Bozo’s Russia Sanctions Problem

While our free and fearless press is wasting no time in telling its readers that alleged Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson and his coterie of ineptitude is either being seriously tough with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and his gangsterist régime in Moscow, or will be getting seriously tough very soon, honestly, they are convincing no-one.

Britain’s contribution to opposing Putin will, as with many other countries, be a mainly economic one, as in sanctions against Russian financial institutions, oligarchs, and maybe politicians. But as Germany’s new Chancellor Olaf Scholz under-promised and then over-delivered, canning the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, Bozo merely sanctioned five banks and three individuals. Many of his fellow Tories were unimpressed.

Across the floor of the House, Caroline Lucas was impressed even less. “Is that it?Sanctioning 5 banks and 3 oligarchs suggests the Government cares more about protecting Tory party donations and London’s laundromat than it does about imposing meaningful sanctions against Moscow”. Labour’s Chris Bryant was also unimpressed.

“Johnson’s statement on Ukraine seems remarkably thin. Just three people and some banks to be sanctioned … The government sanctions announced today are just picking off the minnows while leaving the sharks to swim freely”. And then he caught Bozo fibbing: “The PM told the House that Roman Abramovich has already been sanctioned. He hasn’t. It’s untrue”. Roman Abramovich. That’s an interesting name.

Jessica Elgot of the Guardian concentrated on Tory dismay: “Tory MPs scratching their heads today at how UK went from being hardliner on Ukraine to having the some of the weakest sanctions to announce today, when reverse has been true of Germany. Something not quite lining up”. Paul Waugh of the i Paper was on the same page.

“I'm confused again about govt's position. MPs asked [Boris Johnson] y’day if further sanctions needed fresh trigger of Putin invasion. Cleverly seemd to say no. Now [Liz Truss]: ‘We are very clear there’s a further list of oligarchs’ to be imposed *’in the event of a full invasion’*”. LBC host James O’Brien, meanwhile, had it figured out.

“In ‘sanctioning’ three oligarchs who don’t live here & five relatively unimportant banks, Johnson has given more deserving targets time to get their loot out of town”. And Otto English touched on Bozo’s reluctance: “Might be a good moment for Lord Lebedev to make a second appearance in the Lords. Few peers can be as knowledgeable about Putin and the role of Russian oligarchs in Britain. Sure his contributions would be welcomed”.

Don’t mention Perugia or John Sweeney, then. And Kevin Maguire of the Mirror showed how the Tory Party itself is compromised: “‘Nothing is off the table’ said Liz Truss. The Conservative Party returning Russian-linked money is off the table. The Foreign Secretary’s just said they’re keeping the cash”. Meanwhile, the EU actually took action.

Yesterday evening, Samuel Ramani told “The EU will impose travel bans and asset freezes on all members of the Russian State Duma”. All of them. No ifs, no buts.

Evening all

Seems like the odd Russian bung may have caused Bozo to hesitate. Or perhaps that should have read the odd Russian bunga bunga. Our Prime Minister is compromised.

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