The terror attack that struck London on Saturday night, leading to seven deaths and 48 people injured, will not make much of a difference to Britain’s internal situation, Richard Sakwa, Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent at Canterbury and Associate Fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) told valdaiclub.com.
“I am not sure that this third event will make that much difference — everyone understood a long time ago that security is indivisible, and that there has to be intelligence-sharing,” Sakwa said regarding the attack’s long-term consequence.
He also added that this attack will not change the UK’s relations with the EU, or change any attitudes in the UK’s political culture.
“Even terrible events like this does not, however, change the fundamental calculus of relations with the EU, once the hard negotiations begin after the election. Also, I am not sure it will lead to legislative change or attitudes,” he added.
Sakwa also noted that unlike previous attacks, this one will not significantly impact the election by tilting it in Prime Minister Theresa May’s favor, and may in fact tilt it toward Jeremy Corbyn.
“As for the election, the expected May bounce after Manchester did not take place; in fact, if anything, it worked to Corbyn’s benefit — as the only one talking about deeper causes, policy failures and long-term responses,” Sakwa concluded.
