Estonia: Parliament of Estonia (Riigikogu) – Statement of Riigikogu – On condemning the annexation of the territory of Ukraine and declaring Russian regime a terrorist regime (18.10.2022)

Opinion: Mordaunt couldn’t save Truss…

The Prime Minister is not under a desk, as the hon. Lady suggests. I can assure the House that, with regret, she is not here for a very good reason. Neither has she taken this decision to win the hon. Lady’s gratitude; she has done it out of a sense of duty, because she knows what is in the national interest” – Penny Mordaunt (17.10.2022).

Another shocker in the short time-span of the reign of Prime Minister Liz Truss. She suddenly without a forewarning, appointed or gave the reigns in the House of Commons to Penny Mordaunt MP to answer the Urgent Questions after appointing Jeremy Hunt to be the Chancellor on Friday. Therefore, it wasn’t a great sign to see some other Tories MP answer in her stead. That’s just a bad choice and not reflecting trust in her leadership.

Penny Mordaunt was a total hack in the House of Commons. Not that this is shocking, but her retort to Keir Stramer sounds of desperation and not of a sound reflection. However, we know the Tories these days don’t have the time or the ability to plan ahead. The Tories are steady lightening up fires and hoping someone gives them credit for putting it down. They were the ones with the gasoline and lit the place up. After the fact, they want credit for stopping. When they were the ones who did it in the first place. That’s the magic of the Tories lately and after 12 years in power too.

That’s why the arrogance of Mordaunt is really tragic-comical.

Read these quotes from the Hansard today:

In terms of the Opposition’s performance, I think Larry the cat would give them a run for their money” (Mordaunt, 17.10.2022).

I know that the Chancellor wants to work with all Members of this House in the interests of all our constituents. I hope that there will also be opportunities to talk about our record in government and how we have transformed this country for the better since 2010” (Mordaunt, 17.10.2022).

First, I fully appreciate the optics of my appearing at the Dispatch Box, but there is a very genuine reason why the Prime Minister is not here. I understand that people will wish to make political hay out of it. She would wish to be here, but she is unable to be here at the moment. The Chancellor will be along shortly to answer these questions” (Mordaunt, 17.10.2022).

We know the running excuse was the Prime Minister was busy meeting with Sir Graham Brady MP, the leader of the 1922 Committee. However, he was parts of the Urgent Questions and only left closer to 16:00 when the PM actually arrived at the Parliament. So, the lie is that the PM was elsewhere and not busy with the Urgent Questions ahead of the new Chancellors statement on Financial Policies.

Certainly this should have run better and been more welcoming. It is really rare that the PM is avoiding the Urgent Questions. That just shows that she don’t have the possible answers and used the 1922 Committee as an excuse. Especially when there is pictures of Sir Graham Brady MP taking part of the proceedings earlier today.

Prime Minister Truss maybe had something important to do or of National Interests. However, shouldn’t she defend her actions and her new Chancellor today?

That seems like the perfect thing to do. Also, supporting Hunt who was just appointed before the weekend. We cannot expect much from him… when his boss doesn’t even show up to answer questions and comes with reasons to trust him. Truss is failing the nation and cannot even stand up for her choices. She can just burn things and pin blame on others. Being inept and irresponsible at it.

The excuse for why she didn’t show has been debunked as well. So, we can wonder why she skipped the Urgent Questions and if she wasn’t mentally prepared for it. That’s really a disappointing action from her part. As the PM she should have been there and answered it directly.

Mordaunt MP shouldn’t have done this, but she did it out of loyalty. The MP didn’t win many hearts. The Tories themselves will say she did a good job, but she only did the bare minimum and was arrogant towards the opposition. That’s not shocking, but the Tories are the ones that are burning down the place. They cannot point fingers elsewhere. Not as long as they are creating the problems and not able to create stability. The latest actions of Truss doesn’t make it seem likely that they will change it.

Rather this sort of U-Turn and wicked ways will continue. The persistence of uncertainty and lack of “who is in-charge” … PM Truss is actually able to be worse than Boris Johnson. Know that the bar was really low and she shattered it. That’s a compelling level of epic failure on her part. Mordaunt MP could salvage that or the questions either.

The only thing she has given us is a few funny quotes, but not helped the current situation the slightest. Peace.

