Do you want to discuss boring politics? (17 Viewers)

[PVA]

Well you seem obsessed with money given to Oligarchs

I would also be genuinely interested in your opinion what the PM should so rather than just constantly linking twitter "exclusives" but not seemingly having an opinion on the matter

I'm not 'obsessed' with money given to oligarchs. Again you're just making stuff up.

But after promising strong sanctions for weeks when it comes to crunch time he's absolutely shat the bed, and we all know why, because he's totally in bed with god knows how many Russians.

I don't know what the answer is, but I know it isn't freezing the assets of 3 people who don't live in the UK and have been on the US sanctions list for 4 years.

 

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[Grendel]

I'm not 'obsessed' with money given to oligarchs. Again you're just making stuff up.

But after promising strong sanctions for weeks when it comes to crunch time he's absolutely shat the bed, and we all know why, because he's totally in bed with god knows how many Russians.

I don't know what the answer is, but I know it isn't freezing the assets of 3 people who don't live in the UK and have been on the US sanctions list for 4 years.

So what sanctions would work and what would you do? What should Mr Starmer do?

What sanctions would you like to see imposed on Russia?

You want sanctions so specify.

Who is Mr Johnson in bed with?

 

[PVA]

So what sanctions would work and what would you do? What should Mr Starmer do?

What sanctions would you like to see imposed on Russia?

You want sanctions so specify.

Who is Mr Johnson in bed with?

What's the point.

We know the sun shines out of 'Mr Johnson's' arse for you, and you're incredibly disgusted by Labour's ties to Russian activity while your hero hands out seats in the House of Lords to ex KGB agents and plays tennis with 'Mr Putin's' friends, but that's OK because he wears a blue tie.

He literally calls himself Boris ffs. But Diane Abbott!

It's been a sensible and interesting discussion in here all day until you came along.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

What would you want to do?

Well, first things first get the ex-KGB peer to publicly denounce it or lose his peerage. Sanctions on every single Russian billionnaire unless they publicly denounce the actions, not just 3. Freeze all UK assets over £1m of any Russian national unless they do the same. Prevent any Russian based or linked companies obtaining any finance from UK sources, trading in the City or transferring money without the same. Let's get ready to rouble!

The sanctions so far are pathetic. It's not even putting him on the naughty step.

Whereas by the sounds of it, your actions would be 'Do nothing. Don't get involved. There's too much money at stake". Just out of interest, what is the level of investment you require to lube up for them?

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Oh wonderful and who would the agreed third party be - and say Mr Putin does not agree?

We do already have bodies who monitor the integrity of national elections. If Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness could agree to the GFA I don’t see why Putin would turn down the chance to gain territory without firing a bullet

 

[skybluetony176]

Well you seem obsessed with money given to Oligarchs

I would also be genuinely interested in your opinion what the PM should so rather than just constantly linking twitter "exclusives" but not seemingly having an opinion on the matter

The only people obsessed with oligarchs money are the Tories £160K for a game of tennis with Boris lad.

 

[Grendel]

What's the point.

We know the sun shines out of 'Mr Johnson's' arse for you, and you're incredibly disgusted by Labour's ties to Russian activity while your hero hands out seats in the House of Lords to ex KGB agents and plays tennis with 'Mr Putin's' friends, but that's OK because he wears a blue tie.

He literally calls himself Boris ffs. But Diane Abbott!

It's been a sensible and interesting discussion in here all day until you came along.

Well What a measured and amazing response.

what sanctions would work?

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Well What a measured and amazing response.

what sanctions would work?

Out of interest what do you think should happen?

 

[Grendel]

Well, first things first get the ex-KGB peer to publicly denounce it or lose his peerage. Sanctions on every single Russian billionnaire unless they publicly denounce the actions, not just 3. Freeze all UK assets over £1m of any Russian national unless they do the same. Prevent any Russian based or linked companies obtaining any finance from UK sources, trading in the City or transferring money without the same. Let's get ready to rouble!

