Litvinenko inquiry is launched: now there's a coincidence!

Until now, government didn't want to risk Russian relations: after MH17, we're happy to upset Putin

A painting of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko
(Image credit: NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images)

Home Secretary Theresa May is to announce today that a public inquiry will be held into the fatal poisoning in London of the one-time Russian KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, raising the very obvious question - why has the government waited until now?

May will argue that she was forced into it by a court ruling in February. But Nick Robinson, the BBC's political editor, is among the growing chorus of commentators who clearly see the timing wrapped up in the downing of MH17 over Ukraine, allegedly by pro-Russian separatists with missiles supplied by Moscow.

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is the pseudonym for a London-based political consultant who writes exclusively for The Week.co.uk.