War is contingent on many things. Outcomes rest on a multiplicity of factors, decisions and inputs. Some are out of anyone’s control while others, such as arms supplies from allies, are not.
The West has already shown a resolve many, not least Vladimir Putin, thought was lacking. European nations in particular have maintained solidarity and endured collective sacrifice, both in enduring higher energy prices and providing Ukraine with the weapons it needs.
We must continue in that support. The UK has consistently been at the forefront of aid for Ukraine, with cash, training and military equipment. Britain has again led the way in committing tanks, with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace having announced 14 Challenger II tanks will be supplied to Kyiv.
At the outset, we said that Putin must fail, and we intend to deliver on that pledge. Meanwhile, France is considering sending its Leclerc tanks. Crucial in the endeavour is Germany. It must sign off on the use of its Leopard 2 tanks, and has indicated it will do so only when the US supplies its Abrams tank, not included in a $2.5 billion package of military assistance announced yesterday.
Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has changed Europe forever, and the repercussions have been felt acutely in Germany. While remaining mindful of escalation, it is vital that the West remains united and provides our Ukrainian allies with the tools they need to win this war.
Rowley’s huge task
As stunts go, it was a fine one. Some 1,071 rotten apples were placed outside New Scotland Yard by the charity Refuge, mirroring the number of Met officers who have been, or are currently, under investigation for domestic abuse.
The protest follows an ever-growing series of scandals within the Met. This week alone saw the expulsion of David Carrick, who admitted a campaign of rapes and sexual abuse while a serving officer, and today we report on astonishing levels of incompetence after a review found that officers binned evidence that a man was stalking his ex-wife a year before he killed her with a crossbow. Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, arrived with a brief to rid the force not only of dodgy officers, but a rotten culture. That will require more than clearing a few rotten apples.
Travelcards’ decline
Two decades ago, the travelcard was king as commuters sought the cheapest way in and out of the city each day. Fast forward to 2023, and the change in working patterns combined with the rise of contactless cards and mobile wallets has contributed to an 80 per cent reduction in the use of travelcards on public transport in London.
The fall has been dramatic. The purchase of weekly, monthly and annual season tickets has declined from a total of about 1.2 million to 220,000, per four-week period, in under a decade. The tickets change but London’s transport network soldiers on.