The sanctions so far are pathetic. It's not even putting him on the naughty step.

Whereas by the sounds of it, your actions would be 'Do nothing. Don't get involved. There's too much money at stake". Just out of interest, what is the level of investment you require to lube up for them?

Do you think this would lead to Mr Putin wave the white flag of surrender?

I’m slightly confused as well as when Ms May stokd up to the Russians over Salisbury many on here said she was condemning before evidence - why would she bite the hand that apparently feeds the Tory party?

 

[skybluetony176]

Surely now the west has to realise they have to use their own natural, renewable resources for their energy needs.

It’s a real quandary. New gas exploration in the North Sea breaking green commitments or continue importing 25% (I think that’s right) of our gas from Russia. While we’re still making the move from Gas to renewable I think on balance I’d actually take more gas exploration in the North Sea so long as it’s strictly on the basis of replacing gas imports from Russia.

 

[Grendel]

Out of interest what do you think should happen?

In simplistic terms let them get on with it and the sanction should be that Ukraine will always be denied NATO access

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

In simplistic terms let them get on with it and the sanction should be that Ukraine will always be denied NATO access

What if they invade and take over?

 

[skybluetony176]

In simplistic terms let them get on with it and the sanction should be that Ukraine will always be denied NATO access

So basically you’re voting Putin.

 

[clint van damme]

Well What a measured and amazing response.

what sanctions would work?

Going to fly in the face of opinion on here and my usual stance of criticising almost everything the tories do and think its quite a sensible opening gambit.

A lot of Putins wealth is in the names of other people (I'd imagine these 3 are prominent among them), and a lot of it's in London

Show him it can be got at but don't back him into a corner just yet.

 

[PVA]

Well What a measured and amazing response.

Says the bloke who's response to posting some breaking news stories was 'you think the UK is solely responsible for stopping the invasion'

 

[Grendel]

Says the bloke who's response to posting some breaking news stories was 'you think the UK is solely responsible for stopping the invasion'

Well what sanctions would you impose?

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Going to fly in the face of opinion on here and my usual stance of criticising almost everything the tories do and think its quite a sensible opening gambit.

A lot of Putins wealth is in the names of other people (I'd imagine these 3 are prominent among them), and a lot of it's in London

Show him it can be got at but don't back him into a corner just yet.

Putin’s opening gambit is to declare certain regions to be independent states so he can put his army in Ukrainian territory. I’m not sure what we’ve done is quite equivalent

 

[CCFCSteve]

It’s a real quandary. New gas exploration in the North Sea breaking green commitments or continue importing 25% (I think that’s right) of our gas from Russia. While we’re still making the move from Gas to renewable I think on balance I’d actually take more gas exploration in the North Sea so long as it’s strictly on the basis of replacing gas imports from Russia.

I think we’re a fair bit less reliant than that Tony (single figure percentage). Agree though we don’t want to rely on any gas from Russia and everyone buying less will also hit them their economy

Agree with the comments on here that sanctions over only three oligarchs (and five banks) is poor. I think we/the government have done pretty well on the matter to date, getting nato countries to take this more seriously sooner, providing military assistance and support to ukraine etc, but nows the time to show Putin there are significant consequences for his actions.

I’d be disappointed if further, more substantial sanctions aren’t brought in over the next 24-48 hours. Just freeze all assets of any people with connections to Kremlin for starters (got to be more than three !)

 

[SBT]

In simplistic terms let them get on with it and the sanction should be that Ukraine will always be denied NATO access

Vladimir Putin likes this

 

[clint van damme]

Putin’s opening gambit is to declare certain regions to be independent states so he can put his army in Ukrainian territory. I’m not sure what we’ve done is quite equivalent

It's nowhere near the equivalent. But it's very easy to escalate things, descalation not quite as easy.
And if the apetites not their for military engagement its better not to be seen as having backed down after you've given it a load of bluster.
It's worrying that this whole situation hangs on the actions of someone like Putin though.

