Why does Mr Corbyn seem so peculiarly un-British?
THIS is one of the biggest crises our country has faced since the end of the Cold War. It is a big moment in Britain’s history as we work out what our place will be in the post-Brexit world. It is going to be an enormous test for every one of us: Parliament, the Government, the law, the Crown, the Prime Minister and the Opposition.
Vladimir Putin has proved yet again that he is an untrammelled thug. He has been trying to undermine democratic institutions and nations, from the US elections to Eastern Europe and the Balkans – and his meddling is getting worse.
We have to stop him but it won’t be easy.
We are going to have to fight for the values this country stands for and the values of the free democratic world.
It is going to be a very tough fight. We are a strong country and we can do it but everyone must stand together.
The response so far by Theresa May has been measured, strong and wise. Russia’s tit-for-tat response yesterday was entirely predictable and I have no doubt Mrs May kept some shots in her locker.
Our actions must be incremental.
That is in stark contrast to the appalling behaviour of the Labour leadership, Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell. Most Labour MPs and members are loyal patriots.
Mr Corbyn’s main concern seems to be to act as an apologist for Putin. I do not say Mr Corbyn is an enemy of Britain, but he seems to support everyone who is an enemy of this country.
He appears to be peculiarly un-British with no empathy or interest in this country’s many great achievements and institutions, which most people cherish with pride.
I have stood alongside him in the Commons tea room for more than 30 years and he hasn’t changed one iota: he is a ‘Dave Spart’ cartoon Left-winger without a trace of statesmanship.
Mr McDonnell likes to come across as an avuncular banker, but he is nothing of the sort. Speak to most people in the Commons, regardless of what party they belong to, and they will tell you he is a bad man.
He a Marxist Communist and would be a danger to our country if Labour got into power.
If we are going to find a solution to our dispute with Russia, we have to admit the West handled them badly after the collapse of the Soviet Union. We cannot turn the clock back but we should have done more to bring them into the comity of the nations.
The Russians feel they were humiliated and are lashing out in an increasingly dangerous way. We have to convince them they cannot behave with impunity, going round killing people in other countries. They need to earn their place in the rulesbased world like all other civilised nations.
I served as a soldier in the Cold War. We may not be slipping back into a new Cold War, but I fear we are heading for a very Cold Peace.
I am never comfortable speculating what my grandfather may or may not have thought about events were he alive today. But I am sure of this: he would be extremely concerned that our defences should be strong enough to protect our country.
Modern warfare has changed greatly since the Second World War but the need to be resolute, prepared and determined to act if necessary remains unchanged.