Extract from Commons debate on National Security and Russia - Mar 26
Tuesday, 27 March 2018 07:41
Bambos Charalambous (Enfield, Southgate) (Lab):...While some
Government Members have unwisely chosen to use high-octane rhetoric
to attack Russia following the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats,
we should note that there are significant UK business interests in
Russia. According to the Office for National Statistics’ “UK
Balance of Payments, The Pink Book: 2017”, the UK exported £5.339
billion-worth of goods and services to Russia in 2016, including
those of top law firms and numerous...Request free trial
(Enfield, Southgate)
(Lab):...While some Government Members have unwisely
chosen to use high-octane rhetoric to attack Russia following the
expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats, we should note that there are
significant UK business interests in Russia. According to the
Office for National Statistics’ “UK Balance of Payments, The Pink
Book: 2017”, the UK exported £5.339 billion-worth of goods and
services to Russia in 2016, including those of top law firms and
numerous multinationals, such as BP, Shell, BAT and Unilever. There are also a
number of British-based funds with significant investments in
Russian assets. Many of the UK’s allies also have close business
interests with Russia. For example, trade between Russia and
Germany continues apace and, despite EU sanctions regarding Crimea,
Germany sold €19.7 billion-worth of goods to Russia last year
alone. Germany also relies on Russia for 40% of its gas. US
President Donald Trump has had well-documented links to various
property investment possibilities since the mid-1990s, and when his
former Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, was chief executive of
ExxonMobil, he was awarded Russia’s Order of Friendship by
President Putin in 2013. With that in mind, it is clear that any
international response to Russia will be limited to strong words
and diplomatic measures, such as the expulsion of Russian
diplomats. What is missing is a financial response...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
|
