Maybe time for a re-think? (Debate)

Fri 11 Mar 2022, 20:54 (last edited on Fri 11 Mar 2022, 20:55)

I notice that Lubov Chernukhin was knighted a couple of days ago by San Marino in a London ceremony. The Tory Romford MP, Andrew Rosindell, was in attendance and gave a speech. This is according to the Mirror.

Andrew Rosindell accepted a free trip to the Mediterranean tax haven of San Marino in October 21. The trip was paid for by the Republic of San Marino - a microstate enclaved by Italy and used as a base by wealthy Italians and businesses due to its low tax rates. Interesting details in the Romford Recorder. A lot of food was eaten -- £1000 in a week! 

I was wondering if the Chernukhins' £10m Oxfordshire mansion was in the Witney constituency; but, no, it looks as if it is near Wallingford and in the Henley constituency. Bought by the couple in 2006. 

Fri 11 Mar 2022, 15:50

Hmmm ... oh well ... it's about time he received some education. 
Better late than never, I suppose ...

Fri 11 Mar 2022, 15:29

How edifying that Russian puppet Robert Courts was visiting Charlbury Primary School today.

Wed 9 Mar 2022, 11:10

An entertaining and informative video here (a tour of London) providing a guide to Londongrad: https://kottke.org/tag/Oliver%20Bullough

Or you can access it via a very decent article in Yorkshire Bylines : https://www.witneygazette.co.uk/news/19969746.local-politicians-britains-response-ukraine/

I would love a similar tour of Oxfordshire, by the way, and no chance of the Oxford Mail doing anything similar. Alas. 

Thu 3 Mar 2022, 18:15

We will maybe find out some answers to these questions in 18 months time.  The amount of time proposed to be given under the Government’s long delayed Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill for oligarchs to register beneficial owners to UK assets.  No rush then.  

Thu 3 Mar 2022, 13:16

Well, she's had a key role on the 'secret advisory board' that was granted privileged and regular access to the PM during the Covid pandemic. And she produced a report for that board which lobbied against high taxes for wealthy people.

The main report is behind a Sunday Times paywall, but is covered in a variety media. This is LBC's summary (on 20 Feb.): https://www.lbc.co.uk/politics/leaked-docs-tory-donors-cash-for-access/ The Times also reported that membership of the Board was linked to a £250,000 donation from its members.

Lubov Chernukhin has now explicitly condemned Putin and Russia's actions in the Ukraine, but this does not mean that questions do not need to be asked about (a) where her money came from and (b) questions of undue influence.

Thu 3 Mar 2022, 11:13

Lubov Chernukhin donated another £80,000 to Conservatives in the last quarter.  What for I wonder?

Thu 24 Feb 2022, 16:22 (last edited on Thu 24 Feb 2022, 16:23)

The link Philip supplied shows a gift of £3000 from Lubov Chernukhin. 

A year later Courts was gifted just under £18,000 from the same source: http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Donations/C0545095 

Of course Courts had, in September 2020, been promoted to become Parliamentary Under-Secretary, responsible for aviation, maritime, security and civil contingencies. Evidently Lubov Chernukhin had decided that his promotion meant that he was worthy of greater support. 

The Times reported (on 22/9/20) that she had given £1.7 million to the Tories and paid for personal time with three prime ministers, including a dinner with Theresa May and a game of tennis against Boris Johnson and David Cameron. A year later the total had gone up to £2.1 million.

A good story about her (and her husband, Putin's ex-deputy-finance minister & also a powerful ex-banker) is here: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/04/tory-party-top-female-donor-lubov-chernukhin-vast-offshore-empire-husband

It's not just time for a re-think, it's time for more decisive action ...

Thu 24 Feb 2022, 11:40

Rather unfortunately referred to by Robert Courts as a contribution to his 'fighting fund'.....

Wed 23 Feb 2022, 16:52 (last edited on Thu 24 Feb 2022, 08:31)

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-53538224

It's one thing taking the Queen's shilling, quite another to take the Russian Rouble.