British policy on Syria - Peter Ford, former UK Ambassador to Syria: 

"British policy on Syria is based on two principles: 

1. The declared but hollow support for a political 'solution' that would be suicide for the Syrian government and for the current secular nature of Syrian society, and 

2. An undeclared but ferocious economic war.

Both principles are designed to prevent the Syrian government and the Russians from 'enjoying' their military success.  They are nothing but vindictiveness dressed up as 'policy' - because the UK and US governments have failed in their regime-change policy.

The cruel sanctions against the population of Syria are at the core of British policy towards Syria. The other plank in British policy is information warfare. Information warfare is necessary in order to 'justify' the brutal sanctions policy, and that information warfare against Syria is ratcheting up because there is a growing voice internationally against sanctions because of their humanitarian impact.  Britain's proud 'generous' humanitarian effort is in place purely to keep the refugees where they are - away from Britain's shores - and away from Syria and the ability for any kind of return to normality in Syria."

Taken from Peter's speech at yesterday's EUROCSE conference: