Tag Archives: Politics

‘This Could End Very Badly’: Russia Issues New Threat As West Considers Sending Long-Range Missiles To Ukraine

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A Russian diplomat has issued a bleak warning to the West after the UK and the US hinted that they could allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles.

Allies have yet not supplied Kyiv’s forces with such weapons out of fear that Moscow would perceive it as an escalation, and the regional conflict would spiral into a war with Nato, or go nuclear.

However, US secretary of state Antony Blinken claims Iran has now sent short-range ballistic missiles to Russia – although Tehran denies doing so – suggesting Moscow was already taking the fight to another level.

While the West has not yet publicly changed its stance on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Moscow is ready to retaliate.

According to Russian state news agency TASS, he said: “This is just another potential escalation move by Washington.

“The US has total control over Kyiv, which cannot make any decision without the approval or support of the US and other Western allies.”

He claimed: “It is alarming, dangerous, and threatening.

“However ,our determination to achieve all of the goals of the special military operation is stronger than ever.”

He then suggested that Russia is still confident “the adversaries on the battlefield will be defeated, and that no enemy objectives will be accomplished”.

The diplomat claimed the US “live in a world of self-made dark dreams, haunted by phantoms, one of which is the belief that it’s possible to defeat a nuclear power like Russia on the battlefield”.

He concluded: “This could end very badly or them and for anyone who ignores this harsh reality.”

Blinken and his UK counterpart David Lammy arrived in Ukraine today for meetings with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The UK revealed it was giving more than £600m in funding and weaponry to Ukraine to help it fight back against Russia.

The UK and the US have also announced co-ordinated sanctions against Russia and Iran this week, while the UK, France and Germany issued a joint statement and cancelled bilateral arrangements with Iran.

But Russia does not quite seem to have caught up with what the UK calls its “unwavering” support for Ukraine,

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed on Wednesday that London should consider dropping sanctions against Moscow.

According to TASS, she said: “it is time for Britain to admit “their sanctions policy against Russia has ended in a complete failure for London.”

She claimed the sanctions have been “inefficient, counter-productive for those that come up with them and imposes them on Russia.”

The UK currently has sanctions against almost 2,000 Russias, including government officials, and more than 300 companies.

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Mel Stride Has Become The Latest Candidate Kicked Out Of The Tory Leadership Race

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Mel Stride has become the latest candidate to be kicked out of the Tory leadership contest.

The former cabinet minister came last in a ballot of Conservative MPs.

They will now go forward to the Tory conference in Birmingham later this month, where they will each seek to convince MPs and party members that they have what it takes to succeed Rishi Sunak as leader.

Jenrick once again came top of the latest ballot with 33 votes, followed by Badenoch on 28, with Tugendhat and Cleverly both on 21 and Stride in last place on 16.

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Bizarre Russian Press Speculation About The UK’s Sanctions Awkwardly Undermined By Labour Move

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One Russian newspaper claimed today that the UK could lift sanctions against the state, only for the Foreign Office to issue a new crackdown hours later.

The British embassy in Russia reportedly told national newspaper Izvestia that the UK is considering watering down sanctions, introduced due to the Ukraine war, against Moscow.

Izvestia (in which the state-owned company Gazopram has a controlling share) did acknowledge that the House of Lords has warned the UK will stay in step with the US and not lift sanctions – but still suggested such measures cannot be lifted if they do not serve a purpose.

This claim was then reported by the Russian state agency TASS, too.

The UK has imposed sanctions on almost 2,000 Russians, including government officials, and more than 300 companies.

Although there have been concerns the sanctions are not having the desired effect, those fears centre around the measures not being hard enough.

Plus, any rowing back on these measures would be a major shift in the UK’s long-term support for Ukraine, which is highly unlikely.

However, the Labour government appeared to have already inadvertently quashed such claims via the foreign secretary David Lammy’s latest announcement.

The UK declared new and significant measures against Iran and Russia on Tuesday.

It came after Iran sent new ballistic missiles to Moscow for use on the battlefield against Ukraine.

Iran has sent hundreds of drones to Russia since the war began, and is one of the country’s primary military backers.

So the UK and the US have announced co-ordinated sanctions against the two countries, while the UK, France and Germany also issued a joint statement and cancelled bilateral arrangements with Iran.

Russian cargo ships have been sanctioned for their role in transporting military supplies from Iran into the country, too.

UK parliament is also looking to strengthen trade sanctions on Iran this week in a further blow to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Lammy said: “Iran supplying Russia with ballistic missiles to fuel its illegal invasion of Ukraine is a significant and dangerous escalation.

“We have been clear in that any transfer of ballistic missiles by Iran would face a significant response. Today, alongside our international partners, we are calling out this behaviour and its attempts to undermine global security.

“Iran must stop supporting Putin’s unprovoked, premeditated and barbaric attack against a sovereign democratic state. The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

Meanwhile transport secretary Louise Haigh said: “We will continue to use every lever at our disposal to put pressure on Iran to end its support for Putin’s illegal invasion.”

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Keir Starmer Hit By Labour Commons Rebellion Over Plan To Axe Winter Fuel Payments

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Keir Starmer has suffered his biggest Commons rebellion since becoming prime minister as Labour MPs made clear their anger at the decision to means test winter fuel payments to pensioners.

A total of 52 Labour backbenchers failed to vote in favour of the controversial policy, while one – Jon Trickett – voted against it.

In addition, five former Labour MPs who were suspended by the party in July for not backing its policy on the two-child benefit cap, also voted against the government.

However, the Tories’ attempt to cancel the policy was still comfortably defeated by 348 votes to 228, even though Labour’s 167-seat majority was slashed.

Rachel Reeves announced shortly after becoming chancellor that the winter fuel payment – which is worth up to £300 – would only be paid to those receiving pension credit.

That means that around 10 million old people who used to receive it will no longer do so.

Labour has said the move is necessary to help fill the £22 billion “black hole” in the government’s finances it says the Tories left behind.

But critics have said the move will plunge many old people into poverty and could even lead to some of them dying from the cold.

Labour sources insisted that only 12 of the 52 MPs who failed to vote with the government had not had their absence authorised.

Explaining his decision to rebel, Jon Trickett said: “I fear that removing the payment from pensioners will mean that many more will fall into poverty this winter.

“We know that the consequences of pensioner poverty are devastating. It can even be a matter of life and death.

“I could not in good conscience vote to make my constituents poorer. I will sleep well tonight knowing that I voted to defend my constituents.”

Tory chairman Richard Fuller said: “The country should not forget that Labour made a political choice to make this callous decision that will hurt pensioners just as their energy bills are set to increase this winter.”

Lib Dem work and pensions spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain said: “Millions of pensioners will be left deeply worried about how they will get by this winter with this cut to the winter fuel payment.

“So many pensioners are already facing another winter of a cost of living crisis and this will make things worse.

“The damage left by the Conservatives to our economy is unforgivable but cutting payments to vulnerable pensioners is no way to bring about the change the country deserves.

“We’ll keep fighting this cut tooth and nail anyway we can, we’ll continue to be a constructive opposition to the new Government and we’re fighting for the real change people want to see.”

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: “Voters in Scotland were promised ‘change’ but instead the Labour Party is wielding the austerity axe and cutting billions of pounds from public services and household incomes.”

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No.10 Wants Everyone Eligible To Claim Pension Credit – But That Could Present 1 Problem

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Downing Street wants every person eligible to go on pension credit, even though a think tank says it would undo any savings from the changes to the winter fuel allowance.

MPs will decide whether or not to back the government’s plan of restricting winter fuel payments just to individuals on pension credit on Tuesday.

The controversial move could mean around 10 million pensioners in England and Wales end up without the payment of up to £300.

It is also estimated around 880,000 (37%) eligible pensioners do not claim pension credit right now – which is why the government is encouraging anyone who thinks they may be entitled to the benefit to apply.

The proposed cuts are expected to save around £1.4bn a year.

The government claims this will go some way towards filling the ″£22bn black hole” left by the Tories.

However, reporters pointed out that if everyone signed up to pension credit, it would actually cost the government £2bn, therefore overshadowing any savings.

As ITV’s Anushka Asthana posted on X on Monday, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has also confirmed the take-up would eliminate savings.

That counters a claims from ministers that winter fuel payments had to be cut in order to fill the “black hole” in our finances.

Yet, the spokesperson told reporters anyone eligible should apply for pension credit.

She also told reporters on Monday that the government’s efforts to boost those applying for pension credit had already had a significant result.

She said: “As a result of that work, we’ve seen a 115% increase in pension credit claims in the last five weeks compared to five weeks before – 38,500 pension credit claims, compared to 17,900.”

“This government is determined to make sure those who should be claiming pension credit are and are supporting them to do so,” she said. “We’ve seen the impact of that already.”

Asked if the prime minister was happy with this rate of progress, she said: “There is still more to do the campaign is ongoing, and there is activity from HMRC today as part of that.

“We continue to urge people to check their eligibility and support people in making those applications.”

She said that this level of effort towards increasing the applications in pension credit had not been “seen before.”

When pressed over the backlash PM Keir Starmer has faced because of the plan to restrict the winter fuel payments, the spokesperson said it was one of many “tough choices” the government have to make.

She said: “It is not a decision he wants to make, the government wants to make, but we have to fix the foundations of our economy and that means tough choices and one of those is making sure we are targeting to those who need it the most.”

Downing Street also added that there would be no softening of the impact of the policy after Home Office minister Diana Johnson “misspoke” during broadcast interviews this morning.

