Sir Edward Leigh, a British Conservative Party member of parliament since 1983, is a British politician. Leigh received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honors 2013 for “public and politcal service” and has also been honored by the French and Italian governments. However, Leigh is known at Westminster as a “serial rebellion,” always willing to air his opinions. Leigh’s independence of mind was evident last spring, when he appeared in praise of Priti Patel as the Home Secretary announced that the government would further relax immigration rules so that more relatives of Ukrainians living in the UK could join their family. However, he did not completely waive the existing rules that apply to those who are trying to flee the Russian bombardment of Ukraine. Leigh said, “Everyone wants to be humane and she’s being pressured to have a Visa-Free Scheme like the rest of Europe. But may I actually congratulate [Priti Patel] on her proportionate reaction.
I think that we should remember that unlike the rest Europe, we speak English and have unique liberal labor laws. Therefore, we are the preferred country for mass immigration. I urge her to listen not only to the voices of the humanitarians, but also to the voices of the people of Lincolnshire, who feel they have done their part in terms of migration to the UK from Eastern Europe. We’re under extreme stress in terms of housing, jobs and other issues.”
Leigh and Radio Free Europe’s Georgian Service were in Strasbourg, France on the 26th of January, as part of the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. We wanted to pick Leigh’s brain about his current views on those Ukrainian refugees and the UK’s assistance in the war with Russia.
Sir Edward, you are a Thatcherite. What would you expect PM Margaret Thatcher to do in regards to the Ukraine War? Would it differ from the current government policy in Ukraine?
I have no doubt at all that Mrs. Thatcher would be in favor of Ukraine’s aid if she were still alive. She was adamantly against aggression. PM Thatcher knew the Cold War better than anyone else. She fought the Soviet Union. She would have done the exact same thing today, because, let’s be honest, what Putin does now is reestablish the Soviet Empire.
You were criticized at the start of the invasion for your remarks on Ukrainian immigrants. Do you believe the UK has done enough to support Ukraine, and in particular the refugee problem?
My comments about the refugee problem were misinterpreted. My office has been working hard to help Ukrainian refugees. The home office is the problem, with its bureaucracy.
The Challenger 2 tank – should it be followed by others?
I’m not a military expert but I am glad we provided these heavy tanks. There will likely be more and I am glad we set an excellent example for the Germans and Americans.
You were against the 2003 Iraq invasion. Today, Iraq is used as a stick to beat the West with when it criticizes Putin’s actions in Ukraine. What do you make of these comparisons?
I don’t believe there is any comparison. I was against Iraq and Blair but what we did, was considered a deterrent, because it was believed that Iraq had weapons of massive destruction. Putin is acting out of malice, whereas Blair acted with goodwill. As you may recall, Iraq was a British colony prior to World War 2. Blair never intended to restore that status, unlike what Putin does. I don’t think that any comparison can be made.
How do you feel as an ardent Catholic about Russia using the orthodox faith and Church in its war against Ukraine.
In Russia, the Russian Orthodox church has a long tradition of being very close to the government. Putin uses it in a similar way to Stalin. It’s a misused religion. It’s wrong that the Patriarch, and all of them, allow themselves to be manipulated by Putin to justify an aggression war. They are Christians and I believe that Christian bishops should only talk about Christ, not war.
Interview with Vazha Tavberidze, RFE
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