 

[PVA]

Vladimir Putin likes this

Spend years crying about Corbyn's links with Russia and then switch sides to back Russia when they invade another country

Quite the heel turn from Grendel!

 

[skybluetony176]

Going to fly in the face of opinion on here and my usual stance of criticising almost everything the tories do and think its quite a sensible opening gambit.

A lot of Putins wealth is in the names of other people (I'd imagine these 3 are prominent among them), and a lot of it's in London

Show him it can be got at but don't back him into a corner just yet.

It’s believed that Putins money is in the hands of 50 oligarchs and these 3 aren’t any of them. If that’s true then it’s a hollow gesture. Problem is no one will name them for fear of legalities. It needs someone to use parliamentary privilege.

 

[clint van damme]

It’s believed that Putins money is in the hands of 50 oligarchs and these 3 aren’t any of them. If that’s true then it’s a hollow gesture. Problem is no one will name them for fear of legalities. It needs someone to use parliamentary privilege.

If these 3 aren't any then yes, it is a bit of an empty gesture.
Unless the message is, we'll go after them next.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

It's nowhere near the equivalent. But it's very easy to escalate things, descalation not quite as easy.
And if the apetites not their for military engagement its better not to be seen as having backed down after you've given it a load of bluster.
It's worrying that this whole situation hangs on the actions of someone like Putin though.

I think the Ukrainian leader’s kept his cool quite well all things considered

 

[skybluetony176]

Spend years crying about Corbyn's links with Russia and then switch sides to back Russia when they invade another country

Quite the heel turn from Grendel!

Thing is does Corbyn actually have the links some would have you believe with Russia. Being against NATO like Corbyn and Abbot is more like 6th form debating groups than being on the Russian payroll. It’s ideology, nothing more.

Only one party parties with Putin cronies, plays Tennis with them, holidays in their villa’s, gives them life peerages and a say in political decisions, invest in their banks even when they’re sanctioned by other western countries, takes multiple donations etc etc and it isn’t the Labour Party.

 

[PVA]

 

[Grendel]

Vladimir Putin likes this

well what would you do?

 

[CCFCSteve]

Thing is does Corbyn actually have the links some would have you believe with Russia. Being against NATO like Corbyn and Abbot is more like 6th form debating groups than being on the Russian payroll. It’s ideology, nothing more.

Only one party parties with Putin cronies, plays Tennis with them, holidays in their villa’s, gives them life peerages and a say in political decisions, invest in their banks even when they’re sanctioned by other western countries, takes multiple donations etc etc and it isn’t the Labour Party.

Whatever people think of Johnson (some of his recent behaviour/actions have been embarrassing at best) there is no way anyone would want Corbyn in charge at a time like this.

 

[Ian1779]

Only the Tories could be tougher on people that claim benefits than they are on Russia.

 

[Ian1779]

Whatever people think of Johnson (some if his recent behaviour/actions have been embarrassing at best) there is no way anyone would want Corbyn in charge at a time like this.

No you’re right - people that embezzle dirty Russian money are far more qualified on this.

 

[Grendel]

Only the Tories could be tougher on people that claim benefits than they are on Russia.

what would you Ian? Actually while we are at it what would your friend Mr Corbyn do?

 

[PVA]

Looks like the main invasion will commence soon then

 

[Grendel]

No you’re right - people that embezzle dirty Russian money are far more qualified on this.

I thought you claimed to be a teacher Ian not a child in the classroom?

 

[Ian1779]

what would you Ian? Actually while we are at it what would your friend Mr Corbyn do?

I’ll be honest enough and say I don’t know - what I do believe is that expecting anyone to listen to our elected representatives ‘sanction’ Russia whilst they take their money is laughable. They have fuck all ability to shape any kind of meaningful solution to this.

 

[SBT]

well what would you do?

Well for a start I would propose sanctions more tough than the only one you’ve proposed, which is to give Putin the one thing he wants (after we’ve already given him a free chance to let him annex another bit of Europe, of course). Do you think your plan would deter Putin in the future?