Russian interference in U.K. politics

I find it very worrying and suspect Russia has many fingers in many pies, that they shouldn’t!

Including hacking!

I’m appalled that Trump is buying his diesel from them and I hate to think what will happen next.

I’m pretty sure we all know Russia appeared to “meddle” in the US elections.

Well now he has bought the diesel I hate to say it but who knows what's behind the scenes there. 😡

We don’t just “know” it is official that Russia interfered in USA election.

With regard to the U.K. I think “follow the money” is the mantra.

Banks was always thought to be a prime suspect, with his constant visits to Moscow, funding Farage’s lavish lifestyle (remember the Chelsea house?)and so it will be proven.

Wyllow3

Well now he has bought the diesel I hate to say it but who knows what's behind the scenes there. 😡

I think that the U.K. and Europe more generally has to look very carefully at our so called alliance with the USA now.

I think that there is little doubt that Putin thinks he has Trump in his pocket, and evidence seems to confirm this.

We also knew about Reform Welsh minister convicted for taking Russian bribes over a long standing period. Clear evidence of support to promote Reform UK.

LemonJam

We also knew about Reform Welsh minister convicted for taking Russian bribes over a long standing period. Clear evidence of support to promote Reform UK.

Farage has had constant contact one way or another with Russia. Not something he exactly trumpets from the roof tops but if this was an audit the trail is clear.

Yes, follow the money.
More difficult when it is cryptocurrency.
Examine more closely the 'Think tanks' and their funding.
Johnson had a suspicious weekend abroad with some Russian party people, that was never properly explained.
Byline Times had an article recently about 'Farage's Putin Problem'.

It’s quite amusing when you view the oil debacle from a distance.
Trump starts a war with Iran.
Russia supports Iran
Trump buys oil from Russia who are supporting his enemy both financially and with technology.
Thereby, supporting his enemy 🤦🏼‍♀️

Trump is imperilling Europe and the UK by his association with Putin and his illegal war on Iran. The world is so unstable thanks to him. I no longer look at the US as an ally but an enemy, not just because of Trump, he will go eventually, but because of so many voters who caused this to happen, just proves that it could happen again.

Johnson had a suspicious weekend abroad with some Russian party people, that was never properly explained.

It was a wee bit more than just some 'Russian party people', as I'm sure we all know. It was with a 'former' KGB officer (do KGB officers ever really leave the job?) at the Italian property of the KGB officer's oligarch son, who Johnson just happened to ennoble once he became PM.

All this while Johnson was Foreign Secretary, just returning from a NATO meeting, IIRC. and ditching his security on the way Italy.

It has never looked as innocent as 'suspicious' makes it sound

And why May didn't sack him for that is a mystery

petra

It’s quite amusing when you view the oil debacle from a distance.
Trump starts a war with Iran.
Russia supports Iran
Trump buys oil from Russia who are supporting his enemy both financially and with technology.
Thereby, supporting his enemy 🤦🏼‍♀️

Thus providing more money to fund Putin's war in Ukraine as well. Trump is self-serving.

All about the dough whilst the rest of the world suffers. Bloody sick really.

I'm wondering if Putin is going to get much money from the US as part of this oil 'deal'.

It's been covered on another thread but

a) Russia is short of diesel fuel (which is the subject of the 'Deal') and particularly needs it for its military

b) Ukriane keeps destroying as many of Russia's oil refining facilities as it can.

These two factors alone make me wonder if this 'deal' is symbolic rather than practical

With regard to the mid terms

c) The quantity being talking about is minute compared with the US' level of consumption and will not be enough to cause any change in price.

d) if any is sent it is highly unlikely to arrive in the US before the mid terms.

Of course, in diplomatic and alliance terms Trump and Putin are doing irreparable damage to their friends and enemies alike...

Trump has destabilised the world and forced us all to review what we thought of as ‘the world order’. His presidency has been one of chaos and destruction from which it will be hard to recover.
The UK needs to form much stronger ties with Europe when it comes to defence and keep any future relations with the US on a civil but ‘arms length’ basis. No country can be entirely trusted as an ally but those with common interests and fears will fare better. Right now Europe satisfies that criteria, the US doesn’t.

MaizieD 13.04 - Trump's deal with Putin could be overt manipulative smoke and mirrors and both supporting each other's propaganda machines.

Trump likes to present himself as the king of the deal and the MAGA messiah at times of crisis At this moment Trump is well aware of US citizens dismay at highest ever prices at petrol pumps and looking over their shoulders at forthcoming cold weather heating bills. Viola- presents himself as a deal maker just before mid term elections. He also positioned Zelensky as the villain that is causing global oil supply chain problems by his bombing of Russian oil refineries. Trump has practiced, innate, dont have to think about it, method to his madness.

I posted this on the mid term election thread in response to why US citizens think Trump is the best thing since sliced bread. Similarities in tactics? Will US citizens be manipulated as Trump desires at mid term ballot as desired?

'Hitler was also believed to the best thing since sliced bread.

He persuaded people to follow and believe him by exploiting national trauma using powerful propaganda and presenting himself as a messiah like saviour during a time of extreme crisis

He had a minister of propaganda, Goebbles who used radio, newspapers, massive rallies and films to project a flawless image of Hitler.

People believe what they want to believe....

I don’t doubt the OP for an instant, but what form does this interference take and how can it be guarded against?

winterwhite

I don’t doubt the OP for an instant, but what form does this interference take and how can it be guarded against?

From what I have seen and read it seems to have been mainly funding and bot posting on social media.

I'm slightly puzzled that the security services are saying it now. Was it said or touched on in the Russia Report which Johnson did his very utmost to suppress? I'd like to see much more detail on this revelation..

On BlueSky this morning there were reports that Russian social media bot activity had fallen by half (or more) since Ukraine destroyed Russian Yandex data centres.

e.g:

bsky.app/profile/perevaa.bsky.social/post/3mxlm6w2wcs26

Crikey- are you expecting UK security services to publish specific detail?!

I'm satisfied SS has evidence, has disclosed to PM and the public has been aware of this Russian threat.

Now the electorate can be alert and vigilant to any foreign interference, including Russia, in all political parties and their leaders. For example by way of shady donations that breach relevant standards and irregular, inappropriate influence. This way the electorate can also play its part in reducing UK politics corruption risk along side Security Services.

Whitewavemark2

The security services has told Burnham that Russia did indeed - as many of us suspected - interfere in the Brexit debate. Something which every prime minister has chosen to suppress since 2017.

My question is - what else are they meddling with? It clearly may have serious consequences for our economy and go-political standing in the world - just as Brexit did.

Here on GN , and every other social media, I regularly see deliberate misinformation apparently aimed at undermining UK govt and dividing UK society in order to affect future elections.

Exactly. Regularly. Repeatedly. Deliberately. For some years now. Many posters use SM as a news source. Questions asked about SM source can trigger highly defensive responses. Politics has become more divisive as a result. Civil disorder has grown as a result.

We don't need any specific detail from UK Security Services to be aware of this malign, manipulative influence. The choice is ours how we respond and behave.

nanna8

All about the dough whilst the rest of the world suffers. Bloody sick really.

I completely agree.

I thought it was propoganda, fake news & particularly on Social media, setting up lots of profiles for good old Joe Bloggs or Nancy Cloggs x 1000s, spreading unfounded rumours & discontent directed against the parties that Russia wants to lose the election.

Wow! On GN as well.

Exactly valdali.

It's just now we have verified UK SS verified evidence of Russia interference in Brexit referendum in this way rather than just rumour.

Don't doubt it happens on GN also.