Editorial Donald Trump has little use for NATO, and even less for Europe’s political leaders. He is openly hostile toward European leaders, many of whom—almost without exception—did what they could to prevent his election as President. During his campaign, Trump made ending the war in Ukraine a central objective. European leaders, in contrast, have elevated … Continue reading Davos – You’re All Fired
Ukraine
Targeting the Russian “Shadow Fleet” in the Channel
by Eamon Dyas The use of the English Channel by foreign vessels could become a difficult one for Russian vessels. The Channel does not consist of international waters through its entire length. Such waters cease at the Dover Strait where the 12 mile territorial waters of the U.K. and France embraces its entire width. While … Continue reading Targeting the Russian “Shadow Fleet” in the Channel
Arbitrary Rules Sanction Jacques Baud
If people haven’t noticed a tendency to shut down voices that challenge the official narrative whether it be on the situation in Gaza or Ukraine they must be hiding under the sheets. Whether you agree with these voices or not it’s surely a condition of a healthy public discourse that such voices are allowed to … Continue reading Arbitrary Rules Sanction Jacques Baud
The Russian Art of War, How the West led Ukraine to Defeat
The Russian Art of War, How the West led Ukraine to Defeat by Jacques Baud Published by Max Milo, 2024 John Clayden [On the occasion of the sanctions on Jacques Baud, we reproduce John Clayden’s review (May 2024) of Baud’s book, the Russian Art of War.]This book is both a useful synopsis of Russia's Ukrainian … Continue reading The Russian Art of War, How the West led Ukraine to Defeat
Nathan Gill—Victim of Double Standards
Dave Gardner Recently, an ex MEP ex Reform member, Nathan Gill, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the crime of taking a bribe and acting improperly on that basis. He pleaded guilty thus avoiding a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment. In this issue of ‘Labour Affairs’ we reprint two of the speeches that … Continue reading Nathan Gill—Victim of Double Standards
Letters
Ukraine frenzy in Parliament Hoping to hear details of the budget from the Chancellor I switched on Parliamentary Questions on Wednesday the 26th of November. What I heard instead was an orgy of Russophobia, with MPs of all parties lambasting the ‘aggression’ of the Russian state, or as Edward Leigh MP called it, ‘the Bear’. … Continue reading Letters
Double Standards of British justice—the Case of Nathan Gill
Catherine Dunlop Nathan Gill (the former MEP accused of accepting bribes to 'read out Russian scripted speeches') is sentenced to 10 ½ years in prison Extracts from the Judge summing up. Why did Gill plead guilty ? There is a 25 % automatic reduction in sentencing if you plead guilty. His sentence was to be 14 years, … Continue reading Double Standards of British justice—the Case of Nathan Gill
The speeches of Nathan Gill
We were led to believe that Nathan Gill made ‘pro-Moscow’ speeches. It turns out that he made contributions to debates, around the closure of two independent Ukrainian TV stations that presented the case for good relations with Russia. In Britain we don’t really have a concept of an independent TV station broadcasting against government policy, as none … Continue reading The speeches of Nathan Gill
Should Europe Rearm?
Recent Letter and Speech on the War in Ukraine. Lord Robert Skidelsky Note: I’m posting two items today. The first is a letter I co-signed with others, which was submitted to The Guardian on the 15th of November. This was in response to an article on the same day by Pjotr Sauer and Shaun Walker attacking Russia’s anglophobia. … Continue reading Should Europe Rearm?
Corruption in Ukraine in 2021
Mick Murray writes: "The past is a different country" ? Not in the case of Ukraine. This is a story from the Guardian, from only 4 years' ago, which reported: “EU auditors warned last month that “grand corruption and state capture” remained widespread in Ukraine.” And went on to describe the scope of the corruption … Continue reading Corruption in Ukraine in 2021
A Voice for Peace at the French Senate
This French senator is not as good as Robert Skidelsky, whose speech for peace in Ukraine we printed last month. Nevertheless a Communist Party senator manages not to call for more military spending, but instead to ask for capping of military profits. We don't wage war to get rid of war Jeremy Bacchi, Communist Party senator. … Continue reading A Voice for Peace at the French Senate
Lord Skidelsky’s speech in the House of Lords on Ukraine
31 October 2025 [Lord Skidelsky was allowed five minutes] My Lords, I do not know whether it is a punishment or a privilege to be put last in the list of Back-Bench speakers, as I invariably am when it comes to a debate on Ukraine. The noble Lord, Lord Coaker, was powerful and eloquent in … Continue reading Lord Skidelsky’s speech in the House of Lords on Ukraine
Targeting Russia’s “Shadow Fleet”
Why the targeting of Russia’s so-called “Shadow Fleet” represents a most dangerous escalation of NATO’s proxy war on Russia. By Eamon Dyas There are many ways in which a country’s sea-borne trade can be curtailed by an enemy. The most obvious one is the use of a close naval blockade which restricts all shipping to … Continue reading Targeting Russia’s “Shadow Fleet”
EU Interference in Ukraine War
Eamon Dyas If Zelensky does go through the pretence of talks with Russia it won’t be in good faith. There will be proposals - as there always have been from Kiev - that everyone knows will not be acceptable to Russia. As far as I see it nobody, including Trump, Russia and the European war … Continue reading EU Interference in Ukraine War
British Foreign Policy : the Domination of Europe
Labour Affairs Group Why is Jonathan Powell attending peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine? Moscow has barred Western European leaders from participating in the negotiations, accusing them of a biased approach to the conflict and trying to prolong the fighting. Nevertheless, the UK is reportedly sending Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s security adviser, Jonathan Powell, to … Continue reading British Foreign Policy : the Domination of Europe
Review of A Misfit in Moscow: How British Diplomacy in Russia Failed 2014-2019, by Ian Proud, self-published, 2023.
By Eamon Dyas The author was a member of the United Kingdom Diplomatic Service between 1999 and 2023. In that capacity he was responsible for the organisation behind the 2013 G8 Summit which took place in Northern Ireland and which was the last occasion Vladimir Putin visited the United Kingdom. Having applied to work at … Continue reading Review of A Misfit in Moscow: How British Diplomacy in Russia Failed 2014-2019, by Ian Proud, self-published, 2023.
Peace or Primacy—Editorial 2
There is nothing in the recent history of the US to suggest that it would ever choose peace over primacy. After the dissolution of the USSR in 1989, the US saw an opportunity for advancing its primacy in the world. It took it and, in Europe, began expanding NATO’s borders eastwards towards Russia, despite having agreed not … Continue reading Peace or Primacy—Editorial 2
Why Ukraine has Failed as a Multinational State
By Eamon Dyas Modern Ukraine emerged as an independent state from the most multi-national state in history – the Soviet Union. When it did emerge from the Soviet Union, Ukraine itself bore the characteristics of a multinational state in the form of a presence within its borders of Russian, Hungarian, Romanian, and Cossack minorities with … Continue reading Why Ukraine has Failed as a Multinational State
Labour Affairs 