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Boris Johnson’s ‘Russian’ Novichok claims questioned by commentators MSM & Tories slated over ‘Russia Did It’ claims in Skripal Novichok case
(about 2 hours later)
The UK government’s handling of the Skripal affair has been criticized following Tuesday’s revelation that scientists have been unable to conclusively prove that Russia was the origin of the Novichok nerve agent.The UK government’s handling of the Skripal affair has been criticized following Tuesday’s revelation that scientists have been unable to conclusively prove that Russia was the origin of the Novichok nerve agent.
Leading British journalists and political commentators – most notably respected journalist Paul Mason – called for British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to clarify previous statements in which he claimed to have received assurances from Porton Down as to the origin of the chemical agent. Netizens, including many leading British journalists and political commentators, have roundly criticized the leading cheerleaders of the ‘Russia Did It’ camp, including PM Theresa May and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.
On Tuesday, Porton Down Chief Executive Gary Aitkenhead said that: “We were able to identify it as Novichok, to identify that it was military-grade nerve agent.” However, it appears Johnson lied, or at the very least jumped the gun, about claiming he was told there was “no doubt” the chemical used was from Russia.
"We have not identified the precise source, but we have provided the scientific info to government who have then used a number of other sources to piece together the conclusions you have come to,” Aitkenhead told Sky News on Tuesday.
Ex-double agent Sergei Skripal, as well as his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, were found slumped on a park bench in Salisbury on March 4.
READ MORE: Unidentified: Porton Down scientists CANNOT confirm Novichok used on Skripals was made in RussiaREAD MORE: Unidentified: Porton Down scientists CANNOT confirm Novichok used on Skripals was made in Russia
"We have not identified the precise source, but we have provided the scientific info to government who have then used a number of other sources to piece together the conclusions you have come to,” Porton Down Chief Executive Gary Aitkenhead told Sky News on Tuesday.
It’s not just May and her government that have been slammed, though, with the mainstream media also criticised for peddling the government's claims without resorting to the need for evidence. Some Twitter users compared the reporting of the Skripal affair to that of the Iraq war.
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