Irony took a backseat this week when TalkTV pundit Isabel Oakeshott—who’s been living in Dubai—openly criticised the number of alleged illegal immigrants in London. Oakeshott says she can spot them whenever she returns to the UK, despite the fact she left home specifically to avoid Labour’s VAT raid on private schools.
Fleeing to Dubai for Economic Reasons
Oakeshott, who found refuge in the United Arab Emirates a few months ago, has described Dubai’s economy as “booming.” She claimed to have relocated due to Labour’s “pernicious tax on private schools,” which she felt would be too costly for her family.
But the internet wasn’t buying it. Many suggested that buying or renting a place in Dubai, paying for flights, and transporting a family’s belongings probably adds up to more than any extra VAT on school fees.
The Partner Connection
Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK and Oakeshott’s partner, also splits his time between Dubai and his constituency in Boston and Skegness. Their party leader, Nigel Farage, is likewise often between Clacton and the United States—seemingly a party tradition of living life on two continents.
Spotting “Illegals” from Afar
Oakeshott’s remarks about London’s immigrants are especially controversial since she’s now living as an expat herself. One wry commenter on social media pointed out the irony: Oakeshott lives in an Arabic-speaking country, despite presumably not speaking Arabic.
Indeed, around 75% of Dubai’s population—some 2.72 million people—are expatriates. Which begs the question: Isn’t she an immigrant there too?
A Case of Irony?
Some might see Oakeshott’s commentary as a pot calling the kettle black. While she highlights the UK’s “vast numbers” of foreign nationals, she herself has found a new home in a country where being foreign is the norm.
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