VLAD SIGN
Cold snap could trigger gas supply emergency in UK if Putin orders Russian gas giants turn off taps due to spy scandal
THE UK could be hit by a "gas supply emergency" and soaring bills if Putin orders Russian gas giants turn off taps in retaliation the spy scandal.
While Russia does not supply much gas directly the UK, the EU relies on the former soviet union for a third of its supply.
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The terrifying prospect means Vladimir Putin could gain control over the UK's gas supply just days after Theresa May announced a crackdown on the Russian regime. Demand for gas is expected to soar this weekend with plunging temperatures and snow expected.
This morning energy analysts warned that it could cause a "spike" in household gas bills.
Trevor Sikorski from Energy Aspects, said: "If anything was to happen to that supply, particularly now at the end of a reasonably cold winter that has left European gas storage levels low, then Europe would have a gas supply emergency.
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"That emergency would extend to the UK, as we rely on gas coming from the continent to provide us with sufficient gas to meet the high winter demand that comes from home heating."
James Henderson, director of gas at OIES, said: "If there was a problem with Russian gas supply to Europe, the impact would really be felt via prices, which would spike sharply."
And a shocking report from analysts S&P Platts warns it is likely Russia may be vital to our fuel supply - with relationships getting increasingly frosty over the alleged poison hit on an ex-spy.
The report reads: "Gas demand is set to rise again from the end of the week across north-western Europe, bringing potential large-scale gas withdrawals back into play and prompting a likely increase in nominations for Russian gas imports.
"Given the surge in demand, Russian gas supplies are considered the only swing source of gas under current conditions. Domestic production and other import sources are effectively maxed out."
A BEIS spokesperson said: “Great Britain benefits from highly diverse and flexible sources of gas supply.
"We estimate less than one per cent of our gas comes from Russia and are in no way reliant on it."
This could leave the UK vulnerable as tensions rise in the wake of the nerve-gas attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
Theresa May announced she would kick out 23 diplomats in the wake of the scandal.
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Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia demands 'material proof' Russia was involved in attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury
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The Russian Embassy has responded by calling the expulsion "unacceptable, unjustified and shortsighted" - and said "response measures will not be long in coming".
The Prime Minister also confirmed government officials and members of the Royal family would not be attending the World Cup in Russia.
Vladimir Putin ignored a deadline set by the PM to explain his involvement in the poisoning and instead warned Britain 'not to threaten a nuclear power'.
Europe imports around 35 per cent of its gas from Russia.
Britain also bought a shipment of liquefied natural gas from Russia to cope with the Beast from the East at the end of February.
The PM told the Commons yesterday Britain will look to other countries to supply gas.
Jeremy Corbyn and Labour’s previous support for Russia
JEREMY Corbyn sparked uproar this week with his repeated failure to condemn Vladimir Putin for the Sergei Skripal poisoning - but it should be no surprise given the Labour leader and his top team’s close links to Russia...
Jeremy Corbyn himself
Mr Corbyn has often blamed anyone other than Russia when it comes to aggression by Moscow, usually directing his ire towards Nato, which he said was “the father of the Cold War”.
In 2015 he also blamed the violence in the Crimea on the west, saying: “I am not condoning what Russia has done and is doing [in Ukraine].
“But everything has an equal and opposite reaction and so the more you build up Nato forces, the more of an excuse the Russians have.”
In 2014, as Russia invaded the Crimea Mr Corbyn wrote in an article for the communist newspaper the Morning Star saying Putin’s actions were “not unprovoked”.
Seumas Milne, director of communications
His views are closely echoed by his most senior and trusted adviser Seumas Milne, a former associate editor at the Guardian.
He has previously said Britain and its Nato allies were guilty of “anti-Russian incitement”, which was a “dangerous folly”, along with writing a series of pro-Putin articles.
He caused anger among Labour MPs yesterday for appearing to compare the evidence which pointed to Russian involvement in Salisbury with the case for war in Iraq.
But Mr Milne has long been on Russia’s side when it comes to such matters, and back in 2014 appeared at an event with Mr Putin and was pictured shaking the Russian leader’s hand.
The conference in Sochi took place after the invasion and annexation of Ukraine, which he defended as “clearly defensive”.
Links to Russia Today
The 59-year-old has also appeared numerous times on Russia Today, the Kremlin-funded TV channel which has been censured by the broadcast regulator Ofcom on multiple occasions.
Mr Corbyn himself was a regular guest on its programmes when he was a backbench MP, saying in 2013 the West should refrain from using “unconfirmed reports” about the use of chemical weapons in Syria to attack Russia.
He also suggested viewers stop watching mainstream broadcasters and give Russia Today, now known as RT, a chance instead.
A study in October last year found shadow ministers have featured at least 26 times since Mr Corbyn became Labour leader in 2015.
One of his key lieutenants, the shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon, has appeared 11 times, as have shadow ministers Barry Gardiner and Peter Dowd.
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has also been on – but this week said he won't be making any more appearances, saying its coverage "goes beyond objective journalism".
Labour leader's advisers
Mr Corbyn has other people close to him who are supporting of Putin’s regime, with senior advisor Andrew Fisher allegedly using his position in the leader’s office to remove a reference to tackling “Russian aggression” from a briefing for it MPs on benefits of EU, saying: “We want a positive line.”
Mr Fisher, who wrote Labour’s 2017 manifesto, has a long-term association with Marxists and communists, and has also written extensively on Russia in the Morning Star.
Another advisor, Andrew Murray, also has a history of supporting the Russian regime through his leadership of the Stop the War coalition, which Mr Corbyn has been chair of and a longstanding supporter.
The group organised at least three rallies in Britain for Boris Kagarlitsky, a Putin apologist paid by the Russian government, with Mr Corbyn and Mr Milne speaking at one of them.
Mr Murray, who was seconded from the Unite union to Labour headquarters for the 2017 general election, also wrote an article in the Morning Star in 1999 arguing Josef Stalin’s leadership was preferable to the West, as well as others praising the Soviet Union.
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The East Midlands, East of England, North-East, North-West, South-West Scotland, Lothian Borders and Yorkshire & Humber will all be affected.
A band of rain and hill snow will increasingly turn to snow to lower levels through Friday evening and overnight into Saturday, .
PM Theresa May announces expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats and calls nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal 'unlawful use of force'
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