Earlier today News OnTheWight reported on Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely’s extensive knowledge of Russia and Russian warfare.
His academic knowledge, time spent in Russia and Ukraine, as well as his practical military experience, places Bob Seely in a perhaps unique position to lead a very fortunately-timed debate on the UK’s Relationship with Russia and China in the House of Commons this week. He applied for the debate some time back, but with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it’s timing couldn’t have been more on-point.
“Russians see nuclear war as now more likely than not”
Seely opened the debate by this very sobering introduction,
“According to polling, the majority of Russians see war—and nuclear war—with the west as now more likely than not, which should be a sobering realisation for all of us.”
Reading through his speech, Seely’s view on direct conflict is pretty stark,
“I would like to argue the following: the risk of direct conflict with Russia and China is growing and, in some senses, we are already in indirect conflict with both, in different ways.”
“Need to relearn the arts of strategy and deterrence”
He seems keen for the UK to avoid direct conflict,
“For the next 20 years the primary foreign policy goal for this country must be in old-school state relationships and the avoidance of direct conflict, and the establishment of working relationships with both, where we can, that are as productive as possible, while resolutely defending our values and our allies.”
Adding,
“We need to relearn the arts of strategy and deterrence. We need to relearn how to use power properly—I believe we have forgotten that.”
“Best wars are not those that are won, but those that are unfought”
Seely outlined his view that the Russian and Chinese leaderships see themselves as being in conflict or intense competition with the west. Adding,
“Let me remind the House that the best wars are not those that are won, but those that are unfought.”
He went on,
“Our greatest victory in world war three was that it did not take place, not that we destroyed our civilisation in order to destroy another.”
Update the laws
Outlining the need for new and updated laws, Seely said,
“We also need to make provision for laws that we should have put in place years ago: a foreign lobbying Bill—my God, how many more scandals do we have to put up with before we realise we need one?; an updated espionage Bill; an economic crimes Bill; and changes to the libel and data protection rules to protect freedom of speech and to protect journalists from becoming peripheral victims of Russian oligarch intimidation to our freedom of speech.”
“The defence of human freedom is the struggle for our age”
For those without the time to read the full transcript (or watch), Seely gave this summary,
“There are two courses for humanity in the 21st century. The first is the western model of a law-governed society with politicians under the control of the people. It is incredibly imperfect, as we all know, but it is the best hope for mankind.
“The second is the new militarism of high-tech authoritarianism that is championed by Russia, and a little bit by China. It promises the data-inspired, artificial-intelligence control of populations. We need foresight, strategy and resolve to fight to defend our values and the future of humanity.
“We should not underestimate the scale of the task nor shy away from it. The defence of human freedom, wherever it is in the world—in Taiwan, Ukraine, the Baltic or the Black sea—is the struggle for our age.”
Praise from fellow MPs
The MP received a great deal of cross-party praise from fellow MP , including this from the Labour MP for Stockport, Navendu Mishra, who said,
“I am grateful to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Bob Seely) for securing this important debate.”
The Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, Alistair Carmichael, said,
“I congratulate the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Bob Seely) on securing this debate. As others have said, it is timely in a way that I suspect even he would not have imagined when he made the application to the Backbench Business Committee.”
Seely’s speech also attracted praise from Labour MP, Chris Bryant, who said,
“He is very intelligent and foresighted on these issues.”
He also received praise from Liam Byrne (Lab – Birmingham, Hodge Hill), Mark Logan (Con – Bolton North East), Tom Tugendhat (Con – Tonbridge and Malling), Amanda Milling (Con – Cannock Chase), Brendan O’Hara (SNP – Argyll and Bute), Bernard Jenkin (Con – Harwich and North Essex), Richard Graham (Con – Gloucester) and Catherine West (Lab – Hornsey and Wood Green).
What was agreed
The debate wasn’t just about MPs having their chance to talk on the subject, the following strategy was agreed upon.
“That this House calls on the Government to develop separate but aligned cross-Government strategies for both Russia and China; and further calls on the Government to support the international order, working with allies across the globe to develop an approach to Russia and China that, whilst recognising their separate legitimate interests, ensures a robust defence of both UK interests and democratic values.”
Read the full transcript, or watch the debate.
