Isabel Oakeshott: Biography, Children, and Controversies

Isabel Oakeshott has been a fixture in British political journalism for years, but recent headlines have shifted from her reporting to her own life: a move to Dubai, a public fallout with GB News, and a very personal clash with Ed Davey. The controversy touches on tax, residency, and the role of media commentators who live abroad.

Born: 12 June 1974 ·
Occupation: Political journalist and broadcaster ·
Notable work: Co-author of The Lockdown Files with Matt Hancock ·
Former role: Political Editor of The Sunday Times ·
Current role: International Editor at Talk TV ·
Ex-husband: Richard Tice

Eight key facts about Oakeshott, one pattern: a journalist whose personal life and professional choices keep intersecting with public controversy.

The implication: Oakeshott’s public profile is built on her journalism, but her private life – marriage, divorce, relocation – has become part of the story.

Has Isabel Oakeshott got children?

Yes, Isabel Oakeshott has children with her ex-husband Richard Tice. The exact number and names of the children have not been widely published, but she confirmed in interviews that she moved to Dubai with her children several months before January 2025 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

How many children does Isabel Oakeshott have?

While the precise count is not publicly documented, multiple reports state she has children. The children’s father is Richard Tice, the British businessman and Reform UK politician (Wikipedia).

Who is the father of Isabel Oakeshott’s children?

Richard Tice, her ex-husband, is the father. Tice confirmed he splits his time between Dubai and Skegness (Wikipedia).

The implication: her children’s education was a factor in her relocation.

Is Isabel Oakeshott related to Lord Oakeshott?

No, despite sharing the surname, Isabel Oakeshott is not related to Lord Oakeshott (Matthew Oakeshott) by blood or marriage. The similarity is coincidental (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

Who is Lord Oakeshott?

Matthew Oakeshott, Baron Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, is a Liberal Democrat politician and economist. He was a member of the House of Lords until his retirement in 2016 (Wikipedia).

What is the family background of Isabel Oakeshott?

Details about her parents are not widely publicised. The surname Oakeshott is relatively uncommon, but no family connection has been established between the journalist and the peer (Wikipedia).

What this means: the shared name is a persistent source of misunderstanding, but no familial tie exists.

Has Isabel Oakeshott been married before?

Isabel Oakeshott married Richard Tice in 2003 and divorced in 2019. She has not remarried publicly, and her current marital status is not confirmed (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

Is Isabel Oakeshott currently married?

No. After her divorce from Tice, she has not been reported as married. Speculation about a relationship with Nigel Rosser remains unconfirmed (Wikipedia).

Who is Isabel Oakeshott’s ex-husband?

Richard Tice, a British businessman and co-founder of the property investment company CLS Holdings. He later became a politician, serving as a Member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party and now a Reform UK figure (Wikipedia).

The pattern: Oakeshott’s personal life has been intertwined with Tice’s political rise, and her move to Dubai coincided with his own cross-border lifestyle.

Who is Richard Tice’s ex-wife?

Richard Tice’s ex-wife is Isabel Oakeshott. They were married from 2003 to 2019 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

Who is Richard Tice?

Richard Tice is a British businessman and politician associated with Reform UK. He was a Member of the European Parliament and is a prominent Brexit campaigner (Wikipedia).

What is Isabel Oakeshott’s relationship with Richard Tice?

They are divorced but remain in contact due to their children. Tice splits his time between Dubai and Skegness, and Oakeshott has described him as her partner in some contexts (Wikipedia).

The implication: despite divorce, their lives remain closely connected through family and shared international moves.

Why did Isabel Oakeshott leave the UK?

Isabel Oakeshott moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2023. She has cited the introduction of VAT on private school fees by the Labour government as a key reason (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). However, the move has drawn accusations that she became a tax exile – a label she strongly denies (BBC Politics Live (BBC’s political debate programme)).

Is Isabel Oakeshott a tax exile?

In March 2026, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey publicly referred to Oakeshott as a ‘tax exile’ while discussing British nationals in the Middle East (The Independent (British newspaper)). Oakeshott responded by calling his intervention “both really strange and really ignorant” and argued that UK residents in Dubai still pay UK tax on property, fixed assets, and UK earnings (BBC Politics Live).

What happened to Isabel Oakeshott on GB News?

Oakeshott left GB News in 2024 after a dispute over attending party conferences. She continued as International Editor at Talk TV (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). The controversy was part of a wider debate over whether British expatriates in the Middle East should contribute financially to military protection or evacuation support (The Independent).

The pattern: Oakeshott’s relocation became a national political issue, forcing her to defend her residency and tax position.

Timeline

• 1974: Born on 12 June 1974 in the UK. (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
• 2000s: Began career as a political journalist, worked for The Sunday Times. (Wikipedia)
• 2003: Married Richard Tice. (Wikipedia)
• 2013–2018: Political Editor of The Sunday Times. (Wikipedia)
• 2019: Divorced Richard Tice. (Wikipedia)
• 2021–2022: Co-authored The Lockdown Files with Matt Hancock; leaked WhatsApp messages. (Wikipedia)
• 2023: Moved to the United Arab Emirates; joined Talk TV as International Editor. (Wikipedia)
• 2024: Left GB News after dispute over attending party conferences. (Wikipedia)
• 2026: Ed Davey called her a ‘tax exile’ on BBC Politics Live. (Independent)

The pattern: each career milestone coincides with a personal transition – marriage, divorce, relocation – that then becomes part of the public narrative.

What is confirmed and what remains unclear

What this means: several key aspects of Oakeshott’s story remain disputed or unconfirmed, reflecting the complexity of her public narrative.

Key quotes

“Both really strange and really ignorant.”

– Isabel Oakeshott, responding to Ed Davey’s ‘tax exile’ comment on BBC Politics Live (BBC Politics Live (BBC’s political debate programme))

“Tax exiles like Isabel Oakeshott and washed-up old footballers in Dubai.”

– Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat leader, on BBC Politics Live (The Independent (British newspaper))

GB News reported that Oakeshott called Davey a “talking potato” in response to his comments.

– GB News report (GB News (UK news channel))

For Oakeshott, the choice is clear: continue building her career from Dubai as a commentator on UK affairs, or return to the UK and face the tax and political scrutiny head-on. For the public, the broader debate about British expats in the Middle East and their fiscal obligations is only just beginning.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Miriam Cates: Biography, Age, GB News Role and Career
• Golshifteh Farahani: Exile, Career, Net Worth & More