facilitate?

Would the government have to check with the insurance first to make sure their costs are covered? Perhaps fill in a form? What if the insurance company said "no, we dont agree. It's too much. We'll pay for a rubber dinghy instead"

captainbarnacle

Not only are you ignorant but you are heartless and stupid.

maybe it's time expats enjoying huge salaries

where? The teachers who have been rescued? The oil workers who have to leave their families for months at a time?

Oh yes. If you earn over minimum wage you should expect to be killed

Why heartless,nobody said leave them there as I recall,just suggested people should take some responsibility for the risk they put themselves in.

I agree with the sentiments of niceguy and scottishmummy fwiw, but I do think in the current climate of justifying every penny of public expenditure. It's only right that this kind of thing is examined as well.

Well I don't think as a nation we can afford to pay for such big rescue missions without some help

Well firstly thank god you aren't running the country.

Secondly I KNOW we can't afford our current benefits bill but I don't propose throwing poor people to the wolves.

Is supposed to be a reasonable argument not to help UK citizens who are a victim of civil war?

Nobody is talking about teachers or charity workers either but families enjoying a lucrative expat lifestyle.

Who says they are not taking responsibility? They are just asking for help and assistance. Corporations do not have the power during warfare to get their workers out without national govt assistance and diplomacy. BP funded a charter flight this morning to get their workers out but were assisted by the govt.

You are making rash assumptions about the people who are stuck over there.