Truss blasts Radio 4 star for comparing PM’s Ulster plan with Putin’s murderous war
As the Remainstream media shamelessly turns
LIZ Truss had a bust-up with the BBC yesterday over ‘extraordinary’ suggestions that the Government’s Brexit policy will embolden Vladimir Putin.
The Foreign Secretary clashed with Today programme presenter Mishal Husain after she suggested that the Government’s decision to override parts of the Brexit deal could encourage Russia to further acts of international aggression.
Critics, including the EU, have claimed that the new Northern Ireland Protocol Bill breaks international law by allowing ministers to scrap checks on goods agreed as part of the Brexit deal.
But ministers have published a summary of legal advice setting out that the UK has
‘An extraordinary comparison’
a right to act unilaterally on the issue in order to prevent the deal undermining the Good Friday Agreement.
During terse exchanges on BBC Radio 4’s flagship current affairs show, Miss Husain said: ‘ What are you going to do next time you need to have stern words with a country like Russia, telling them to act within the rule of law and they hit back saying, “Well you’re not willing to honour your agreements”?’
Miss Truss replied: ‘To be frank, I think that is an extraordinary comparison. We are acting as a United Kingdom Government to protect political stability within our own country, and we are able to do that within the law.
‘Yesterday we published our legal position setting that out. I think that is an extraordinary comparison for you to make.’
Miss Husain defended her point, saying: ‘It might well be one that Russia makes – we’ll have to see – and I’m sure other countries might have issues with us telling them what to do and how to act within the law.’ But a government source said it was ‘risible’ to suggest that the plans were in any way comparable to those of Russia, which has invaded a sovereign state in an unprovoked war costing tens of thousands of lives.
‘The Today programme was eyeopening,’ the source said. ‘Comparing our actions in Northern Ireland, even directly, to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is just risible.’
Another source pointed out that other countries have taken a relaxed view to the UK’s move. The White House, which has frequently raised concerns about Northern Ireland in the past, said the plan would not affect talks on a UK-US trade deal.
The BBC has long faced claims it has lacked impartiality over Brexit, stemming from its gloomy reporting of the referendum result and excessive airtime for ‘diehard’ Remainers.
Last week it was forced to apologise to sculptor Sir Antony Gormley after wrongly claiming he was giving up his British nationality due to Brexit.