The Russian people need to know where the real existential threat is coming from

The great tension over whether or not Vladimir Putin will use nuclear weapons or not comes down to two factors.  The first is that he has two types of nuclear weapon.  When we talk about nuclear weapons we primarily think of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles – strategic nuclear weapons. The UK’s version of this is the… Continue reading The Russian people need to know where the real existential threat is coming from

Putin’s terror tactics

There’s been much talk, these past few weeks about Vladimir Putin being ready to escalate the war in Ukraine by use of chemical or even nuclear weapons. It is important to remember a couple of things here when discussing potential nuclear assault. In terms of response, I believe that NATO powers will prefer preventive to… Continue reading Putin’s terror tactics

“In this day and age?”

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I’m increasingly seeing comments along the lines of “We shouldn’t be seeing or y … in this day and age.” Or “It is disgusting that in one of the richest G7 countries that we should be seeing x.” These statements at the moment relate specifically to the pressures that people are starting to face in… Continue reading “In this day and age?”

Has Putin just threatened to nuke us?

The short answer is “no.”  In today’s speech, according to reports Vladimir Putin did two things. The first is that he extended the mobilisation and conscription of people into the Russian armed forces.  Secondly, he is reported to have said:  “Those who try to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the prevailing winds… Continue reading Has Putin just threatened to nuke us?

The Cost of Living Crisis: What does Liz Truss need to do?

Today, the United Kingdom gets a new Prime Minister. However we feel about her personally and the party she represents, our first responsibility as Christians is to pray for her and the government as well as for the leader of the opposition. Liz Truss comes into power with some pressing challenges to respond to. The… Continue reading The Cost of Living Crisis: What does Liz Truss need to do?

The Cost of Living Crisis – it’s time to act

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There’s been frequent talk of and demand for emergency budgets through the year as the cost-of-living crisis has worsened.  Earlier I argued that we shouldn’t be panicked into doing what this or that politician or former prime minister demanded and that rushing to hold an emergency budget wasn’t the right response.  Because the main driver… Continue reading The Cost of Living Crisis – it’s time to act

The Cost of Living Crisis and the Jubilee answer

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Today, the energy watchdog for the UK confirmed that the price-cap on fuel bills will rise by 80% in October with average household bills set to go up from £1,971 to £3549. Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been writing frequently about the Cost of Living Crisis. This is a crisis that is already… Continue reading The Cost of Living Crisis and the Jubilee answer

What if Putin’s Strategy is to impoverish the West?

A lot of our responses to the War in Ukraine and the related impact on the Cost of Living crisis is driven by two related assumptions. That the crisis will be short That Vladimir Putin is a madman who has miscalculated and gone for broke on a fool hardy invasion of Ukraine. But what if… Continue reading What if Putin’s Strategy is to impoverish the West?

“Talk softly and carry a big stick” – latest thoughts on the Russian- Ukrainian War

Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine I argued that such a move did not fit with Vladimir Putin’s known and declared ambitions.   It was not that I believed such an invasion could never happen, certainly not that I claimed the ability to predict the future. It’s just that Putin’s ambitions were understood to be the… Continue reading “Talk softly and carry a big stick” – latest thoughts on the Russian- Ukrainian War

Anatomy of an abusive relationship

Last week when talking with Ryan Burton King about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we discussed the response in Russia. Over the past few week’s we’ve seen a lot of examples of bravery from Russians willing to protest, most notably a young Russian TV editor who interrupted a news broadcast holding up a protest sign.  At… Continue reading Anatomy of an abusive relationship