Markus Andrews

The UK Government must expand Russian sanctions in what could be the most “critical moment since the Second World War” for the world, Scotland’s First Minister has said.Speaking after a meeting with the acting Consul General of Ukraine, Yevhen Mankovskyi, and Linda Allison, the chairwoman of the Scottish branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, Ms Sturgeon said she wants to see “rhetoric matched by action”.On Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced what he called a “first barrage” of sanctions against five banks and three individuals linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin.Sanctions were also set to be placed on Russian politicians who vote to recognise the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine.But the First Minister called for more to be done, saying: “I don’t think that the UK Government is yet doing enough in the form of sanctions,” she told STV News.“We’ve had, rightly and properly, some very tough rhetoric from Boris Johnson and the UK Government in recent weeks, we now need that rhetoric matched by action.“That’s important because this is a critical moment for Ukraine, but it’s a critical moment for the world.“The choice at this moment in history is to hit Putin hard with the severest of sanctions so that he understands there will be consequences for his imperialist aggression, or we don’t do that and he becomes further emboldened.”

This is a moment to stand up for independence, for sovereignty, for territorial integrity and for democracy around the worldNicola SturgeonMs Sturgeon called for Russian broadcaster RT to have its licence revoked, along with more to be done to weed out Russian assets in London.“London is awash with Russian money and the UK Government must target that wealth, those assets, wherever they are and the Russian interests that benefit from those assets and wealth.“They will know where those assets are but there must be a very serious, systematic approach to sanctions and there must be efforts made to ensure that trade is disrupted to make sure that Russia feels that.”The First Minister said it should be the “elite” of Russia that should be impacted by any sanctions and not the citizens.She added that the Scottish Government would support any action against Russian interests in Scotland.The First Minister stressed the importance and severity of the situation on Ukraine’s eastern border – where a reported 200,000 Russian troops have been massing.She said: “This is a moment to stand up for independence, for sovereignty, for territorial integrity and for democracy around the world.“This is probably the most critical moment for the world since the Second World War and time will tell whether the world stands up and defends the values and the principles that we hold dear, or allow people like Putin to ride roughshod over that.”The international community was also urged by Ms Sturgeon not to simply “move on”.“This is a moment where Putin has to be left in no doubt,” she said.“Because what we have seen in the past with Crimea, with Georgia before it, is that the world is aghast for a short time and then it moves on, and Putin is left to consolidate his gains and think that he can continue to act in this way with no consequence whatsoever.”Countries across the world, especially smaller nations, would learn a “hard lesson” if the Russian president were allowed to “get away” with aggression towards Ukraine, the First Minister said.Ms Allison said she was “very disappointed” with the sanctions and that Ukrainians living in Scotland were afraid for the future.“We’re afraid for our family, we’re afraid for our friends, we’re afraid for Ukraine,” she said.“It’s a relatively new country in terms of independence, it’s a beautiful country that’s got so much future so, of course, we’re very, very worried.” More

Related video: Speaker tells MP not to raise Boris Johnson’s comments about Muslims in parliament Boris Johnson could reshuffle his ministers in July if he survives the Partygate scandal, according to one well-placed MP who told The Independent: “Boris is someone who rewards loyalty and there are a lot of people who very noticeably failed to show it.”Those loyal to the prime minister believe the delay in publishing Sue Gray’s final report into lockdown-breaking events at No 10 has helped divert attention away from the campaign to oust him – and that he will survive a confidence vote by MPs, even if he is fined by police.It comes as it was revealed that a Metropolitan Police officer responded to a silent alarm accidentally set off during one of the parties, but failed to take any action. Deputy Met Police Commissioner Steve House told the London Assembly police committee that an officer involved in the incident “has been spoken to” as part of the ongoing probe. Asked why the officers assigned to protect Downing Street had not prevented alleged lawbreaking, Sir Steve responded: “If we find officers knew what was going on and should have intervened we will follow up on that.”Show latest update

