„Relativ spät im Spiel begannen die Ukrainer, um Rat zu fragen, wohin diese Sache führen würde, und es wurde uns, den Briten und anderen klar, dass Putins Hauptbedingung in einem Anhang zu diesem Dokument, an dem sie arbeiteten, versteckt war. Sie enthielt Beschränkungen für die genauen Arten von Waffensystemen, über die die Ukraine nach der Vereinbarung verfügen durfte, so dass die Ukraine als militärische Macht im Grunde kastriert wäre. Für Russland gab es keine ähnlichen Beschränkungen. Russland wurde nicht verpflichtet, sich zurückzuziehen. Russland wurde nicht verpflichtet, eine Pufferzone an der ukrainischen Grenze einzurichten, und es wurde nicht verlangt, dass seinem Militär, welches der Ukraine gegenüberstand, dieselben Beschränkungen auferlegt werden. Und so begannen die Menschen innerhalb und außerhalb der Ukraine zu fragen, ob dies ein guter Deal sei, und das war der Punkt, an dem er auseinanderfiel.“
Archiv: Boris Johnson
Nuland confirms West told Zelensky to abandon peace deal
“Relatively late in the game the Ukrainians began asking for advice on where this thing was going and it became clear to us, clear to the Brits, clear to others that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin‘s main condition was buried in an annex to this document that they were working on,” she said of the deal being discussed by the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Türkiye’s largest city.
The proposed agreement included limits on the kinds of weapons that Kiev could possess, as a result of which Ukraine “would basically be neutered as a military force,” while there were no similar constraints on Russia, the former diplomat explained.
“People inside Ukraine and people outside Ukraine started asking questions about whether this was a good deal and it was at that point that it fell apart,” Nuland said.
„Five Eyes“ hinter den Entschlüsselungsplänen des EU-Ministerrats
(29.11.2020)
Gemeint ist ein erster Schritt zu einer EU-weiten Regulation, die Plattformbetreiber de facto verpflichten wird, Ende-zu-Ende-Verschlüsselung mit einem Generalschlüssel auszuhebeln. Dass diese vom britischen Geheimdienst GCHQ vorgeschlagene Methode favorisiert wird, bestätigte de Kerchove ganz nebenbei in einem am Freitag von der Nachrichtenagentur AFP verbreiteten Interview. Ein frisch geleaktes Dokument des Rats dokumentiert die tiefe Involvierung der Spionageallianz „Five Eyes“ in die Entschlüsselungspläne.
(…)
Was de Kerchove, der auch die Gaming-Websites als überwachungspflichtig ins Spiel gebracht hatte, geflissentlich verschwieg, ist, wozu dies in jedem EU-Staat unweigerlich führen wird, dessen Gesetze den Geheimdiensten ein Mandat zum Anzapfen der Glasfaserleitungen zum Zwecke der „Gefahrenverhütung“ bzw. der „Nachrichtenaufklärung“ verleihen.
By-election results: Voters still ‘pissed off’ with Partygate and Truss and uninspired by Sunak, Tory MPs say
The Tories lost two seats with around 20,000 majorities in by-elections on Thursday in Selby and Ainsty, to Labour, and Somerton and Frome, to the Lib Dems, while narrowly holding on to Boris Johnson’s old Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat amid a challenge from Labour.
Tory Party chairman Greg Hands claimed the 495-vote victory in Uxbridge was the “standout result” while Mr Sunak insisted the next general election was not a “done deal” despite the loss of two safe seats.
Boris Johnson irrevocably corrupted the Tories – now, they’re rotten to the core
Not all politicians are the same, I know that, but enough of the current crop are to make many turn away from politics forever. The Johnson debacle, like Trump’s manoeuvrings, is a profoundly anti-democratic moment as both leaders seek to undermine any institution that stops their ambition. That ambition has nothing to do with improving the lives of anyone but themselves. “Power,” says O’Brien as he tortures Winston in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, “is not a means, it is an end.” Indeed.
Rishi Sunak declares Boris Johnson Partygate furore ‚closed‘ and ex-PM calls ceasefire in bitter Tory feuding – with ministers pleading for unity amid polls showing Labour lead hitting 20 POINTS ahead of crucial by-elections
Mr Sunak joined many Conservatives in swerving the debate, instead attending a Jewish Care event.
