Russia in Global Affairs

Britain’s tabloid press loves to muse which party the Kremlin prefers in charge at Westminster. For years, it was thought to be a far-right party of different incarnations: Reform, UKIP, the Brexit Party, all led by Nigel Farage. The line of argument was that this disruptive force would undermine the British state, make it weaker and benefit Russian foreign policy.

The UK goes to the polls later this year. The Conservative Party, which has been in power for fourteen years, is going to lose badly. Britain’s next government is likely to be headed by the Labour Party and Sir Keir Starmer. At some point, Britain’s next government will have to change Britain’s stance towards Russia – which has the upper hand. The question is how.

Oxford historian, Mark Almond, recalls the lessons from history once taught by Foreign Secretary, William Hague, in his study of Pitt the Younger’s mishandling of what he called the “Ochakov fiasco” in 1791.