Johnson told BBC Breakfast: “We generally want to get energy bills down. We know over the past few years what trouble that’s caused to household budgets and the cost of living crisis, so there is a lot of work going on around that social tariff for the poorest members of our society.”

Shortly after the interview, the government said the minister had “misspoken” over this claim – and Downing Street later told journalists there would be no mitigating measures to ease the pain of the winter fuel payment restrictions.

Up to 50 Labour MPs are said to be uncomfortable with the idea of voting for the government’s plan, sparking speculation they could rebel and vote against Starmer.

It’s not clear if that could result in MPs losing the whip.

Labour suspended seven MPs just days after the party was elected when the rebels voted against the government over its two-child benefit cap.

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Fresh Fury Towards Tories As Unsettling Study Uncovers Corruption ‘Red Flags’ Over Covid Contracts

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The Conservatives are facing renewed public fury after a study found some of the former government’s Covid contracts, worth more than £15 billion, raised corruption “red flags”.

The report from Transparency International UK looked into more than 5,000 contracts across 400 public bodies and discovered 135 high-risk contracts were worth investigation.

Those contracts alone were worth a collective value of £15.3bn – almost one in every three pounds spent on the pandemic – and were flagged because they raised three or more concerns over corruption.

“Most of these contracts exhibited red flags across multiple areas of risk – including those associated with the supplier profile, the procurement process and the contract outcomes – and often spanning all three. Some contracts displayed as many as eight red flags,” the researchers explained.

At least 28 of those deals – worth £4.1bn, almost a tenth of the total money spent on the pandemic response – went to firms with known connections to the Conservative party, Transparency International UK claimed.

Eight contracts allegedly went to suppliers which were had been established for no more than 100 days.

The department of health and social care also wrote off £14.9bn of public money over that two-year period, according to the report. That is the same amount as the government’s overall spend on PPE (personal protective equipment).

The government allegedly used a VIP lane to give 51 contracts priority, 24 of which were referred to by Tory politicians or their offices, too.

Transparency International UK said it is now calling for authorities to investigate the high-risk contracts.

In response to the findings, a Tory spokesperson referred to a National Audit Office report from November 2020 which found ministers had properly declared their interests.

They told the Guardian: “Government policy was in no way influenced by the donations the party received – they are entirely separate.”

The new Labour government is intending to appoint a Covid corruption commissioner to look at the £7.6bn of fraud recorded during the pandemic.

A Treasury spokesperson said this will help “get back the money that is owed to the British people”.

They added: “The commissioner will report directly to the chancellor, working with the secretary of state for health and social care, and their report will be presented to parliament for all members to see.”

The survey from Transparency International UK also sparked furious backlash across X, with users calling out the supposed corruption and “pure unadulterated greed”.

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In an international crisis with people becoming seriously ill and dying, an enormous disruption to everyone’s life in many countries, those involved in this saw an opportunity to make money. Thats what strikes me as the most appalling aspect of the corruption.

— lesleyb (@Lesley_London) September 9, 2024

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Thats what strikes me as the most appalling aspect of the corruption.— lesleyb (@Lesley_London) September 9, 2024\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_thread":{"label":"Hide previous Tweet in conversation thread","value":true},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"lesleyb on Twitter / X","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/Lesley_London/status/1833053222073704675","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"66defca3e4b01b464f3e24f4","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/fury-towards-the-tories-as-study-examines-covid-contracts_uk_66defca3e4b01b464f3e24f4","entryTagsList":"boris-johnson,conservative-party,covid","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","clickToPlayPlayer":"5a777b9b-81fe-41a6-8302-59e9953ee8a2","videoPagePlayer":"19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":6},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"66defca3e4b01b464f3e24f4","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"boris johnson","slug":"boris-johnson","links":{"relativeLink":"news/boris-johnson","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/boris-johnson","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/boris-johnson"},"relegenceId":4161435,"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Boris Johnson","slug":"boris-johnson","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/boris-johnson/"},{"name":"conservative party","slug":"conservative-party","links":{"relativeLink":"news/conservative-party","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/conservative-party","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/conservative-party"},"relegenceId":3696340,"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Conservative Party","slug":"conservative-party","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/conservative-party/"},{"name":"covid","slug":"covid","links":{"relativeLink":"news/covid","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/covid","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/covid"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/covid/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

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In an international crisis with people becoming seriously ill and dying, an enormous disruption to everyone’s life in many countries, those involved in this saw an opportunity to make money. Thats what strikes me as the most appalling aspect of the corruption.

— lesleyb (@Lesley_London) September 9, 2024

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That would be more than enough to keep the winter fuel payment if they could recover a fraction of it.

— Andrew Hobbs (@drewster_1965) September 9, 2024

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That would be more than enough to keep the winter fuel payment if they could recover a fraction of it.

— Andrew Hobbs (@drewster_1965) September 9, 2024