The Russian economy is much smaller than California's and roughly the same size as Italy. It was never capable of financing a long war of attrition, and the massive losses of men and material in Ukraine was always going to take their toll. If you can win a quick war, the size of the economy is irrelevant; however, once you are at a stalemate over a long period and suffering huge losses, the largest economy must ultimately prevail. I'm surprised Russia has lasted as long as it has since they are up against the resources of US and the EU, but it seems they are nearing the end. The BBC's Moscow correspondent, Steve Rosenberg, summarised the Russian newspapers yesterday, and one report suggested: “Russian industry is balancing on the verge of an all-industry collapse.”
In today’s Russian papers: nuclear-powered cruise missiles, poisonous snakes and economic pressures: “Russian industry is balancing on the verge of an all-industry collapse.” #ReadingRussia— Steve Rosenberg (@bbcstever.bsky.social) 27 October 2025 at 07:20
This was about company debt and the crippling 16.5% central bank interest rate needed to keep the lid on a circa 25% inflation rate. At the same time, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the US Treasury report that Russia's wartime economy has "hit the wall."
You can also tell when Putin is under pressure because he begins to talk about nuclear weapons, and yesterday he announced a nuclear-powered cruise missile, which can stay in the air almost indefinitely. Western experts say it doesn't give Russia any real new capability. It is all meant for domestic consumption and as a warning. It is a typical Putin bluff.
Let me make a forecast: when Russia collapses and Putin falls, as he will one day, most of the West's problems will ease or disappear altogether. He is behind the rise of the far-right in Europe and the US, the immigration problems that Europe faces, trouble in Africa, extrajudicial murders, cyber-attacks on infrastructure, as well as the need for a massive increase in Western defence spending.
Which brings me neatly to Nigel Farage.
Reform councillors dropping like flies
Reform UK won many councils in May's local elections, but they are all now descending into in-fighting and acrimony, exactly as predicted. The party has no clear overriding policy objectives and most of the elected councillors don't agree with each other. Being Farage worshippers is about the only thing they have in common.
Five councillors have been kicked out of the party in Kent:
Nigel Farage’s Flagship Kent Council is in trouble. He will be considering Linden Kemkaran’s future. Five Reform UK councillors booted out of party— Reform Party UK Exposed (@reformexposed.bsky.social) 28 October 2025 at 07:00
This follows a bizarre and chaotic council meeting, which took place in August by video conference and was leaked to The Guardian recently. The argument was about promised spending cuts that would enable tax cuts. Needless to say, there were no cuts, and it seems the council intends to levy the maximum increase in council tax allowed by law.
The video conference saw Council leader, Linden Kemkaran, telling her party’s council members to “suck it up.”
Meanwhile, down in Cornwall, the former leader of Reform UK at Cornwall Council has resigned from the party over the weekend to set up a new independent political group. Cllr Rob Parsonage has left Reform together with his wife Christine and Cllr Anna Thomason-Kenyon.
They have joined forces with the Reform group's former deputy leader, Cllr Rowland O'Connor, and Cllr Karen Knight - who left the party last week - to form the breakaway Cornish Independent Nonaligned Group at the council.
The move follows the former chairman of Reform's South East Cornwall branch criticised Cllr Parsonage's leadership, saying he "possesses neither the intellect nor leadership qualities, or indeed any charisma at all, required for this important role". Well, fancy that.
On the topic of Reform and Nigel Farage, The New York Times carries a profile of him: Inside the Joviality of Nigel Farage, which is well worth a read.
Nathan Gill
At a press conference yesterday to highlight the plight of victims of grooming gangs, Farage was asked about two other Brexit Party MEPs who spouted the same pro-Russia talking points that Nathan Gill was bribed to deliver in the European Parliament. Gill was a one-off Farage claimed. So, now we are led to believe that Farage, the party leader, and three other Brexit Party MEPs all made very similar statements that appeared to be helpful to the Kremlin, but only one had to be bribed:
Farage is asked about another two of his MEPs, who made the same pro-Russia statements that Nathan Gill has now pled guilty to being bribed to make. "Opinions are opinions." Farage's defence seems to be that they arrived at those views independently and it has nowt to do with him. Hmm. 🤔 ~AA— Best for Britain (@bestforbritain.org) 27 October 2025 at 15:42
Farage says opinions are opinions, but isn’t it strange that they all shared the same opinion, represented the same party and felt compelled to share those views in the European Parliament..
It must be the first case in history where a politician needed to have his palm greased to persuade him to parrot the party line. Amazing, eh?