United Kingdom: Angela Rayner MP letter to Prime Minister Liz Truss (16.10.2022)

United Kingdom: Dr. Jamie Wallis MP letter to Prime Minister Liz Truss (16.10.2022)

Opinion: Borrell preaches European Exceptionalism…

Oh gosh… this is going to be brutal… that a grown man said this and didn’t think better about his analogy is obvious. The Josep Borrell is the Vice-President in charge of coordinating the external action of the European Union. This is a role his had since December 2019 and his a seasoned Spanish politician.

So, in the mission letter it was even stated this:

Cooperating and working with others is what our Union is all about. We believe in multilateralism because it works. It makes us safer, more prosperous and better able to make the most of the major transitions of our times. This is why Europe will always lead the way when it comes to upholding and, where necessary, updating the rules based global order.” (Mission letter, 01.12.2019).

Certainly, Borrell haven’t taken the multilateralism to heart, which can be defined as: “Multilateralism is often defined in opposition to bilateralism and unilateralism. Strictly speaking, it indicates a form of cooperation between at least three States. Nevertheless, this “quantitative” definition is not sufficient to capture the nature of multilateralism. Indeed, it is not simply a practice or a question of the number of actors involved. It involves adherence to a common political project based on the respect of a shared system of norms and values. In particular, multilateralism is based on founding principles such as consultation, inclusion and solidarity. Its operation is determined by collectively developed rules that ensure sustainable and effective cooperation. In particular, they guarantee all actors the same rights and obligations by applying themselves continuously (and not on a case-by-case basis, depending on the issue handled)” (https://multilateralism100.unog.ch/about, 2020).

So with that in mind, we just have to read the regressive and partly astonishing speech from Borrell, which he should have considered never to say or even speak at a function. This is just pure European Exceptionalism. There is no denying in that and his mission is to believe in multilateralism, which is a stark contrast to that.

Here we go:

Here, Bruges is a good example of the European garden. Yes, Europe is a garden. We have built a garden. Everything works. It is the best combination of political freedom, economic prosperity and social cohesion that the humankind has been able to build – the three things together. And here, Bruges is maybe a good representation of beautiful things, intellectual life, wellbeing. The rest of the world – and you know this very well, Federica – is not exactly a garden. Most of the rest of the world is a jungle, and the jungle could invade the garden. The gardeners should take care of it, but they will not protect the garden by building walls. A nice small garden surrounded by high walls in order to prevent the jungle from coming in is not going to be a solution. Because the jungle has a strong growth capacity, and the wall will never be high enough in order to protect the garden. The gardeners have to go to the jungle. Europeans have to be much more engaged with the rest of the world. Otherwise, the rest of the world will invade us, by different ways and means. Yes, this is my most important message: we have to be much more engaged with the rest of the world. We are privileged people. We built a combination of these three things – political freedom, economic prosperity, social cohesion – and we cannot pretend to survive as an exception. It has to be a way of supporting the others facing the big challenges of our time” – Joseph Borrell (European Diplomatic Academy: Opening remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell at the inauguration of the pilot programme, 13.10.2022).

He clearly didn’t get the memo or in the hour of need had to make an analogy that is just infuriating and insulting. The sort of tenacity and hubris. His a supposed diplomat, who has a mission that is deemed into multilateralism. This speech is the opposite and is pure European Exceptionalism. It is disrespectful for the rest of world. In addition to the mentioned paragraph earlier in the Mission letter, I just feel like adding this as well:

To be a global leader, the Union needs to take decisions in a faster and more efficient way. We must overcome unanimity constraints that hamper our foreign policy. When putting forward proposals, you should seek to use the clauses in the Treaties that allow certain decisions on the common foreign and security policy to be adopted by qualified majority voting” (Mission Letter, 01.12.2019).

He was told to “overcome unanimity constraints that hamper our foreign policy” which this sort of speech isn’t doing. This speech is causing harm and showing an arrogance, which will not be welcomed in the “global south” or outside the continent. The ideals and the analogy is only showing a sentiment, which could resemble the reasoning for colonization in the past. Because, we in Europe are the best and we should be afraid of the ones outside the European continent. That’s deeply disrespectful and could be mentioned as racist.