Boris Johnson latest: MPs back partygate report – as only seven vote in favour of ex-PM
(19.06.2023)
Only seven Tories voted against the report after a five-hour debate in Parliament, with 354 MPs across all parties in favour of the conclusion that Mr Johnson had deliberately misled the House.
The former prime minister quit as an MP after he learned of the recommendations of the cross-party group, which included a 90-day ban from the House of Commons for “repeated contempts” of Parliament.
Boris Johnson banned from Parliament as MPs back damning report into partygate denials
(19.06.2023)
Branding him the first former prime minister to have lied to the Commons, the Privileges Committee found Mr Johnson committed ‚repeated contempts‘ of Parliament by deliberately misleading MPs with his partygate denials before being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation.
The former prime minister had urged his allies not to oppose the report, arguing that the sanctions have no practical effect, although critics said it was a move designed to avoid revealing the low level of remaining support for him among Tory MPs.
New Partygate video ‘shows Tories dancing, drinking and laughing at lockdown rules’
At least 24 guests were reportedly at the gathering which was held just a few days before Mr Johnson’s 19 December announcement that Tier 4 Covid curbs would be implemented. This put London and the southeast of England under severe restrictions which meant many could not see their families on Christmas Day.
“It is with a very heavy heart that I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned,” he said just five days after the party.
Exclusive: First ever Partygate video revealed as Tories drink, dance and laugh at Covid rules
When one man sees he is being recorded, he says: “Oh Christ.” Then another asks: “Are you filming this?” Someone else responds: “It’s for party, erm, party use.”
A man then laughs after declaring: “As long as we are not streaming that we’re, like, bending the rules.”
It was just days after the party that Mr Johnson announced even tighter restrictions which meant people in the areas worst hit by Covid could not see their loved ones over Christmas.
Boris Johnson latest news: Stripping ex-PM of parliamentary pass would be ‚very harsh‘, says Liz Truss
The former prime minister also warned Mr Johnson’s critics they should “never, ever, ever” write him off amid questions over whether he could seek a return to the political frontline.
The committee recommended Mr Johnson “should not be entitled to a former Member’s pass” after it concluded he had deliberately misled MPs over partygate.
Boris Johnson ‘deliberately misled parliament’, Covid inquiry finds
Long-awaited, but much more hard hitting than anticipated, the Privileges Committee report condemned Boris Johnson for repeatedly misleading MPs and – despite his protestations to the contrary – undermining the committee itself.
Johnson übergibt WhatsApp-Daten an Regierung
Das von der ehemaligen Richterin Lady Heather Hallett geleitete unabhängige Untersuchungskomitee soll die umstrittene Handhabung der Pandemie unter Johnson aufarbeiten. Der aktuelle Premier Sunak war damals Finanzminister. Spekuliert wird daher, dass er und weitere Kabinettsmitglieder fürchten, in der WhatsApp-Korrespondenz Johnsons könne auch für sie kompromittierendes Material sein.
Boris Johnson hands his unredacted WhatsApps to Cabinet Office
Baroness Hallett, the chair of the inquiry, has threatened the Government with legal action if it refuses to comply with her order for full copies of Mr Johnson’s communications and diaries, and the messages of a key aide, with a deadline of 4pm on Thursday to fulfil her demand.
But last night, Whitehall sources indicated that Mr Sunak would stand firm and refuse to submit unredacted material, from him or any minister, to the inquiry.
Richard Sharp’s position as BBC chairman ‘untenable’, says former TV news boss
Writing for The Independent, Roger Mosey said Mr Sharp’s position appeared to be untenable – warning that there was an “ever-stronger sense that the end credits are about to roll” on his tenure.
Mr Sharp has been under growing pressure since a cross-party group MPs found that he had made “significant errors of judgment” by acting as a go-between for an £800,000 loan guarantee for Boris Johnson.
Saudi Arabia is the biggest beneficiary of the war in Ukraine
(16 May 2022)
Cracks in the resolve began to show up immediately. Amid calls for more solar, wind and nuclear power, the UK government started to double down on domestic oil and gas production, and Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, flew to Saudi Arabia to ask the regime to increase its oil output.
