Tory-Russian Footsie

[David Morris]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukraine-spent-seven-years-begging-three-pms-for-weapons-and-no-one-listened-58t5m9kkq?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1650733937-1

 In the years after the invasion of Crimea, there would be much rhetoric
directed against the Kremlin from successive British prime ministers and
foreign secretaries. However, the words were not matched by action and a
series of clear opportunities were missed to challenge Putin and his
London-based allies. [...]

two parliamentary inquiries — by the foreign affairs committee in 2018 and
the intelligence and security committee in 2020 — called for sanctions to
be imposed on the oligarchs in London. The committees’ recommendations,
however, were largely ignored by the May and Johnson governments. While he
was foreign secretary, Johnson sidestepped implementing the findings of the
foreign affairs committee and later, as prime minister, delayed the release
of the intelligence committee’s report. Britain did not independently
sanction any oligarch with known UK assets until Russia invaded Ukraine on
February 24.

There were a number of reasons for this inertia. A significant one, some
claim, was the cosy relationship between the government and wealthy
Russians who entertained ministers; gave money to the Conservative Party;
brought wealth into London; and acquired important national assets such as
a newspaper and Premier League football clubs.

*The Sunday Times* also notes that *even *the Trump Administration summoned
the will to at least sanction a few oligarchs whereas the Brits did not
impose any sort of sanctions or restrictions until July 2020.