71 upvotes, 34 direct replies (showing 25)
View submission: Suspected Campaign from Russia on Reddit
Some context for those of you outside of the UK.
These documents are UK officials' notes of preliminary trade talks with American officials.
They were recently announced by the leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, in a press conference[1] that claimed they were evidence the UK government planned to sell out our health service to US corporate interests.
They do set out US objectives, but "do not provide evidence ministers have agreed the health service should be part of a trade deal with US[2]".
2: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50572454
Separately, the UK Conservative government has recently been criticised for not publishing a report on Russian interference[3] in the UK, which several sources claim was ready to launch shortly before the election campaign began. Some have suggested this is because they thought it might suggest Russia backed the Leave campaign, others because it might show the UK government were lax on Russian dirty money entering the UK, and that some of that was donated to the Conservative party. All of these would be unwelcome news for the Conservative government during an election campaign.
3: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50366956
Whilst Russia are almost certainly pro-Brexit, given how helpful this leak has been to the opposition Labour party, I don't think they do want the governing Conservative party to win the current election campaign - after all, the current government led a global campaign to expel Russian diplomats after Salisbury, and have consistently pushed a hard line in the EU in favour of sanctions on Russia, and have stationed troops in Baltic NATO members to defend them against Russia.
On the other hand, there are quite a few reasons that Russia might prefer Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn:
Comment by [deleted] at 06/12/2019 at 23:55 UTC*
16 upvotes, 0 direct replies
While you raise some interesting speculative points, the idea of Corbyn as a friend of Russia is highly implausible, and you don't mention the most relevant point as far as Russian interest in a weak UK is concerned: Labour have virtually zero chance of winning a majority, so Russia are not interested in seeing Labour win, they're interested in seeing the Conservatives lose, and for either a minority government, a weak coalition, or further elections to be the outcome. A Labour majority would be less in Russian interests than an indecisive result that saw further uncertainty injected into Brexit proceedings and a lack of any leadership on an international stage from the UK as its focus stays fixed inward.
Frankly, the list of supposedly Russian motives being so focused on Corbyn's politics over actual Russian geopolitical interests and what best serves them that it's hard not to feel the motive here is to push "Corbyn is pro-Russia" as a message more than "Russia is pro-Corbyn"
Comment by PartPillowAllCarnage at 06/12/2019 at 23:26 UTC
44 upvotes, 2 direct replies
And just for some more context, this poster is a right wing conservative supporter so bear that in mind when reading this comment.
Comment by recruit00 at 06/12/2019 at 23:23 UTC
23 upvotes, 5 direct replies
Russia also benefits from causing discord in foreign democracies. While Corbyn could be seen as more useful to Russia than Johnson (which I would probably agree with), they dont necessarily care who wins and could simply be happy enough to cause chaos.
Comment by mst3kcrow at 07/12/2019 at 00:44 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Separately, the UK Conservative government has recently been criticised for not publishing a report on Russian interference in the UK, which several sources claim was ready to launch shortly before the election campaign began. Some have suggested this is because they thought it might suggest Russia backed the Leave campaign, others because it might show the UK government were lax on Russian dirty money entering the UK, and that some of that was donated to the Conservative party.
It's not an if, they most certainly funded some of the leave campaign. Russia has similar campaigns in the US such as CalExit, Texit, etc. and others abroad. Failing to publish Russian electoral influence and money corrupting British elections is covering the issue up and speaks that they'd rather secure power than elections.
Whilst Russia are almost certainly pro-Brexit, given how helpful this leak has been to the opposition Labour party, I don't think they do want the governing Conservative party to win the current election campaign
This is an odd way to phrase this, what part of England are you from?
On the other hand, there are quite a few reasons that Russia might prefer Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn:
Those are concerning points with Corbyn but you're whitewashing the UK Conservative party by claiming Russia doesn't want them. It's a bait and switch argument. If they're for Brexit and destroying NHS (which Conservatives are), they're incredibly useful idiots to Putin's agenda.
Comment by tfrules at 07/12/2019 at 00:14 UTC*
4 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Don’t try to come across as being impartial, you’re clearly pretty right leaning and many of your points are misleading.
This comment is weirdly anti Labour, and the influx of bots and propaganda onto reddit is concerning, Labour have been in power many times through the last century and the UK is still a part of NATO, and still cooperating with other NATO countries. There’s no indication this would change if Labour got into power
Corbyn might be less than orthodox, but he’s capable of changing his mind on subjects now that there is a possibility of him becoming PM, for example he’s withheld his republican leanings in favour of keeping the royals. He’s also a compromiser, and that includes his own party, which would be unlikely to allow the uk to leave NATO.