The lockdown files: Rishi Sunak on what we weren’t told
(27 August 2022)
Lockdown – closing schools and much of the economy while sending the police after people who sat on park benches – was the most draconian policy introduced in peacetime. No. 10 wanted to present it as ‘following the science’ rather than a political decision, and this had implications for the wiring of government decision-making. It meant elevating Sage, a sprawling group of scientific advisers, into a committee that had the power to decide whether the country would lock down or not. There was no socioeconomic equivalent to Sage; no forum where other questions would be asked.
So whoever wrote the minutes for the Sage meetings – condensing its discussions into guidance for government – would set the policy of the nation. No one, not even cabinet members, would know how these decisions were reached.
Rishi Sunak is just the start. The great lockdown scandal is about to unravel
(25.08.2022)
For some time, I’ve been trying to persuade Rishi Sunak to go on the record about what really happened in lockdown. Only a handful of people really know what took place then, because most ministers – including members of the Cabinet – were kept in the dark. Government was often reduced to a “quad” of ministers deciding on Britain’s future and the then chancellor of the exchequer was one of them. I’d heard rumours that Sunak was horrified at much of what he saw, but was keeping quiet. In which case, lessons would never be learnt.
His speaking out now confirms much of what many suspected. That the culture of fear, seen in the Orwellian advertising campaign that sought to terrify the country, applied inside Government.
„The ultimate death match“: Will it be Boris vs Rishi?
I set out four scenarios of how this might unfold in The Spectator earlier this month. There are two that MPs have most recently got in touch about: Rishi by Christmas or the Boris restoration.
A week is a long time in politics – and next week could be one of the most dramatic yet.
Is Boris heading back to No10? Former PM takes early lead with Rishi Sunak in second as a quarter of Tory MPs declare their support in race to replace Liz Truss – candidates need at least 100 backers by MONDAY as battle ‚for soul of the party‘ intensifies
Boris Johnson is currently the most popular choice among Tory MPs to become prime minister as the race to replace Liz Truss roared into life today following her humiliating resignation after just 44 days in power.
With a quarter of MPs declaring support for their preferred candidates, Mr Johnson currently counts 38 backers, compared to Rishi Sunak‘s 27 and Penny Mourdant‘s 12, according to the latest tally by Guido Fawkes.
Netanyahu congratulates Liz Truss on succeeding Boris Johnson as UK PM
“I am sure that under your leadership the deep friendship between Britain and Israel will be further strengthened in all fields,” tweets Netanyahu.
The former prime minister also adds his thanks to outgoing PM Boris Johnson “for his valued contributions to the excellent relations between our two countries.”
New Prime Minister LIVE: Liz Truss on course to be named next Tory leader at 12.30PM after brutal six-week battle with rival Rishi Sunak to succeed Boris Johnson
Follow updates here as the next Prime Minister is revealed as the winner of the Tory leadership contest is announced at Westminster‘s Queen Elizabeth II Centre:
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange files latest appeal in bid to stop extradition to United States
Julian Assange‘s legal team has filed an appeal to Britain‘s High Court in an effort to thwart his extradition to the United States to face espionage charges.
British Home Secretary Priti Patel approved the extradition of the WikiLeaks founder in June after he was denied an appeal in the Supreme Court appeal back in March.
Biden discusses nuclear deal with leaders of UK, Germany, France
„In addition, they discussed ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, the need to strengthen support for partners in the Middle East region and joint efforts to deter and constrain Iran’s destabilizing regional activities,“ the White House said.
UK: Conservative PM candidates back moving Israel embassy to Jerusalem
Rishi Sunak joins Liz Truss in suggesting he would be open to relocating Britain‘s diplomats from Tel Aviv
Boris Johnson ist wegen der Party-Affäre während des Lockdowns aus dem Amt geflogen. Karl Lauterbach verletzte möglicherweise die Corona-Quarantäne-Regelungen in Berlin. Nun könnte ihm dasselbe Schicksal drohen wie Boris Johnson.
Liz will deliver. As Prime Minister, I will deliver for the British people so we can succeed like never before
I may have gone over the top about Rishi’s clothes… But I don’t want my party to be fooled by appearances the way many of the Cabinet were, writes NADINE DORRIES
My comments were widely interpreted to be anti-aspirational and it was suggested that I was seeking revenge against the man who, while Chancellor, had been planning a coup for a very long time and who had ruthlessly and metaphorically stabbed Boris Johnson in the back.