Because, this is like the biblical “Garden of Eden” and someone coming in to destroy it. That’s not a good look and the European Union diplomat should reconsider his stance. This is not the story he wants to be on his name. Especially, if his supposed to follow the Mission Letter that was written to him in the first place. The European Commission should be shell-shocked by this, because this is doing them no good.

Borrell should consider himself here. It has been causing a stir online and rightfully so. It is distasteful and I thought European Union had come further. This is backtracking and into territories, which the EU don’t want to associated with. Peace.

Opinion: Truss is Hunt(ing) for stability…

I want to deliver a low tax, high wage, high growth economy. It’s what I was elected by my party to do. That mission remains” – Prime Minister Liz Truss (14.10.2022)

Today the Prime Minister sacked her Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and replaced him with Jeremy Hunt. If you think things will be smoother from now on. Well, I hate to tell you, but things are not getting turned around that quickly.

This U-Turn doesn’t change the financial forecasts or the distress that the financial markets has had of late. We are hearing talks of low tax and “growth” from the Prime Minister. That means Truss isn’t over the biscotti “mini-budget” that broke the financial markets … which has destroyed the gilt and the mortgage market.

Now Chancellor Hunt has to change things, but just reading here statement from the Press Conference today. She seems fixed to continue where Kwarteng left off.

Just read here:

We owe it to the next generation to improve our economic performance to deliver higher wages, new jobs and better public services, and to ease the burden of debt. I have acted decisively today because my priority is ensuring our country’s economic stability. As Prime Minister, I will always act in the national interest. This is always my first consideration. I want to be honest, this is difficult. But we will get through this storm. And we will deliver the strong and sustained growth that can transform the prosperity of our country for generations to come” (Truss, 14.10.2022).

Truss can say all the words she wants, but they are meaningless when there is no sincere action. The financial markets needs stability and well rounded choices of policy. The latest moves has created more hectic mess, which is adding costs on the citizens and their lives. It isn’t like the Prime Minister and her previous Chancellor has done due diligence.

Prime Minister Truss really needs to re-consider her ways. The sacking now of Kwarteng seems more like hackwork. Only done to appease, but her Press Conference only shows her true intentions. The “mini-budget” is in her mind and spirit. Why else speak of “lower taxes”?

When you are firing someone over the tax-cuts for the wealthy and big-businesses. That is the reason for the distress and issues in the first place. It is clear that Truss haven’t learned anything or seen the ramifications of the recent actions.

You would think the actions of Bank of England was the warning sign that got the duo to act sooner. However, they just thought it was within it’s right and not a red flag. That’s why Truss should have done more and been more concerned. Nevertheless, that wasn’t her vibe and this is why she has waited this long…

Hunt has a mountain to climb to fix the mortgages, gilts, pensions and the building confidence in the Pound Stirling. The cost of living crisis is just growing and Truss own government haven’t made this any better.

Crikey… I wouldn’t like to be in Hunt’s shoes right now. No matter where he steps there will be crocodiles or pirates to capture him. There is very few steps that can keep on land and in safety. However, if he continues to raise the sails and try to go fast. We will most likely see further damage to the economy. Peace.

Opinion: Kwateng was forced to fall on the sword…

On the 6th September 2022, Kwasi Kwarteng MP was appointed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and he only lasted until the 14th October 2022. He only lasted 1 month and 8 days or 38 days. While his predecessor Nadhim Zahawi MP lasted only 63 days from July to September 2022. So, in the recent time it’s not an office to hold onto.

What is striking is how horrific the policies, the tax-management and the whole fiscal policy has been in this short of time. Kwarteng has been able to destroy all confidence in certain markets. His sort of financial instruments and planned efforts to create “growth” only have caused more harm. There is a certain uncertainty and instability of his efforts. In such a manner that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had to come out with a stern warning, which haven’t been common in regard to the Chancellor or His Majesties Government in London.

Kwarteng MP has been able to destroy the confidence in the gilt market, mortgage market and devalue the pound. He only needed a month to do all of this. That’s because of the fancy biscotti’s served to hedge-fund managers and the richest elite. The promises of lenient taxes… and other favours for the ones who has vast pockets. While he had to scrap, dismantle and create more austerity measures for the poorest in the nation. That was the plan of creating “growth” and was the solution, which he had signalled out.

