Sir Ed Davey today claimed ‘tax exiles’ and ‘washed-up old footballers’ in Dubai should start contributing to Britain’s Armed Forces in the wake of the Iran strikes.

The Liberal Democrat leader delivered an astonishing rant in the House of Commons as MPs quizzed the Prime Minister on the Middle East crisis.

Iran’s retaliation to US and Israeli attacks has threatened hundreds of thousands of British nationals across the Middle East, with the Government working on plans for a possible mass evacuation.

The UK played no role in the strikes on Iran, but RAF jets have since begun defensive operations as the Iranian regime lashes out and fires missiles and drones at its neighbours.

In a question to Sir Keir Starmer on Monday afternoon, Sir Ed asked if the PM agreed if was ‘only right’ that British expats based in the region ‘start paying taxes to fund our Armed Forces just like the rest of us do’.

He also singled out Isabel Oakeshott, the fiancee of Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice, as among ‘tax exiles… who mock ordinary people who stay in the UK and pay our taxes here’.

Ms Oakeshott, a broadcaster, relocated to Dubai from the Cotswolds in the summer of 2024.

She has previously said her decision to move was partly-motivated by the Labour Government putting VAT on private school fees.

Sir Ed asked the PM: ‘We rightly expect our brave Armed Forces to protect British citizens around the world in crises like this.

‘But that includes tax exiles like Isabel Oakeshott and washed-up old footballers who mock ordinary people who stay in the UK and pay our taxes here.

‘So as we protect them, does the PM agree it’s only right for tax exiles to start paying taxes to fund our Armed Forces just like the rest of us do?’

In response to the Lib Dem leader, Sir Keir said: ‘I want to be clear, it is my duty, our duty to protect all UK nationals in the region and we will endeavour to do everything we can in order to do so.’

The Lib Dems said, according to 2024 estimates, there are approximately 240,000 British nationals living in Dubai alone.

They added that many British nationals migrate to the UAE as they not required to pay personal income tax, capital gains tax, or inheritance tax.

By contrast, US citizens residing abroad are subject to tax on worldwide income, which is generally the same as if they were residing in the US, the party said.

Responding to Sir Ed’s comments in an interview with TalkTV, Ms Oakeshott said: ‘I’m going to take this as a badge of honour!

‘He’s like a talking potato standing up there, having a go at so-called tax exiles. I don’t understand what the point was he was trying to make.

‘I’m guessing the context was ‘should the British Government be organising a mass evacuation of tax exiles?’.

‘Let me tell him, first of all, most people who live in Dubai, they are non-resident of the UK for tax purposes (but) continue to pay UK tax on UK earnings and on their assets in the UK.

‘So we continue to be UK taxpayers. We may not pay as much as we did, but we probably pay an awful lot more than the average person. So that is a complete misunderstanding of the level of contribution that is being made by many people.

‘Secondly, the tax exiles are not asking to be rescued. I don’t know anyone that’s asking to be rescued. Those evacuation plans are targeted at this point for tourists.’

Earlier on Monday, Ms Oakeshott claimed British citizens in Dubai were ‘not queuing up to be ‘evacuated’ at taxpayers’ expense’.

‘They’re chill. Tourists see it differently. Sorry to blow the lazy Lefty narrative,’ she added in a post on X.

She has also used social media to heap praise on the defence forces of the United Arab Emirates in recent days.

In his own question to the PM on Monday afternoon, Mr Tice – the MP for Skegness –  hailed US and Israel for ‘degrading the military capability’ of Iran.

The Reform deputy leader also claimed Sir Keir had ‘humiliated us on the international stage’ by failing to back the American and Israeli action.

Sir Keir is said to have declined a US request to use British military bases to launch its initial strikes on Iran after a legal opinion, drafted for by Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer, emphasised the primacy of international law.

The PM replied to Mr Tice: ‘I think he is saying… it is perfectly right for a British PM to deploy and take action, which would not be lawful.

‘I simply and fundamentally disagree. I think it is a very important principle, when we’re talking about our personnel, that we ensure that what we’re asking them do to … is lawful.

‘I believe in that fundamentally, I’m surprised if he doesn’t.’