Rishi had been plotting against the most electorally successful Prime Minister the Conservative Party has known since the days of Margaret Thatcher. His actions made Michael Gove’s betrayal of Boris Johnson during the 2016 leadership campaign appear like a rank amateur rehearsing for the role of Brutus in a village hall play.
(…)
I wanted to highlight Rishi’s misguided sartorial style in order to alert Tory members not to be taken in by appearances in the way that happened to many of us who served with the Chancellor in Cabinet. The assassin’s gleaming smile, his gentle voice and even his diminutive stature had many of us well and truly fooled.
Britische Ministerin empört mit „Attentäter“-Sager
In einem Beitrag für die Zeitung „Mail on Sunday“ warnte Dorries die Mitglieder der Konservativen Partei vor dem früheren Finanzminister: „Das strahlende Lächeln des Attentäters, seine sanfte Stimme und sogar seine winzige Statur haben viele von uns wirklich getäuscht“, schrieb Dorries. Zudem retweetete sie ein Bild, das zeigt, wie Sunak als Brutus den Premier als Julius Cäsar von hinten ersticht.
Boris lashes out at Truss on tax as Tory leadership tensions explode in bloodbath contest
His comments came despite Ms Truss being seen as the „Boris Johnson continuity candidate“ with a number of his supporters backing her in a bid to stop Mr Suank entering No10.
Her attack on the former Chancellor‘s record last night was one of a number of punches swung as the Tory leadership contest gets increasingly bitter.
Lord Cruddas, ‘the ballot only has credibility if Boris is part of the process.’
Lord Cruddas threatens to cut off donations to Tory party
(today)
Lord Cruddas, who was last year forced to defend donating £500,000 to the party just three days after he was admitted to the House of Lords, said he wanted Boris Johnson to stay on as Prime Minister.
He said: “If the membership are asked to vote for the last two contenders they will be voting for two people that they do not want on the ballot. The ballot only has credibility if Boris is part of the process.”
Nadine Dorries says Boris Johnson should remain in post because „the donors have spoken“.
(06.06.2022)
What about the will of the people?
New snap poll from @OpiniumResearch shows 59% think Tory MPs should vote to remove Johnson as leader today
Unter deutschem Vorsitz: G7-Staaten stützen EU-Politik zur Chatkontrolle
(08.07.2022)
Auf ihrem Treffen im November wollen die G7-Innenminister:innen Druck machen, damit Firmen mit Filtertechnologien nach sexualisierter Gewalt gegen Kinder suchen. Treiber ist Großbritannien, das mit einem Gesetz voranprescht. Auch Verschlüsselung ist davon betroffen.
Boris Johnson tritt als Parteichef zurück
Der britische Premierminister Boris Johnson tritt als Chef seiner Konservativen Partei zurück. Er wolle aber als Regierungschef weitermachen, bis ein Nachfolger gewählt ist, sagte Johnson am Donnerstag in London.
Boris Johnson has not resigned as prime minister
But he can, technically, be deposed as Tory leader and remain in office. He will not be removed from No 10 until he tenders his resignation as prime minister, or until he loses a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons (the last PM to lose such a vote was Labour’s Jim Callaghan in March 1979). Johnson will not, like Donald Trump, attempt to stay in power once the Tory party does select a new leader, but he has notably chosen not to tender his resignation as prime minister until it does.
Boris‘s speech in full: Read and watch PM‘s 372-second resignation from the steps of Downing Street
– Boris Johnson makes 372-second resignation speech in Downing Street
– He confirms he will stand down as Prime Minister once new Tory leader elected
– He says he is ‚sad‘ to be ‚giving up the best job in the world‘ and blasts rebel MPs
Boris Johnson QUITS ‘best job in the world’ saying ‘no one is indispensable’ after being forced out in Tory bloodbath
BORIS Johnson has today told the nation he is resigning as Prime Minister and clearing the stage for a new Tory leader by the autumn.
