Isabel Oakeshott

Isabel Oakeshott (born 12 June 1974) is a British political journalist. A former political editor of The Sunday Times, she is the co-author, with Michael Ashcroft, of an unauthorised biography of former British prime minister David Cameron, Call Me Dave, and other non-fiction titles. Quotes Now we sat in silence over the prawns and cheese, listening to them arguing. She was telling him The Sunday Times was investigating a tip that he had dodged a driving ban for speeding by pretending she had been at the wheel. He was telling her to keep her mouth shut.The recording finished and she switched off the machine, looking up expectantly. "A broken woman", The Sunday Times (10 March 2013). Oakeshott's source, the economist Vicky Pryce, and her estranged husband Chris Huhne, a Cabinet Minister in the David Cameron–Nick Clegg coalition government, were convicted of perverting the course of justice in March 2013. As the owner of a little place on the Isle of Wight, I should declare an interest. Some 80 per cent of properties in my seaside village are second homes, making it difficult for local shops to survive the winter. "Michael Gove's hypocritical war on second homes will backfire", The Telegraph (31 July 2023). Unlike angry, divided Britain, Dubai is the ultimate multi-cultural success story: a global hub of adventurers and achievers of all nationalities and faiths, bound by clear rules and expectations of behaviour. Those who break the law or can't look after themselves are simply imprisoned or deported – so they don't. What that means is that young girls like my daughters are far safer here than they would be at home. Here's another thing: with no safety net (there is no welfare system for incomers) everyone is hustling: seeking the next deal or gap in the market. Some may sneer, but that's how I want my kids to grow up: enterprising, self-reliant and international in outlook. "How I became a Labour school-fee exile in Dubai", The Telegraph (25 January 2025). According to this article, Oakeshott moved to Dubai around August 2024. Just what is it about Dubai that is so triggering for some folk, especially lefties? They can't seem to understand why so many Brits would choose to live in a place where the sun shines all the time and there's no risk of being randomly stabbed. One thing Brits love about this place is the leadership, in the broadest sense of the word. Of course, it's not a democracy, so those in charge can do what they want, but the vision and ability to make things happen is stunning. "I love Dubai. Get over it", The Spectator (7 March 2026 issue). External links Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Women journalists from Scotland Category:Women born in the 1970s Category:Biographers from Scotland Category:Non-fiction authors from Scotland Category:Women authors from Scotland Category:Conservatives from the United Kingdom