Readers discuss Russian interference in the UK, if Trump is being played by Putin and if freezing fares actually saves the public money (Picture: STR/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments
Is Russia 'meddling in British politics'?
Peter Packham (MetroTalk, Tue) is quite right about Russia meddling in Britain’s politics.
It becomes more apparent by the day as we observe increased Russian activity around British waters and airspace.
Russia’s shadow fleet, Russian warships in the English Channel, their spy ship Yantar pointing lasers at RAF pilots tracking it and a suspected Russian sonobuoy tracking device found off Pembrokeshire coast are just a few very recent examples.
Weaponising migration also needs mentioning as one of the Kremlin’s methods of hybrid war. It’s most evident at the eastern borders of Nato countries, where acts of sabotage and intended terrorism occur on a daily basis.
It is all connected, all part of the big picture puzzle – where the Kremlin, Putinophiles such as Nigel Farage and his cronies, Brexit, the destabilisation of Europe and post-Brexit mass migration perfectly fit together.
We need to open our eyes to see what’s happening to our country in a wider geopolitical context.
Perhaps we should be less naive in how we treat illegal migration. Smuggling gangs can’t be ‘smashed’ – as Sir Keir Starmer put it – because our strong adversary is likely behind them.
The phrase ‘Trojan horse’ comes to mind. Russia is waging war on us, on Europe, without – as yet – using military means. JW, London
This reader says ‘we need to open our eyes to see what’s happening to our country in a wider geopolitical context’ (Picture: OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)
Is Donald Trump being ‘played’ by Vladamir Putin?
Dave (MetroTalk, Tue) says Donald Trump is being ‘played’ by Vladimir Putin in the latest round of Ukraine negotiations. I don’t think so.
They share many of the same views on power, democracy and control. I’d say Trump is firmly on Putin’s side – I think he is trying to get a great deal for Putin while looking at how it can benefit the US and his family in respect to redevelopment and ‘rare earth’ minerals.
Trump and his senior acolytes play dumb to their base but when it comes to acquiring personal wealth and power for themselves (while undermining civil society) he and his acolytes – including Nigel Farage – are nobody’s fools. Neil, York
This reader says Donald Trump ‘plays dumb’ (Picture: STEVEN HIRSCH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
‘The UK and the rest of Europe must do more than just talk about their support for Ukraine’
Got a question about UK politics?
Send in yours and Metro's Senior Politics Reporter Craig Munro will answer it in an upcoming edition of our weekly politics newsletter. Email [email protected] or submit your question here.
How can it be right that the rest of the world can stand by and let Russia invade a neighbouring country and end up taking land off them?
I cannot see what Ukraine has done to warrant a Russian invasion. The UK and the rest of Europe must do more than just talk about their support for Ukraine and refuse to let them have any land taken off them.
The US would have a lot to say if Russia decided to invade Alaska!
Rob Calderbank, Lancashire
Are rail companies ‘taking every effort to squeeze and rip people off as much as possible?
In his article ‘Rail fare freeze one way we’re cutting costs’ (Metro, Mon) Sir Keir Starmer boasts about affordable rail travel and how the rail fare freeze could save more than £300 per year. Good as it sounds, beneath the surface it looks as though rail companies have taken every effort to squeeze and rip people off as much as possible before this fare freeze comes into effect.
For example, my regular commute from Southend to West Ham with C2C trains during off-peak hours, booked a minimum three days in advance with a Network Rail Card discount, used to cost me £7.90 for a return trip.
From this October, however, the same trip has nearly doubled – costing £13.05.
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It happened because, suddenly, C2C decided to remove advanced ticket discount and only notified customers via email five days beforehand. Instead, they have introduced a new advanced ticket that only works at weekends, with no further rail card discount applied.
So, C2C has effectively downgraded a product that already existed, which offered better value to customers, so it could receive more profit and please its own corporate needs.
It will costs thousands of pounds more every year, affecting many households and adding more financial pressures to already struggling people. Kat, Southend On Sea
This reader says freezing costs does not save us money (Picture: Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Does freezing fares actually save people money?
If I go shopping and a particular item is the same price as it was the previous week I haven’t saved anything, yet Sir Keir seems to think that, by freezing rail fares, he is saving people money. Roger Smith, Witham
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