Susanna Reid sparks debate if Brits in Dubai ‘should pay for evacuation’
Susanna Reid has questioned the government’s plans to evacuate thousands of Brits from Dubai in the wake of Iran’s strikes across the region.
The Good Morning Britain co-host sparked the debate on the ITV show after it was reported that more than 50,000 British people are believed to be stuck in the United Arab Emirates with its airspace currently closed.
Speaking to co-host Ed Balls, Susanna said: ‘This row blew up on social media and in the Commons about the fact that tens of thousands of Brits have moved to places like Dubai, potentially… to avoid paying tax.
‘And there are questions now about if they need rescuing, if there is a mass evacuation of all those Brits, should they actually pay for their own evacuation.
‘Because if they’re avoiding paying tax then they’re avoiding paying into public services, like the government coming to get you when you’re in trouble.’
Responding to a clip of Susanna on X, viewers were split over whether people ‘who do not contribute to the tax system should not receive any services’.
Disagreeing with Susanna’s questioning, Wendy wrote: ‘Conflating paying taxes with whether your home nation state should rescue you when your chosen country of residence is being attacked by a terrorist state, is unhelpful.
‘Yes we should allow people to be adults and to shoulder the consequences of their choices and actions, but this is a rather more risky and complicated situation.’
@Alnuaimi222 similarly echoed: ‘People living in Dubai still pay fees, indirect taxes, and often contribute to the UK economy more than some who never leave.
‘And by the way… a passport isn’t a Netflix subscription that gets cancelled when you change your address.’
Meanwhile, Peter called it ‘utter nonsense’, arguing: ‘If they return they quickly become British tax residents again and will be liable for worldwide income and assets. It’s a non-story.’
Suzanne, however, wrote: ‘If they are happy to live there and pay no tax because they can pay to evacuate.’
Michael similarly said: ‘Any Brit who goes to live elsewhere is no longer our concern. Effectively they have severed ties with us.’
Stuart also added: ‘The price of a British passport, and the price of protection of the British state should be paying UK taxes.’
Speaking on Sunday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that roughly 200,000 Brits are in the Middle East on holiday or otherwise travelling across the Gulf.
He has urged everyone in areas targeted by Iranian strikes to register with the Foreign Office to receive advice, and so far more than 94,000 have done that, the Guardian reports.
More than 50,000 are said to be in the UAE, with most of them holidaymakers or travellers rather than residents, given Dubai’s pull as a major tourist and business destination.
Brits in Dubai share their experience
But with its airspace closed, tourists have been left without a plan for getting home.
Following the government’s advice for people to follow local instructions, the government is said to be looking at all options including evacuations via different routes if the airspace remains closed and tension escalate.
People could alternatively be evacuated to neighbouring countries where the airspace remains open, such as Saudi Arabia.
Good Morning Britain is available to watch on weekdays on ITV1.
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