The UK PM Expels 23 Russian diplomats
 

Just one of her measures
against Russia .


Live all Media now


https://news.sky.com/story/live-spy-...ponse-11289189
Russia warns of retaliation for diplomat expulsions

A stronger response than i thought there would be.

A good move although it ultimately won't achieve anything as Russia will respond in kind and that will be that until diplomatic relations are quietly resumed a few months down the line once the story's blown over.

We're not really in a position to put any pressure on Russia.

Yes but Russia will tit for tat
they have said they can match all attacks on them,

Good. A strong response is appropriate because of the use of a nerve agent for the first time in the alliance since the foundation of NATO and is against international law. It endangered the lives of many innocent citizens and the security forces.
We can't show a bully and egomaniac like Putin any weakness.

I was gratified to see that NATO has backed us 100%. I wonder whether this will give May the impetus to invoke NATO's Article 5 on Collective Defence which states "‘the Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all’. It's only ever been used once before, by the USA after 9/11

I think this situation will make her come into her own as PM. Her speech on Monday was brilliant, and showed great strength, and showed Corbyn's usual pointless mewlings as what they were, especially when he made a misjudged swipe at party donations.

I agree with that, Oliver. I've not been impressed with May generally... but she is showing strength in this. Corbyn's reaction has been predictable claiming that he doesn't believe it was the Russians and that MI5&6 may be wrong. Labour'a Welsh first minister, Carwyn Jones, tweeted his support for what May said. It gives me faith in Labour when I see a prominent Labour minister distancing himself from Corbyn.

Yes, Corbyn showed he isn't up to dealing with vitally important defence issues with his wishy washy appeasement spiel and being the usual opportunist in trying to score cheap political points at a time when there should be an all - party unity.
Thank goodness he isn't PM. Putin would make mincemeat out of him.

Yep he doesn’t fill me with confidence.I saw his response to the PM’s latest speech.He floats around the issue of Russia and tried scoring points again going on about cuts to diplomats or something.It didn’t go down well.

Only fools rush in.....Especially with Russ ia

Credit where credit's due.

She's been absolutely amazing this week and has been the kind of strong PM (foreign policy wise) I want to see more of.

Imagine if this heavy handed approach creates a refugee crisis from the UK, and we are in boats to France and they push us back?....

#bestofBitishblackhumour

I think she has handled it well although it makes me nervous as Russia will not be intimidated and will just retaliate with like for like.

Think Mrs May was damned if she did and damned if she didn't this week....whatever she did would be condemned by some and celebrated by others

She's trying to protect the money tree is all...

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/...-a8253786.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/...-a8253446.html

I'm glad Rudd announced an inquiry into the 14 suspicious deaths connected to Russia. It's too late but it is needed.
I hope May does more than expelling "diplomats", Russia has been taking the piss for long enough.

Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman has said there is not yet definitive proof the Russian state was behind the attempted murder of a former spy in Salisbury.

He said the most likely explanation was Russia that was "directly or indirectly responsible" for the attack but "culpability takes many forms".

He pointed to the "problematic history" of UK intelligence on chemical weapons.

It came as several Labour MPs called for their leader to be firmer in his condemnation of Russia.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43405680

I agree with Corbyn that we should be going after dirty money from Russia. But I wish he stopped pussy-footing and be more convincing on Russia, nato and defence in general.

Honestly, I thought I had seen it all when it comes to the UK / political delusion, but apparently not. Now people seem to believe that the UK can actually "do something about" Russia.

Are you serious?

The UK can't "do anything to Russia" that amounts to more than shooting peas at an attack helicopter.

"Oh yes I know that the United States of America - the world's largest military and an economic superpower - hasn't been able to effectively tackle Russia's bull**** for the past half century or more... But hey... Theresa May's finally going to give them what for!"

:facepalm:

How much more convincing do you need to be?... He he been shown to be correct in all matters when it comes to intervention of this type.

I feel it's the conservatives attempts at creating a political sandstorm around this issue to mask their own involvement with regard to money laundering, the purchase of citizenship as well as questionable donations.

Who is saying this?
I haven't heard anything of that sort being said. :conf:

Hardly, he just takes the default line of opposing any action by NATO and the West

Yup, so did Mrs May herself.

And how difficult is it to go against the majority and toe the line every time and be totally vindicated every single tine?...

What do people want in a leader, one who bumbles along on the misinformation of the majority or who has the courage of convictions?

Isn't that what was admired in Churchill?....

This is a completely insane piece of posturing and Ms May is flat out incompetent. I have little more to say on this than that. Absolutely ****ing barmy, I hope Wee Nic is on the phone to Moscow letting them know that we don't agree with May's actions.

you are incorrect re. the west not tackling russia - we won the cold war.

as for now, nobody is saying we should be starting another war!
but at the same time we cannot just ignore yet another incident like that
it's all about appropriate response.
some people in russia (putin etc) never gave up on russian empire and try to turn the clock back any way they can. they can't compete economically, so they do it by force (crimea, georgia, ukraine) or they resort to dirty tricks like trying to destabilise the west from the inside
we need to start reacting, not ignoring it coz it will make them even bolder

Not sure what makes Russia so invincible really - their economy is the size of Italy, a lot of their infrastructure is crumbling, they no longer have as much control over Eastern Europe and they don't have many friends internationally

No he has not been vindicated every single time, have a look at his record on Kosovo

They have a gargantuan, un-invadable land mass, tens of thousands of nuclear warheads, and a large chip on their shoulder.

This record?...
https://www.parliament.uk/edm/2004-05/392

But there is no prospect of a nuclear war or a land invasion in this day and age, they aren't the only ways to damage a country

Yes thank you for highlighting the fact he denied genocide and tried to downplay the crimes committed in Kosovo

Yes it is not a war
its the death of Ex Russians. (who have crossed the power)
Which was going on long before Putin.

It's not just May though, the majority of the house are in unified agreement including most of the Opposition. :shrug:

:clap1: I wonder what Putin really thinks about Corbyn, if he thinks of him at all. Putin despises weakness so he has to be dealt with in return with something of the ruthlessness which he displays himself.
You can't dither about and do nothing when an egomaniac thinks he can do want he wants. It is just handing him empowerment on a plate and saying 'We're scared of you' or 'You're not bad really, just misunderstood'. :inamood:

:shrug:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ry-Russia.html

He is in the minority bigtime.

So.... And Dacre is aiding his cash cow cover her tracks, no change there then :/

This is a serious question Kizzy with no malice or undercurrent meant at all but if Jeremy Corbyn had wholeheartedly supported this action against Russia would you have done too or would you have disagreed with these actions and still have been against it?

Haha nice try!

without any sanction of the United Nations Security Council;

the leader of a Spanish forensic team sent to Kosovo returned home, complaining angrily that he and his colleagues had become part of 'a semantic pirouette by the war propaganda machines, because we did not find one mass grave'

I watched PMQ's in full
Corbyn did have a go at Putin.

Everyone appears to edit that out?