Maybe I could even be a bot? The plot thickens
Comment by JB_UK at 07/12/2019 at 00:05 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The connection between these documents and Corbyn is tenuous. He publicised them weeks after they were posted on reddit. Also, although you’re right that Corbyn’s views are relatively advantageous to them, if he got into power it would put Brexit at risk, which is wildly against their strategic aims (to weaken Europe as an economic and political bloc, and to isolate it from Britain, which is also strongly supportive of NATO and one of Europe’s pre-eminent military powers). So your explanation seems unlikely.
Comment by arbitraryairship at 07/12/2019 at 00:27 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Considering this didn't get as far as most sincere Russian propagandist efforts, this is also very likely a false flag.
By supporting the spread of material that discredits Boris Johnson, then getting caught, they can discredit the attacks against him to help him win the election.
The fact that this was so obvious and happened so immediately after the document leak makes me suspicious that this may be the case.
Comment by HeartyBeast at 07/12/2019 at 00:39 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I don't think they do want the governing Conservative party to win the current election campaign
Currently the conservatives have a fair lead in the polls. It's possible the Russians thought this would keep things nicely into hung-parliament territory. Confusion, paralysis, polarisation, reduced confidence in institutions, probably Brexit.
Comment by [deleted] at 06/12/2019 at 23:51 UTC
5 upvotes, 2 direct replies
You are lying, the documents do provide evidence that the Conservatives want to privatize the NHS because the US will demand access of American healthcare companies in the UK market as part of a treaty. I have suspicion that this post on reddit was in fact organized by the CIA in an amazing attempt to use the leak of the documents showing the Conservatives true goals as somehow a condemnation of Corbyn. Reddit and other American companies should stop interfering in the British election, fascist Americans want to tear apart the European Union so that they won’t have any geopolitical competitors in the area and can pursue divide and conquer strategies.
Comment by [deleted] at 06/12/2019 at 23:29 UTC*
7 upvotes, 2 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by awrylettuce at 06/12/2019 at 23:21 UTC
10 upvotes, 4 direct replies
Are you also a undercover agent? What do I still believe?
Comment by PostingIcarus at 06/12/2019 at 23:32 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
He has suggested he would allow another referendum on Scotland leaving the UK 6, and has said he is in favour of Northern Ireland leaving the UK 7 - both of which would weaken a military rival of Russia
Desiring more democracy is a bad thing now?
Comment by Boltsnapbolts at 07/12/2019 at 00:17 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
jeremy corbyn does not support nuclear holocaust
russians do not support nuclear holocaust
COINCIDENCE?
Comment by squarepush3r at 06/12/2019 at 23:29 UTC
6 upvotes, 1 direct replies
"The impeachment Whistleblowers identity does not matter"
​
"Ignore these leaked documents they are from muh Russia!!1"
Comment by Loptional at 07/12/2019 at 00:06 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
And now people will focus on the leak instead of the NHS being auctioned off! Well done dorks!
Comment by INCEL_ANDY at 07/12/2019 at 00:02 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Echo chambers are unique to the right guys
Comment by CohorsMando at 07/12/2019 at 00:17 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I would ask how someone like that got into that position, but then I look at our own mess.
Comment by RedOrmTostesson at 07/12/2019 at 00:11 UTC
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
This is garbage conservative propaganda.
Comment by CouldveBeenPoofs at 07/12/2019 at 00:16 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Imagine writing:
He wants to unilaterally get rid of our nuclear deterrent.
Reading it, thinking it’s a bad thing, and then posting it. Nuclear weapons are bad. Full stop.
Comment by DidijustDidthat at 06/12/2019 at 23:27 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Either that or they leaked the documents and have given the Conservatives the fuel they need to attack the Labour Party. This weak ass supposedy foiled Russian scheme makes little sense. Russian money flows through the City of London, Boris as Mayor of London was practically fellating the City for 8 years...
Comment by PublicLeopard at 07/12/2019 at 00:44 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
why are documents announced by the leader of opposition in a press conference (and covered in great detail by major news outlets like BBC) getting banned on reddit as russian disinformation is my question.
Comment by [deleted] at 07/12/2019 at 00:21 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
They don’t care who wins! They only care about creating chaos. That’s the point.
Talk about shit stew, we are going to have to start licensing the news. The potential for abuse is insane there too..
Comment by xxSharktits_snipeRxx at 07/12/2019 at 00:46 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The speculation at the bottom of your post is not helpful. Russia benefits from chaos, period. It doesn't matter who they're helping as long as it sows negative news cycles and mistrust of one another.
Comment by [deleted] at 07/12/2019 at 00:46 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Shut up
Comment by geekboy69 at 07/12/2019 at 00:06 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Why shouldn't this stuff be leaked? And the Atlantic council is what we are using to make these decisions....and everyone here cheers this on...