> Michael Gove is taking a “Jeremy Corbyn approach” in his bid to seize oligarchs’ homes without compensation, government insiders have warned, as some in Whitehall resist proposals to confiscate Russian-owned assets.
> A government source warned against undermining “the right of an individual to own their own property” as part of the crackdown on those linked to Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, following the invasion of Ukraine.
> An ally of Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, also warned against any move that infringes on property rights.
> Last week, The Telegraph disclosed that Mr Gove was pushing to seize lavish UK homes owned by Putin’s allies. It followed independent research which suggested that £1.5 billion worth of property has been bought by Russians accused of corruption or links to the Kremlin since 2016.
> The Housing Secretary is drawing up plans to allow the Government to confiscate oligarchs’ homes without paying compensation.
> But the proposals are being resisted within Whitehall by figures who point out that they go much further than traditional sanctions that result in such assets being frozen – meaning they cannot be sold or mortgaged – and individuals being banned from entering the country.
> Asset freezes do not involve a change in ownership or confiscation.
> ‘Requisitioning without compensation’
One government source said: “You’re fiddling with property rights, which are a solemn view of any democratic country – the right of an individual to own their own property.
> “It’s the Jeremy Corbyn approach of nationalising industry – requisitioning without compensation. By freezing bank accounts the Government doesn’t take control of that cash, it’s frozen.”
> Lord Moylan, a former adviser to Mr Johnson at City Hall, said: “The Conservative Party is the party of property,” adding that property comes with “rights”.
> He also warned against an approach assuming that “anyone who is rich must have got it stealing and anyone who is Russian must be guilty”. He added: “We need some proof.”
> Another government source insisted: “Obviously property rights are a very basic part of our constitutional norms and therefore any attempts to do anything wouldn’t be taken lightly.”
> The source added: “The Prime Minister is very behind this and really keen on it.”
> Mr Corbyn’s 2019 election manifesto pledged to bring Royal Mail, rail firms, bus networks and water and energy firms into “into public ownership”.
> The first government source added: “It’s got a revolutionary feel to it where any association is bad so we must cleanse ourselves. The problem with the Labour Party is that they are now just targeting Russian people,” as opposed to those specifically linked to Putin. The source added: “Many have escaped Putin to live in a free, democratic country.”
> On Thursday, the Government announced new sanctions against Alisher Usmanov, who had recent ties to Everton Football Club, and Igor Shuvalov, a former Russian deputy prime minister.
> Mr Usmanov owns Beechwood House in Highgate, worth an estimated £48 million, and the 16th century Sutton Place estate in Surrey, according to the Foreign Office.
> Under the sanctions announced last week, he will not be able to sell or transfer the properties, according to a Foreign Office source, but the houses will remain under his ownership.
Umm – correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Corbyn propose compensation for his nationalisation programs?
>You’re fiddling with property rights, which are a solemn view of any democratic country
They are? Is that written down somewhere?
>Asset freezes do not involve a change in ownership or confiscation.
So you eventually plan to unfreeze and give everything back?
Sorry, but this whole article just feels like a manufactured attack on both Gove and Corbyn. I’m pretty certain the number of people in the UK feeling sad that oligarchs who made their fortunes stealing off the Russian people, are having their shit stolen back.
>Michael Gove is taking a “Jeremy Corbyn approach” in his bid to seize oligarchs’ homes without compensation, government insiders have warned, as some in Whitehall resist proposals to confiscate Russian-owned assets.
and:
>One government source said: “You’re fiddling with property rights, which are a solemn view of any democratic country – the right of an individual to own their own property.
>
>”It’s the Jeremy Corbyn approach of nationalising industry – requisitioning without compensation.
Not no fan of Corbyn but I have no memory of him proposing to to seize industries from private hands ** without compensation **. What drugs are these paranoid fuckers taking?
Wartime calls for extreme measures. Seize the properties as soon as possible.
So they’re not actually going to do anything to the guys supporting a state-sponsored terror regime, because of their property rights.
Splendid.
