UK TREND: The public reacts to the prosecution of ‘traitor’ David Smith

David Smit, a British embassy security guard who was found guilty of spying for Russia and revealing information to a “hostile country” will serve 13 years in prison.

The 58-year-old, who was born in Paisley, Scotland, is reported to have “grown strongly anti-British and anti-Western” attitudes at the time he disclosed material to Russian officials in Germany.

Following the news of the prosecution being given, the hashtag #David Smith has been trending on twitter. Members of the public have been expressing their views with regards to whether the judgement given was fair or not.

Good riddance! Traitor! https://t.co/4aDaJQXeDq

— Cecilie🇳🇴🇬🇧🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦 (@JusticeCici) February 17, 2023

David Smith

Members of the public were not pleased with the sentence that was given to Mr Smith and were using Twitter as a platform to call on the government to “ update the legislation for Treason, to ensure those that betray the country are served with life sentences”.

The government should update Treason legislation and ensure life sentences for those that betray our country.

— British Alba (@BritishAlba) February 17, 2023

Other individuals were also using the situation of David Smith as an example , to question what will be happening to Boris Johnson, following the rumours that he had “secret liaisons with the Russians”.

Watching the sentencing of David Smith for colluding with the Russians. So, when do we see Johnson in the dock? 🤷

— OnTheRun 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@OntHeron1) February 17, 2023

David Smith,a spy in Berlin, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for spying for Russia.
So does this mean that Boris Johnson, who has taken money and had secret liasons with Russians, is next on the list.

— Bill (@bill_bgt100) February 17, 2023

Boris Johnson

Another individual questioned if the same rules that convicted David Smith will be applied to “ Boris Johnson and his Lebedev connections and the rest of the tory party”. Or “ does it not apply to the upper classes and political elite ?”.

So David Smith has been jailed for 13 years,convicted of being a Russian Spy….now do Boris Johnson & his Lebedev connections and the rest of the #Tory Party or doesn’t it apply to the upper classes & political elite #BerlinSpy #Johnson #ToryCorruption

— Hazel *wanted 🌹got🥀* (@DebateHazel) February 17, 2023

Dermott, another Twitter user, posed a similar query: “What sentence should prominent Conservatives get for working with/colluding with Russian financiers and paymasters?”.

https://twitter.com/dermott_lydon/status/1626539921073664001?s=20

The Home Secretary Suella Braverman tweeted that this is “ a great result for British Justice at the Old Bailey, as David Smith betrayed our country and its credits to brilliant work of MI5,our police, and their cooperation with German authorities that he’s now been sentenced to 13+ years in jail”.

A great result for British justice at the Old Bailey today with the sentencing of David Smith. He betrayed our country and it’s credit to the brilliant work of MI5, our police, and their cooperation with German authorities that he’s now been sentenced to 13+ years in jail.

— Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) February 17, 2023

Many people questioned the decision in their tweets in response to the Home Secretary. Like politician such as Anas Altikriti, who questioned whether David Smith “would lose his citizenship due to his treachery” in accordance with the Nationality and Borders Bill.

Will he lose his British citizenship as a result of his treachery? https://t.co/mz6ouosNRg

— Anas Altikriti أنس التكريتي (@anasaltikriti) February 17, 2023

Others seized on the situation to criticise the government’s “hypocrisy,” tweeting that “members of parliament who take money from Russia are not being brought to courts.” In doing so, it serves to demonstrate the “double standards with everything the government does.”

So when are all the MPs who take money from Russia being brought to court? No didn't think so.
Double standards as with everything you do. Do as I say not as I do. Thieving hypocrits the lot of you.

— Yvonne Nee 3.5% (@bon0504) February 17, 2023

https://twitter.com/Musttrytobegood/status/1626667824440565771?s=20

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