Ukraine Invasion: Part 28

[MagicFox]

Thread 28 begins, thanks all for the company and resources

He’s likely to stay on until a leadership race is completed. There are likely to be many hats in the ring but that could take weeks, at what is a crucial time for Ukraine.

Not the best time for this really, is it?

Very interesting article: "Putin sacks top priest over Ukraine"

cepa.org/putin-sacks-top-priest-over-ukraine-war/

I wouldn't bet on Johnson staying as caretaker pm.

The manner in which he has handled this and the fact that we are still waiting for the resignation statement, suggests to me that there is an argument going on over whether Johnson will be allowed to stay temporarily.

Well I bet Putin is laughing his socks off at Boris resigning

Interesting thread from @mdmitri91, all:

"If you would like to know the view of Russian commentators on the crisis within the British Government, see this opinion shared by Andrey Medvedev (100k telegram followers) full of conspiracy and projections. I guarantee most Russians think this way."

twitter.com/mdmitri91/status/1544967885361233920?s=21&t=_3L6WGkmGQcqeXbnyw3X2Q

What do we think the chances of Ben Wallace replacing are?

I would like that, though he's very much needed in the defence position

He has his eyes on the top NATO job from what I hear. Penny Mordaunt or Rishi Sunak are the favourites.

Ben Wallace will either become PM or will remain Defence Minister.

I'm pretty confident on this. I think its perhaps one of the few absolute certainities that remain. You'd have to be nuts to move him. He's done an amazing job and clearly is very committed to the job.

I guess it depends on his ambition and the support he might have.

It makes zero sense to move him, even with trying to install your own allies in the cabinet if you become PM.

If Wallace is prepared to stay under the circumstances I think he will put that before a dislike of different PM too.

And if thats the case, why would he resign?

"Well I bet Putin is laughing his socks off at Boris resigning"

He will be laughing the other side of his face if Ben Wallace replaces him 😬

What a choice. The only one I've heard good things about is Ben Wallace, maybe he should be PM

Current YouGov polling: Wallace clear favourite

We need a Wallace. Ukraine needs a Wallace.

Truss is 8/1 - she'd be a car crash. And don't get me started on Patel or Raab.

Truss, can you imagine?! Please not Truss, Patel or Raab

and Gromit as well !

You know what it means dont you, redecorating No,10 again.

@MagicFox · Today 10:23
Interesting thread from @mdmitri91, all:

"If you would like to know the view of Russian commentators on the crisis within the British Government, see this opinion shared by Andrey Medvedev (100k telegram followers) full of conspiracy and projections. I guarantee most Russians think this way."

twitter.com/mdmitri91/status/1544967885361233920?s=21&t=_3L6WGkmGQcqeXbnyw3X2Q

Isn’t it odd that they see it as being that Johnson was drummed out by the aristocracy and establishment for doing something wrong, probably re business ‘Ukraine’?

It is all so much more mundane than a conspiracy of this nature. It has come to this basically and simply, in the end, just because he has lied one too many times, and as a country we know that is not what we want to stand for.

Of course there are other important reasons why people may want him to go but the question of trust and honour is at the heart of them I think.

Watching BBC live now, the lectern is in position so he's about to make his speech

@MagicFox · Today 09:53
Very interesting article: "Putin sacks top priest over Ukraine"

cepa.org/putin-sacks-top-priest-over-ukraine-war/

That is very interesting, thank you. What a talented person he evidently is. An epitome of Russia’s finest you’d think, and it certainly reflects badly on Putin.

Lots of Ukrainians worried on Twitter about BJ and them losing UK support. Lots of Brits giving reassurance, of course, and letting them know it's Ben Wallace who has been the driving force and he isn't going anywhere.

Wallace is currently leading in the polls too and loads tweeting him asking him to throw his hat in the ring!

"The military historian Antony Beevor joins Serhii Plokhy, professor of Ukrainian history at Harvard, on Spectator TV this week to talk about the war in Ukraine. This is an edited transcript of their discussion."

www.spectator.co.uk/article/putin-may-be-prepared-to-go-to-the-limits-antony-beevor-and-serhii-plokhy-in-conversation

It concerns me that some polls have Raab, Sunak and Truss as the most likely candidates due to popularity within the party.

Truss - need I say more
Sunak - will he be as loose with the purse strings in his support for Ukraine as we've seen?
Raab - eurgh

We must be mindful it's all now about who is popular within the party, not who the people want (so polls are only so helpful).