Vibes of “this is what a communist would do” whilst a capitalist does it
6 comments
> Michael Gove is taking a “Jeremy Corbyn approach” in his bid to seize oligarchs’ homes without compensation, government insiders have warned, as some in Whitehall resist proposals to confiscate Russian-owned assets.
> A government source warned against undermining “the right of an individual to own their own property” as part of the crackdown on those linked to Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, following the invasion of Ukraine.
> An ally of Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, also warned against any move that infringes on property rights.
> Last week, The Telegraph disclosed that Mr Gove was pushing to seize lavish UK homes owned by Putin’s allies. It followed independent research which suggested that £1.5 billion worth of property has been bought by Russians accused of corruption or links to the Kremlin since 2016.
> The Housing Secretary is drawing up plans to allow the Government to confiscate oligarchs’ homes without paying compensation.
> But the proposals are being resisted within Whitehall by figures who point out that they go much further than traditional sanctions that result in such assets being frozen – meaning they cannot be sold or mortgaged – and individuals being banned from entering the country.
> Asset freezes do not involve a change in ownership or confiscation.
> ‘Requisitioning without compensation’
One government source said: “You’re fiddling with property rights, which are a solemn view of any democratic country – the right of an individual to own their own property.
> “It’s the Jeremy Corbyn approach of nationalising industry – requisitioning without compensation. By freezing bank accounts the Government doesn’t take control of that cash, it’s frozen.”
> Lord Moylan, a former adviser to Mr Johnson at City Hall, said: “The Conservative Party is the party of property,” adding that property comes with “rights”.
> He also warned against an approach assuming that “anyone who is rich must have got it stealing and anyone who is Russian must be guilty”. He added: “We need some proof.”
> Another government source insisted: “Obviously property rights are a very basic part of our constitutional norms and therefore any attempts to do anything wouldn’t be taken lightly.”
> The source added: “The Prime Minister is very behind this and really keen on it.”
> Mr Corbyn’s 2019 election manifesto pledged to bring Royal Mail, rail firms, bus networks and water and energy firms into “into public ownership”.
> The first government source added: “It’s got a revolutionary feel to it where any association is bad so we must cleanse ourselves. The problem with the Labour Party is that they are now just targeting Russian people,” as opposed to those specifically linked to Putin. The source added: “Many have escaped Putin to live in a free, democratic country.”
> On Thursday, the Government announced new sanctions against Alisher Usmanov, who had recent ties to Everton Football Club, and Igor Shuvalov, a former Russian deputy prime minister.
> Mr Usmanov owns Beechwood House in Highgate, worth an estimated £48 million, and the 16th century Sutton Place estate in Surrey, according to the Foreign Office.
> Under the sanctions announced last week, he will not be able to sell or transfer the properties, according to a Foreign Office source, but the houses will remain under his ownership.
Umm – correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Corbyn propose compensation for his nationalisation programs?
>You’re fiddling with property rights, which are a solemn view of any democratic country
They are? Is that written down somewhere?
>Asset freezes do not involve a change in ownership or confiscation.
So you eventually plan to unfreeze and give everything back?
Sorry, but this whole article just feels like a manufactured attack on both Gove and Corbyn. I’m pretty certain the number of people in the UK feeling sad that oligarchs who made their fortunes stealing off the Russian people, are having their shit stolen back.
>Michael Gove is taking a “Jeremy Corbyn approach” in his bid to seize oligarchs’ homes without compensation, government insiders have warned, as some in Whitehall resist proposals to confiscate Russian-owned assets.
and:
>One government source said: “You’re fiddling with property rights, which are a solemn view of any democratic country – the right of an individual to own their own property.
>
>”It’s the Jeremy Corbyn approach of nationalising industry – requisitioning without compensation.
Not no fan of Corbyn but I have no memory of him proposing to to seize industries from private hands ** without compensation **. What drugs are these paranoid fuckers taking?
Wartime calls for extreme measures. Seize the properties as soon as possible.
So they’re not actually going to do anything to the guys supporting a state-sponsored terror regime, because of their property rights.
Splendid.
Vibes of “this is what a communist would do” whilst a capitalist does it