SEND A GUN BOAT? AH, YES, SORRY, OK, SEND A …TELEGRAM?

Jeff Dugdale‏ @Jefforbited

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The question is – if The Russians did perpetrate that nerve agent poisoning to kill one former agent – how did they think they’d get away with it. If they didn’t care through arrogance what can May possibly do that might impress them?

Jeff Dugdale raises a good point here.

Let’s be honest, we don’t know who poisoned the ex-double agent and his daughter, and we can’t trust anything that comes out of Whitehall, Westminster, the BBC or the Tory Press. (After all, a few months ago we held all the cards with the EU, and now they are bullying us. How can you bully someone who holds all the cards?) 

Will we ever know the truth? And would we know it was the truth when we heard it?

But let’s suppose for a minute that it was Russia and that it was done with President Putin’s knowledge. What can May do?

I remember a few years ago when Russia invaded and took Crimea, that David Cameron announced that he was going to be speaking to Mr Putin on the phone and that he would make Britain’s points very strongly.

How we laughed.

“Now look here Vladimir, old chap. I say, this really isn’t cricket you know. You just can’t bally well do this sort of thing. What have you got to say to that, old chap?”

Vlad must have been shaking in his shoes for sure! Or maybe that’s just the way he dances.

It’s not unreasonable to suppose that during the Crimea crisis, President Obama would have spoken to Putin. It is possible, although less likely, that President Xi may also have had a word. Both of these conversations might have given him pause for thought … because the USA and China count.

Frankly, despite Cameron’s proud claim that “we punch above our weight” the UK does not count in that way. Everyone knows that it wouldn’t do anything without permission from the USA. So worry about what the USA thinks and disregard the Brits or indeed the French, who are in almost (but not quite) the same powerless position.

Perhaps if all the countries of the EU/EEA withdrew from Russia’s world cup (leaving Russia and Serbia) it might have an effect, or if countries all around the world stood in solidarity with Britain the whole world cup thing would end in humiliation for them.

• 

  Belgium
• 

  Croatia
• 

  Denmark
• 

  England
• 

  France
• 

  Germany
• 

  Iceland
• 

  Poland
• 

  Portugal

• 

  Serbia
• 

  Spain
• 

  Sweden
• 

  Switzerland

But England withdrawing of its own accord would be a smaller blow from which the tournament would easily recover. And you have to ask if it would also be fair to the fans and the players with their tickets bought and flights booked and paid for.

If this is state-sponsored terrorism, it’s extremely serious. Not just for Skripal and his daughter, but for the police and emergency services and the potentially tens of thousands of locals who received safety advice a week after the event. (Thanks Amber Rudd.)

Is that an act of war? If so some action is required.

But having said that, May’s best mates are Erdogan, Netanyahu, Trump, Mohammad bin Salman and their likes.  Has Mrs May any moral ground to cling to?

So what should… or rather CAN… Mrs May do? Anyone want to advise her?

… Oh, and “resign” is too obvious.

 Here’s my suggestion. Send Fluffy as her majesty’s emmisary! He’ll show them.