Quotes of the day 22nd May 2026

On the government's decision to allow the purchase of Russian oil refined in third countries:

General Lord Richard Dannatt, the former head of the Army:


“This is a morally bankrupt move by a Government focused much more on short-term popularity and not on issues of greater significance, namely the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. 

Shameful is the word that comes to mind.”


Phil Ingram, a former colonel in Army intelligence, accused Labour of “playing politics with people’s lives” and said the move was an “immoral” and “sickening act”.


Come on Starmer, you've U-turned on everything else, another urgent U-turn needed on this one.

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