Hypocrisy or simple realism: The double standards on Saudi Arabia and Russia
After the Salisbury poisonings in March 2018 the Conservative Party lined up to condemn Russia for it's 'aggressive actions. Prime Minister Theresa May suggested that there was “a backdrop of a well-established pattern of Russian state aggression” (Asthana A et al: 2018). Later, in September 2018, as further details emerged about how the 'murder' was carried the Conservative Deputy Chairman, James Cleverly MP suggested that “Our response must be both internationally coordinated and robust.” (Drearden 2018)) indicating that sanctions should be imposed against Russia for its actions on British soil. However, when asked on BBC Question Time on the 18th October, on how Britain should respond to Saudi Arabia's actions in relation to Khasoggi, he avoids the question suggesting that 'liberalisation' and 'increasing secularisation' is taking place so that credit should be given to the government. So why the double standards? In 2017 £5.3 billion