The Prime Minister Truss has sacked him after only 38 days in the office. Nevertheless, she is not without a fault here. She stood by him and trusted his judgment. They both have defended and been vocal for it. It isn’t like Kwarteng was alone doing this. Yes, maybe he held some factors and didn’t have huge conference on every matter. However, Kwarteng was supported and ignited by Truss. If not.. she wouldn’t have spoken like she did at the Conservative Party Conference on the 5th October 2022.

It is only a mere week ago and not ancient news. Though the Bank of England has come in to save the financial markets. That is only necessary, because of the faulty and lack of trust in the process. The lack of confidence and the general of feeling won’t be anything better soon. It isn’t like the Prime Minister will create a better atmosphere or change the narrative in a significant way. Her ways isn’t like that and the inept cronyism of the Tories are self-deprecating right now.

Kwarteng is a victim of his own actions. No one should feel sorry for the man. Neither should anybody feel sorrow for the headache and issues internally for the Tories either. It is all self created and the citizens are paying the price. The Tories are accepting the higher prices, the costs of living is spiralling out and the “mini-budget” is the latest biscotti that caused havoc.

Truss will not give way or change in away possible. That’s not happening… Kwarteng MP was forced to jump on the sword, but he did it all to himself. It’s not like he couldn’t have changed sooner and only seen after the first weekend after the revelation. He could have smelled the fire and know there was trouble. However, Kwarteng decided to be bold and he lost everything doing so. Peace.

United Kingdom: Kwasi Kwarteng MP resignation letter to Prime Minister Liz Truss (14.10.2022)

Opinion: PM Truss isn’t oozing confidence

What our Budget has delivered is security for families for the next two winters. It has made sure we will see higher economic growth, lower inflation and more opportunities. The way we are going to get our country growing is through more jobs, more growth and more opportunities, not through higher taxes, higher spending and his friends in the unions stopping hard-working people getting to work” – Prime Minister Liz Truss (12.10.2022).

Today’s Prime Minister Questions in the House of Commons has truly exposed Prime Minister Liz Truss. If your reading the Hansard alone… you know things aren’t going smooth. Prime Minister Truss wasn’t answering questions with credibility. The short amount of time her reign has been and this PMQ only proves how inept she is.

This is really striking as she was taking over for the corrupt and incompetent Boris Johnson. It should be easy to be better and start to deliver campaign promises of 2019. However, Liz Truss cannot do that and only can go rogue.

It is clear that Keir Stramer and Ian Blackford is exposing her lack of responsibility. They must be giddy that she’s the current PM. Truss is answering Blackford about lack of building nuclear power plants, when Blackford was raising the bar about rising prices on mortgages. That just shows how inept she is and thinks she can bamboozle everyone.

The Prime Minister should reconsider the “mini-budget” or the biscotti, but she doesn’t seem concerned about the consequences in the gilt market. Neither the rising mortgages or the costs of living in general. People are getting saved by a thread by the energy prices, but destroyed by inflation and rising mortgages prices. If not they companies or funds securing their pensions are crashing. So, the PM should have had some cleverness and ability to answer for her choices.

The PM is still instead saying stuff like this: “We in the Conservative party understand who pays our wages—it is the people who get up every day to go to work and the businesses that are set up. Those are the people driving our economy and we will be unashamedly pro-growth, pro-business and pro-opportunity” (Truss, 12.10.2022).

She isn’t helping herself or her cause. If she is afraid of internal squabble or dagger in the 1922 Committee. The PM hasn’t been her long and she’s not creating any sort of stability. Neither is there any promise in her words. This is burning down the shop and hoping nobody is noticing the dumpster-fire. That’s how she’s acting and it’s not a good look…

This PMQ was brutal. I have seen plenty and read lots of Hansards over the years. This was just a waste and Truss seems out of order.

It doesn’t help with this final quote either: “I think the last thing we need is a general election” (Truss, 12.10.2022).

Nothing gives her an edge and neither is there any promise. It is just utterly disgraceful. As the PM she should stand up and be responsible. Instead, she is trying to overshadow her own actions and what her chancellor has done. It has all backfired… and Truss cannot even stand tall and face the music.

