So Now We Know ...

[ichkeria]

It was the Novichok class of deadly nerve agent used in Salisbury.
This is a Soviet/Russian-made poison.
What happens now I wonder ...

[youngmafbog]

//or no doubt in some laboratories around the world. //

And that is the point. There is not enough prove given as yet.

[DTCwordfan]

Russian Ambassador out - private plane if necessary - or economy gas on BA

(ii) we withdraw from the World Cup - waste of time to begin with.

(iii) seizure of Russian real estate and shelf companies from those closest to Putin.....

[ichkeria]

So you reckon some boffin from a government lab did it then :-)
Plainly, from what the PM had said, they HAVE tracked the provenance of this particular substance to Russia. The Russian ambassador was summoned to explain which of the following options was the case: that this was sanctioned by his government or some of the material was somehow ‘lost’. They would not put it to him in those terms were they not sure.

[EDDIE51]

The BBC said it had to either be Russia directly or the Russians had allowed someone to gain possession of it illegally. The particular Nerve agent is only produced in one laboratory in the world and that is a Russian state sponsored lab.

[ichkeria]

Indeed Eddie. In that respect this stuff is traceable as polonium was. It just doesn’t actually leave a trail.

[anneasquith]

Seriously, let's assume Russia are to blame , what can the government do ?

[Jackdaw33]

So the Russians attempt to bump off a traitor. Big deal.

[EDDIE51]

^ It also said it was a 'Military Grade Weapon' (which that means the Russian State produced it.) It is not possible to say 'Russia did it' any clearer than that .

[EDDIE51]

Jackdaw ,we all know the Russians 'bump off' traitors .It is the method chosen that is the problem.Over 250 innocent members of the public could have been affected. They could have just shot him.
( Or jabbed him with a poisoned umbrella)

[ichkeria]

What can they do?
There’ll doubtless be sanctions, I’m pretty sure that appalling ambasssdor will be kicked out along with some of his staff. The so called Magnitsky laws hastened through. And what I would really love to see: RT losing its licence to broadcast in the UK.
It won’t be easy to persuade the EU to help us I’m afraid. And Trump is plainly scared to speak out against the man who has those video tapes ... :-)

[Peter Pedant]

I agree - what can they do ?
chuck out the ambassador - so what?
stop buying russian gas .....
send back a few russians

[ichkeria]

My ‘what can they do’ wasn’t rhetorical. Mrs May has given it the big build up so it’ll have to be good. A lot will depend on how much help we get from our allies.

[anneasquith]

Should we assume Mrs mays friend Trump will come to her assistance ?

[Jahulaye]

A question I have is how did the assassin administer this agent without being in danger/killed themselves?

Is it possible they also may have came up with some kind of antidote which can then leaves the assassin unaffected?

[Kromovaracun]

//Mrs May has given it the big build up so it’ll have to be good.//

Not necessarily. She's far better at talking the talk than walking the walk.

Magnitsky Laws (which in the UK's case were quite watered down originally) seem the best option. There is tons of illicit Russian money in London which it seems perfectly reasonable to expel. I am not holding my breath for anything, though. Given the uncertain times ahead the govt won't be hasty about attacking the assets of oligarchs. The UK isn't going to do anything.

[ichkeria]

She is already seen as weak: she cannot afford politically not to follow up on the threats.

[Kromovaracun]

Well, technically speaking - yes she can. If she's already seen as weak, then she doesn't have much to lose by being seen as weaker. Politically speaking, the opposition remains no real threat, and it is very difficult to see any of the factions within the Tory party taking up arms over this.

[ichkeria]

I think they might. Corbyn might be a ***, but there are many, many Labour politicians who want tough action, as well as many Tories of course.
I have to say though, having listened to Dominic Raab earlier, I am not filled with much confidence.

[ichkeria]

The noble J A C K A S S is too much for the sensitivities of AB :-)

[youngmafbog]

Personally I am still not happy.

I gave His Tonyness my full support on invading Iraq based on being told SH was using chemical weapons. It turned out to be a lie. Therefor having been bitten once I am not going to accept that easily especially when no one has actually come out and said it.

"Highly likely" is not good enough,

//So you reckon some boffin from a government lab did it then :-) //

No, but they could have been involved. Money talks.