May 31 2007
From Russia with menace
The BBC are doing a good series of reports from Putin’s Russia. The world they describe is one where the enthusiasts for democracy struggle against the rising tide of authoritarianism. If anyone doubts our need to develop energy sources for the future that do not depend on gas from Russia, they should listen to these journalistic essays. Our oil and gas companies are learning the hard way that contracts in Russia can be changed or torn up by the government.
John Redwood has been the Member of Parliament for Wokingham since 1987. First attending Kent College, Canterbury, he graduated from Magdalen College...
“Our oil and gas companies are learning the hard way that contracts in Russia can be changed or torn up by the government”
Unlike Britain where the regulator merely regulates the business into bankruptcy & the government steps in to “save” it as British Nuclear & Railtrack found. Then the judges say it didn’t happen.
Before denouncing Putin for not being democratic it worth pointing out that the overwhelming majority of people voted for him because he promised & delivered high growth. In Britain no big party is currently aiming at that but then no party expects to need a majority of votes to win.
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