Guido Verify has analysed Starmer’s three defences in PMQs after lifting sanctions on processed Russian diesel and jet fuel supply. Starmer has tried to issue defensive claims in the Commons…
CLAIM 1: “this government has phased in sanctions in this way before, and the last government used the same technique”
A refining loophole of a kind existed under the Tories: Global Witness calculated that in 2023, the UK imported some 5.2 million barrels of petroleum products made from Russian oil, indirectly providing the Kremlin with around £123 million in tax revenue. But the Conservatives never issued a formal General Trade Licence explicitly authorising these imports…
CLAIM 2: “we also issued two short term licences to phase the new sanctions in”
Paragraph 10 of the licence states: “This licence comes into force on 20 May 2026. It is of indefinite duration and shall be periodically reviewed by the Secretary of State.” The general licence took effect Wednesday and didn’t set a time limit. The only commitment is that the Secretary of State “will endeavour to provide 4 months’ notice” before revocation. The opposite of short term…
By contrast, a separate licence covering maritime transportation of Russian LNG was genuinely time-limited, running until January 1 next year so the government knows how to issue short-term licences when it wants to. It chose not to for diesel and jet fuel..
Starmer said: “this is not a question of lifting existing sanctions in any way whatsoever.” Panic across Whitehall would disagree…
UPDATE: The government claims it will review this licence every three months and that new sanctions are being phased in in order to not upset the market. The announcement of the intention to put measures in place was in October. The government claims that the situation since then has changed and there is a bigger risk of instability which is why the temporary licence has been issued. So new tough sanctions are delayed by the UK…
Paula Barker, Liverpool Wavertree MP backing Andy Burnham, told Times Radio there wouldn’t be trouble from the markets under Burnham:
“The markets will have to fall in line.”