What Solidarity

Please provide your own punctuation to that title.

The preposterous Gavin Williamson has sent HMS Echo to the Black Sea to express "solidarity with Ukraine".

Earlier this week, Ukraine decreed that there should henceforth be a public holiday on the birthday of Stepan Bandera. Do look him up, and you will certainly hear the Echo of something.

None of this is to express any affection for Vladimir Putin. But we have not sent a spy ship to Odessa in "solidarity" with him. Nor has that son of Leningrad established any public holiday in honour of a Nazi collaborator. 

Of course Gavin Williamson does not understand one word of this, and nor does Theresa May, never mind anyone who might replace her. They just do as they are told by the spooks inside and outside the Palace of Westminster. Tom Tugendhat now chairs the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. Be very, very, very afraid.

Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn, who does understand these things, has to contend with rank on rank of the other side in his parliamentary party. With the closure of The Weekly Standard, neoconservatism is lasting far longer in Britain, and especially in the Parliamentary Labour Party, than it has managed to the last in the United States.

Another hung Parliament is coming, however, and our people need to hold the balance of power in it. I will stand for this parliamentary seat of North West Durham, if I can raise the £10,000 necessary to mount a serious campaign. Please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.