UK Column News — 24th August 2026

**Ben Rubin** (0:08)
Good afternoon, it's Monday, 24th August, 2026, just after one o'clock UK time. You're watching UK Column News. I'm your host, Ben Rubin, and I'm delighted to be joined in the studio by Mr. Charles Malet. Hello, Charles. Hello, Ben. Been a while. It has, isn't it? You're keeping well? Very well, I'm looking forward to today. I'm absolutely looking forward to today. Yes, we've got a lot to get through.
The climate crisis is reaching an even more feverish pitch, and we're going to look at who's behind it and who stands to benefit. We'll be looking at the great transition to a new political and economic system desired by the establishment, which we're going to be ushered into if they have their way through a very tightly staged managed national conversation, which has just kicked off over the past couple of weeks.
Charles is going to be looking at corruption at the very top of the British police, examining the new National Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism. But before that, it's more war as Andy Burnham heads to Ukraine.
Yes, it is. And it's interesting that you would mention a national conversation, because I think that's one thing we haven't really had on Ukraine at any point. But we do appear to be approaching a fever pitch. And if you were under the impression that Andy Burnham was going to go anywhere else on his first foreign visit, then I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. But this is the announcement that was put out by the Prime Minister's office, shown, of course, here in Ukrainian. Because why wouldn't you put it in Ukrainian? What it actually says in English is Britain is 100 percent behind you. Prime Minister Andy Burnham visits Kiev on Ukrainian Independence Day for his first international trip. I don't think anyone would have bet against him going to Ukraine, as I say. Now, the point to bring out of the language used there is that Britain, of course, is behind Ukraine. And the idea that this is anything other than a means by which Russia may be attacked by proxy using Ukrainian lives is, I think, put to bed by what's in this press release. They say that the Prime Minister is going to tell the Ukrainian people that the UK is four square behind Ukraine's independence. And this is further reinforced by the Palace of Westminster last night being lit up in Ukraine colours and the Ministry of Defence being emblazoned by a photograph of a handshake, of course, entirely meaningless. But this is the Prime Minister really got dressed up for this trip. Here he is getting off the, yes, exactly, getting off the train. And in fact, interestingly, they find something fascinating on the station roof, which we'll take a look at. So there's no doubt about the grand significance of this event. But the point is, it coincides with Ukraine's Independence Day, and they talk about strengthening the UK's resolve. Now, it's interesting. You'd think they might be wanting to strengthen Ukraine's resolve, but not the case. Apparently, strengthening the UK's resolve. There were other European leaders arriving, including the European Council President, Antonio Costa, the President of Moldova, Maya Sandu and Luxembourg's Prime Minister, Luke Frieden.
The press release itself, I think, might be classified as revealing, both in terms of what it does say, but also what it doesn't say. And it contains this line, to underline the strength of the commitment, the Prime Minister is set to announce that the government has agreed that defence firm MBDA can release classified information on UK components for the long range missile Scalp. That might mean more to you as Storm Shadow, this course is the French variant, as Ukraine and France look to establish local assembly lines in Ukraine. Now MBDA is owned by a mixture of Airbus, BAE and Leonardo. And I think the critical part here, as seen on screen, is that it's listed as a deep strike capability. And we'll come back to exactly that and what that means later. But they go on to say, the move follows the UK being the first to gift long-range strike weapons for defensive purposes. Yes, you did hear that correctly. Defensive purposes to Ukraine in 2023, and would allow the French and Ukrainians to move forward with the Ukrainian assembly of the missile. No one has to ask at that point, is it just going to be the assembly that they're moving forward with with regard to the French involvement? And I should say that this follows the recent gift of the intellectual property for Stone Cloak, a signal jamming device made by BAE Systems, which already appears to have been responsible for a number of civilian deaths at the Wildberries warehouses far into Russia. And that's something that Brian and I discussed in a forthcoming episode of Military Matters. So look out for that one. Burnham himself said, Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is just and lasting peace. Do you reckon to that?