In an address outside No10, the defeated PM said he was so „sad“ to be forced out of the job he loves but conceded: „Them‘s the breaks.“
Boris Johnson and Volodymyr Zelensky cheered on Kyiv walkabout
Try walking about in a British city Johnson and see how many cheers you get
Julian Assange‘s wife Stella Moris reveals how they raise children together while he is in jail waiting an extradition decision By Stella Moris
We don‘t know how long our children have left with their father. We don‘t know if we can visit him or even talk to him on the phone. If the extradition goes ahead, US authorities retain the right to put Julian in conditions so cruel that no one in his position is likely to survive.
It is impossible for Julian and me to escape a feeling that he is on death row. Our weekly visits may be the only time we have left together. But for how much longer? A few months more, a few weeks, a few days and then only a few hours? I fear in the end we will count the minutes and the seconds…
Boris Johnson latest news: Prime Minister‘s premiership is no longer ‚viable‘, says William Hague
Lord Hague, the former leader of the Conservative Party, said Mr Johnson is now facing a „big problem“ because it „isn’t viable actually when more than 40 per cent of your party vote against you“.
He told Times Radio: “That is very difficult then to proceed as party leader in the long term. This is like trying to drive along the M1 with two flat tyres. You can say you are at the steering wheel but is it really viable? You are not going to get to the end of the motorway.”
Boris orders Cabinet to ‚get on with the job‘ and focus on cost of living after brutal confidence vote saw 148 Tory MPs try to oust him – worse than Theresa AND Maggie – with loyalists admitting even ministers secretly voted against him
– Boris Johnson is setting out to revive his premiership after a hugely damaging confidence vote last night
– His allies are begging the 148 MPs who voted against the PM to ‚back down‘ after his slim victory yesterday
– One loyalist MP described Monday as ‚the first day of a Tory civil war‘ with a double by-election looming
– The PM‘s allies have insisted he will ‚fight his corner‘ amid warnings that an early general election is possible
– Backbench chief Sir Graham Brady called a full vote after receiving 54 letters from MPs calling for one
Boris Johnson will win the confidence vote – but even so, it’s over for him
Some big names may quit during the day, because many cannot accept the result. If you think Johnson is a disaster on Monday morning, you’re not going to believe he’s a genius on Monday evening, and no one would believe you if you said so.
Nadine Dorries says Boris Johnson should remain in post because „the donors have spoken“.
What about the will of the people?
New snap poll from @OpiniumResearch shows 59% think Tory MPs should vote to remove Johnson as leader today
MONEY TALKS: Big Tory donors plead with MPs not to ditch Boris Johnson
Big names include billionaire JCB boss Lord Bamford, property magnate Sir Tony Gallagher and Carphone Wearhouse founder David Ross.
Other names include multimillionaire financier Howard Shore and mega rich Simon Rueben – who alongside brother David is worth £16bn.
Boris Johnson latest news: No confidence vote in Prime Minister today
Sir Graham said in a statement: “The threshold of 15 per cent of the parliamentary party seeking a vote of confidence in the leader of the Conservative Party has been exceeded.
“In accordance with the rules, a ballot will be held between 1800 and 2000 TODAY MONDAY 6th JUNE — details to be confirmed.
Boris WILL face vote of no confidence TODAY: Graham Brady reveals 54 Tory MPs have submitted letters – with crunch ballot ‚at 6pm TONIGHT‘
– Boris Johnson is facing a confidence vote at 6pm tonight after Tories wrote letters to the 1922 committee
– The PM‘s allies have insisted he will ‚fight his corner‘ amid warnings that an early general election is possible
– Backbench chief Sir Graham Brady calls a full vote when he receives 54 letters from MPs asking for one
I told President @ZelenskyyUa this morning that we stand with Ukraine for the long-term. We‘ll continue to provide equipment to help the Ukrainian Armed Forces defend their country, and we‘re working intensively to find ways to resume grain exports & avert a global food crisis.
Johnson Avoids More Fines as UK Police End ‘Partygate’ Probe
Boris Johnson won’t be fined again for breaking coronavirus regulations after UK police concluded a probe into rule-breaking gatherings during lockdown, a major boost for the prime minister after months of turmoil.
British PM Boris Johnson in Finland: U.K. is Ready to Help Finland Militarily; President Niinistö About Russia’s Reaction to NATO Membership: ‘Look in the Mirror’
(12.05.2022)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain visited Finland to meet President Sauli Niinistö on Wednesday evening with a clear purpose: the United Kingdom stands ready to assist Finland in its endeavors by all means necessary.