Boris Johnson said the UK will be providing more military support to Ukraine, as he clashed with MPs over Britain’s response to Russia’s aggression during Prime Minister’s Questions.
The PM and the leader of the opposition called for “unity” after President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of two Moscow-backed separatist-held regions.
But the Labour leader turned on Johnson over his sanctions of five Russian banks and three oligarchs which he claims do not go far enough. He accused Johnson of presiding over an “era of oligarch impunity” and that his strategy “could send the wrong message”.
He added: “If the Prime Minister brings forward his full package of sanctions including excluding Russians from financial mechanisms like SWIFT and a ban on trading in Russian sovereign debt, he will have the full support of the House.”
Johnson responded by saying his announcement yesterday was just the “first barrage” of punishments against the Kremlin and that it was vital western allies “squeeze [Putin] simultaneously”.
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Johnson revealed that Nadine Dorries, the Secretary for Digital Culture, Media and Sport, has asked Ofcom to review the television licence of news channel RT following a request from Keir Starmer to ban the state-controlled network.
The questioning on Ukraine did not stop there. SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford called on the Conservative Party to return more than £2 million “raised from Russian oligarchs”.
The PM denied the claim. “We do not raise money from Russian oligarchs,” he said. “We raise money from people who are registered to vote on the UK register of interests.”
Other topics raised included the cost-of-living crisis, flooding, and Downing Street’s inquiry into Nus Ghani and Islamophobia. Yet it was Russia and the UK’s response to the crisis that dominated what was a tetchy session of PMQs. The issue is likely to dominate the Order of Business for weeks to come.
