To think it's a bit much for tax excuses to expect rescue by the Brotish Government (taxpayer).

[Whitengold]

Hopefully it won't come to that and the airports will reopen soon, but I've already heard some murmurs about evacuation from paradise.

Again, disingenuous. You would certainly be paying tax in Finland and people don't pursue working there to have a tax free life for a few years. It is not the same motivation at all.

Except, you don't pay tax there because you have to pay for everything yourself.

Health care, education etc. They aren't getting it for free!

@GateauSVP · Today 12:36

I wonder how people would react if ex pats in Finland for example suddenly needed help because Russia invaded?
Or expats in America needed evacuating because civil war broke out over there.

They are also not paying tax in the UK....

I would react the same. The UK is not obligated to help them (IMO) if they have left the UK, and are now living in another country.

Why on earth do you think anyone would think or react differently if someone had gone to live in Finland, and not Dubai?

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I actually think it is you that are being disingenuous.
We each pay the required taxes in our country of residence/citizenship as required by the laws of those countries. Working in Finland isn't morally better than working in the UAE, just because taxes are higher. If you live in Finland you wouldn't pay UK income tax either.
You again assume that the main motivation for living in the UAE is a tax free life. It's a factor, but career opportunity, lifestyle etc are equally important.
And what is actually wrong with taking a job in a country where taxes are lower than the UK? Why would I pay 45% income tax if I can get a better job with lower taxes? It's not a crime.

OK, let’s say we all agree with your judgment that moving somewhere for lower taxes is reprehensible.

In the event of a war, do you really think the punishment should be being abandoned in a middle of a hot conflict?

I’m interested in how ‘I don’t agree with your fiscal choices’ takes you to ‘and therefore I’m happy for you to die in a war zone, should circumstances change’.

Civilian evacuation is only ever implemented when no other safe options remain.

Iran attacked military bases in Qatar last year.
Qatar is next door the UAE for those unfamiliar with the geography which is many. They've also launched drone attacks on Bahrain military bases before.

The UAE closed its airspace for a day (that includes Dubai airport).

So I really don't think we can saw no one foresaw an attack on the UAE. There is a very recent history of attacks right next door.....

if you've chosen to live in another country as an immigrant, then a war starts in that country - surely you can try and get back to the country you arrived from. That doesn't though need to be aided by the government of that previous country, you'd make your own way. You're also not going to be automatically killed, many people live through war torn areas.

Nobody would surely stop you from returning.

What? By that same logic someone who hasn’t paid tax in the U.K. because they’re on low income shouldn’t be availed of the NHS because they’re haven’t paid in. A diplomat stationed abroad by the U.K. government or a British person posted abroad by the British company they work for (and neither of these individuals would be paying tax in the U.K. they would be paying tax in the territory they are resident in) shouldn’t be rescued by the U.K. government if they were caught in a war zone.

By your reckoning the rights of citizenship are bought and paid for and not an inalienable right, and leaving a country removes any rights associated with being from that country. In other words, we should all just stay where we came from.

What the actual fuck 😂

And how exactly would you make your own way when all feasible options for leaving said country are closed? That is why government evacuations happen, because there is no civilian alternative.

I guess we should not get you started on all the doctors who pissed off to Canada or Australia rather than working for the holy NHS to serve you? So serves those teachers in Dubai right, ehh?

Are you generally a misanthrope or is it specifically migrants you hate?

The idea that someone who has moved abroad has voided their right to consular assistance is not how citizenship works. Governments evacuate their nationals from conflict zones because they are nationals — not because they’ve passed a purity test about why they moved.

And the “just make your own way back” line is particularly revealing. In case you haven’t noticed, wars tend to involve closed airspace, destroyed infrastructure, armed checkpoints, and active combat. The UK government didn’t evacuate people from Afghanistan in 2021 because it was a fun group outing. The US didn’t run evacuations from Sudan in 2023 because travel insurance had lapsed. States evacuate citizens because functioning governments recognise a duty of care.

As for “you’re not automatically going to be killed” — what a reassuring standard. I assume we’ll be updating emergency policy across the board to “well, statistically, you might survive.”

Consular protection isn’t a reward for ideological loyalty. It’s a basic function of statehood. If you hold citizenship, your government has obligations to you — whether you moved for love, work, weather, or yes, even tax.

Pretending war zones are mildly inconvenient travel disruptions and that citizenship is conditional on lifestyle choices is maliciously nihilistic.

They aren't comparable as the motivation is the key factor here. There are about 5000 British citizens living in Finland and what is it? 240000 in Dubai, not really comparable are they, I wonder why.

Are you generally a misanthrope or is it specifically migrants you hate?

Gosh the bias and straw man argument coming out as I dare suggest someone who has decided to immigrate is now a citizen of another country

In situations like this previously people have sentbtheir children home to relatives while they stay there for work.

Err.. could the difference in numbers be that Finland's economy and society does not require or provide the opportunities of an expanding nation like the UAE? And I'll say it again the low tax is a big incentive but opportunity is just as important. Young graduates in particular are struggling to find good UK jobs and for all levels the UK job market is currently tough. Don't be surprised when people move to the UAE.

??? I could say that last line to YOU!

It's utterly farcical that you compare a British diplomat living abroad - to someone who has CHOSEN to move somewhere abroad to avoid paying tax, and 'because it's sooooo much better' just to come begging the UK Government to help when it all goes a bit 'wrong.'

Have THIS back! >>> 😂

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But they often aren't citizens of the country they emigrate to. You cannot become a UAE citizen no matter how long you live there.

That’s not what you suggested and also not how immigration works. Do look it up.

And if Britain goes to war and it's big enough for a draft these young graduates are able to be drafted. As citizens they have rights but responsibilities also.
Not that I think it will come to that.

Please God that doesn't happen but in the meantime they are free to pursue their lives at home or abroad.

Oh it was - read what is written instead of going off on a tangent

I have - it’s you who’s lacking basic understanding of civics. It’s okay, plenty of people struggle with these concepts as evidenced on this thread and I respect your right to hold a misguided view.

Shame you don't understand then what is actually written

Again, for clarity, the UK government does not have a duty of care to citizens abroad.

That is very clearly stated here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-deal-with-a-crisis-overseas

It is not a legal obligation of statehood that the government assists a citizen when abroad.

They might feel a moral obligation. They may feel a political incentive to. But there is no legal obligation to.

What they do have is a duty of care to their employees - so, for example, they aren't going to send diplomatic staff into a dangerous position to help some citizens.
The duty of care is to their employees so sending them into danger is a legal problem for them. The citizens are not.

I'm not saying they shouldn't help in this situation, just pointing out that there is no legal obligation for them to do so.

Although realistically, beyond signposting people to information, there isn't a huge amount they can practically do right now.

Even if they were offering flights from Dubai airport right now, I'm not sure I'd get on one given the risk of having a missile or drone flown at it.

Sitting tight at home seems like the best advice for Dubai migrants right now.

But you said your argument was the same whether that person was in Finland or Dubai. Assuming taxes are higher in Finland, they haven’t gone to Finland to avoid taxes yet in your previous post you said it makes no difference. So what is your point? Is it taxes? If so then someone moving to another high tax jurisdiction should get consular assistance and someone who moved to a low or zero tax jurisdiction shouldn’t? You have contradicted yourself.