Truss just wants the dance, but don’t know what to do when the music stops. Peace.

Opinion: Medvedev is getting his wish [and his threats will not get him anywhere]

The fastest way to escalate the conflict in Ukraine to the point of irreversible world war is to supply the loonies in Kiev with long-range MLRS” – Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev (11.10.2022).

Since the Russian-Belorussian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. There been plenty of times the Russians has come with threats, possibly escalations and promised to worsen the conflict. They are the ones that issued the war. Russians are the ones that invaded a sovereign, annexed territories and are the brutal invader in Ukraine. It isn’t like other nations has sent soldiers or become allies of Ukraine. That is what Russia has done with Belarus and wished the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) would do. However, this war in Ukraine has unmasked the lack of protocol, the will or the structure of CSTO.

That’s why Kremlin, State Duma and the likes of Medvedev has to come with such words. As NATO Secretary General had a press conference today. He had to address it and insult not only the leaders of Kyiv. We know the Russian leadership wanted to overthrow and get Kremlin friendly leaders there. That’s why they wanted to invade in the first place. It wasn’t just to “liberate” Donbass regions after annexing Crimea in 2014. No, we know President Putin didn’t respect or believe Ukraine even had proper statehood. So, it was within his right to destroy, deplete and overthrow whatever leadership there was in Kyiv. Therefore, it isn’t shocking that Putin’s ally calling Zelensky and his associates “loonies” because they cannot phantom or stomach someone who has spine or can stand up to Kremlin.

It is just really interesting that the same time Medvedev is saying this about MLRS, the NATO Secretary General is speaking of the supply of NASAMS, which is a MLRS system. It means the NATO isn’t afraid of the “escalation” because they have weighed the outcome and the progression of the war. However, Russia has massacred, hit civilian targets and done serious war-crimes. That’s why Russians should speak of escalations. They have already breached the Geneva Convention on a regular basis since February 2022.

Just over the last days we have had two new announcements from NATO Allies – from Germany and United States – to provide more advanced air defence systems. The Germans announced it yesterday, and we welcome of course that. And United States has announced further delivery and we know also that they have announced that they’re also ready to provide and deliver NASAMS, which are actually one of the many advanced systems that Ukraine has received over the last months. And again, we need more and we need also more ammunition to these systems and I welcome that Allies are doing that. These air defence systems are making a difference because many of the incoming missiles were actually shot down by the Ukrainian air defence systems provided by NATO Allies. But of course, as long as not all of them are shot down, of course there is a need for more. And therefore we are going to address at the meeting this week, tomorrow, with Defence Minister Reznikov how, what type, and how can we ensure not only the delivery of the systems as soon as possible, but also training, spare parts and ammunition to their air defence capabilities” – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (11.10.2022).

It is just really striking that Medvedev is saying this and NATO is confirming that they are coming with these weapons. The MLRS or the NASAMS is coming to Ukraine. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are getting these long range missiles systems to defend itself. After seeing how the Russians are bombing across the Ukraine. That can help the defence and stop further missiles or drones from damaging vital infrastructure, electric lines or whatnot. Which has been the targets of Russian Army of late. Therefore, Medvedev would just prefer a total blackout and destruction of Ukrainian society. That we know was the will of his President. He is just a noble servant that way.

Europe and NATO is certainly not afraid or reluctant to help Ukraine any longer. They are actually prepared to offer proper weaponry and the ones that is fitting for the needs. The European and NATO allies are supporting Kyiv with heavy weaponry. That is long time coming and needed too. This is why Medvedev is crying wolf and havoc. We could see it coming a mile away. The battles on the ground isn’t going in Kremlin’s or Duma’s way. Neither can Putin be happy either. He must here the results and the losses. It must hurt the pride of Russia.

However, Russia invaded a sovereign and they deserve to lose their pride. They have violated, destroyed and massacred civilians to prove a point. That’s why European nations and NATO has continue to support Ukraine. The war isn’t over and Russia is still invading Ukraine. Russians are still imposing itself in Ukraine. As long as that is happening the Republic of Ukraine needs aide and military assistance. It has to continue as long as it takes. Secondly, it is all up to Russia to cease operations and warfare in Ukraine. They can just retreat tomorrow, but we know they will not do so. Peace.