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price-discovery t1_iubahpu wrote

>Qatar has spent more money on gifts and trips for British MPs in the past year than any other country, according to Observer analysis that reveals the Gulf state’s lobbying efforts ahead of next month’s football World Cup.

>The value of Qatar’s gifts was greater than the amount spent by the 15 other countries whose governments made donations to British MPs combined.

Why the hell are they spending so much money on UK politicians? Is this a marketing/branding plan of some sort? It looks like a huge waste of money to me.

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UniquesNotUseful t1_iubjml5 wrote

Qatar and UK have had closer ties since 2008, particularly with finance, energy and defence.

One reason is that with the withdrawal from the Middle East by the US, as they more inward looking, it means Qatar wants other friends and UK has decent soft power.

Reasons UK likes it are things like, in November 2021 they became our supplier of last resort, so they divert LNG tankers to us if gas is running short, like last year, so we get priority over others. There was a deal to create 40,000 green jobs with rolls Royce at COP26, £50bn of investments, joint oil searches, etc.

I dislike getting into bed with them, I don’t think we will make changes we think we will.

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FarawayFairways t1_iubhtx7 wrote

> Why the hell are they spending so much money on UK politicians?

Probably because all those who hold positions of influence only last about 3 weeks so the cycle has to start again

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gmpangarkar t1_iuc7exi wrote

London's financial sector runs on the money from Russians and Shaikh's..

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Mob1lis_in_mobil1 t1_iuem85e wrote

There’s a reason the UK is home to money laundering for the world’s elites.

The UK government might as well be openly corrupt at this point.

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DonDove t1_iubdx5c wrote

They are sooo gonna hand this WC to the Brits

That's what I would say if Boris was still PM

Not so sure now

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