1645627914ICYMI: PM condemns Salmond’s appearances on Russia TodayBoris Johnson condemns Alex Salmond’s appearances on Russia TodaySam Hancock23 February 2022 14:511645626311No 10 defends donations from people of Russian originAt PMQs today, the Tories were once more upbraided by opposition politicians for accepting donations from people of Russian origin. In response, Boris Johnson’s press secretary said the necessary due diligence was in place.She added: “The Conservative party does not accept foreign donations, that’s illegal.”“I would make the point that there are people in this country of Russian origin who are British citizens, many are critics of Putin, so it’s wrong and discriminatory to tar them all with the same brush.”Her comments come as the west warns Mr Putin could order a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Rory Sullivan23 February 2022 14:25164562571181% of Independent readers think Covid restrictions should not be endingAll remaining coronavirus restrictions – including the need to self-isolate after a positive test result – will be dropped from midnight under the prime minister’s “living with Covid” strategy.More than 80 per cent of Independent readers believe this is the wrong decision. One reader commented: “We are only just beginning to learn about the long-term effects of even mild infections of this NEW, complex disease. What we already know is concerning both for individuals & their families, & for NHS.”Rory Sullivan23 February 2022 14:151645624991UK at risk of Russian cyberattack amid Ukraine crisis, warns Patel A Russian cyberattack against the UK is likely because of Britain’s support for Ukraine, Priti Patel has said.Speaking the day after the British government imposed sanctions against five Russian banks and three individuals linked to the Putin regime, Ms Patel said the UK’s position will probably lead to “consequences” at home. “I think it’s fair to say, right now, when we are in what is – quite frankly – open conflict, criticising, rightly so, calling for Putin to stop all the activity around Ukraine, it comes with consequences to us,” the home secretary said. “The risk is alive. And on that basis, we are absolutely stepping up everything that we need to domestically,” she added. Rory Sullivan23 February 2022 14:031645624271Exclusive: Boris Johnson ‘lining up revenge reshuffle’ if he survives PartygateBoris Johnson could be planning a revenge reshuffle in July if he survives the Partygate scandal, The Independent understands. Referring to the prime minister’s recent troubles, one well-placed MP said: “Boris is someone who rewards loyalty and there are a lot of people who very noticeably failed to show it.”The comment comes as an exclusive Savanta Comres survey forThe Independent showed the Tories trailing Labour by 7 points. The poll also revealed that only 35 per cent of Tory voters consider Mr Johnson their top choice as leader.The Independent’s political editor Andrew Woodcock has this exclusive: Rory Sullivan23 February 2022 13:511645623551Met Police responded to alarm triggered during Downing Street party but took no action, force confirmsA Metropolitan Police officer responded to a silent alarm set off by mistake at a Downing Street party during lockdown, the force has confirmed.Sir Steve House, the Met’s deputy commissioner, said the person involved had spoken to Sue Gray as part of her investigation into lockdown breaches. He added that the Met will also speak to them. “If we find officers knew what was going on and should have intervened we will follow up on that,” he said.Our home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden reports: Rory Sullivan23 February 2022 13:391645623058UK firms hit by record £4.5bn in customs duties as Brexit begins to ‘bite’ Moving away from PMQs…UK business paid a record £4.5bn in custom duties in the 12 months to 31 January, new figures show. This equates to a 64 per cent rise from the previous year, according to the accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young. The jump was caused by new requirements after Brexit. “Over the past year, customs duties have been a hugely significant additional cost for many businesses,” said Michelle Dale, senior manager at the company, adding that increased post-Brexit costs were “really biting”.“The cost of tariffs and extra paperwork is causing serious difficulties for many businesses, who are already struggling to stay profitable in the face of mounting pandemic-induced costs,” she added.Adam Forrest has more details here: Rory Sullivan23 February 2022 13:301645622229Watch: Speaker tells MP not to raise PM’s comments on Muslims in parliamentSpeaker tells MP not to raise Boris Johnson’s comments about Muslims in parliamentSam Hancock23 February 2022 13:171645622198PM slammed for misquoting Covid employment figures – againIn another update from this week’s PMQs, Full Fact reports:Sam Hancock23 February 2022 13:161645622044Labour reminds Commons PM will correct record on AbramovichAnd finally, Labour’s Chris Bryant makes a point of order to remind MPs Johnson is going to correct the record over what he said about Roman Abramovich yesterday (see my post from 11.04am). Bryant says this is unprecedented, and points out it has taken a Russian billionaire to get the PM to correct the record.That’s it for PMQs this week, the Commons is now emptying out. Sam Hancock23 February 2022 13:14 More

Boris Johnson loyalists believe he is lining up a revenge reshuffle in July if he escapes unscathed from the Partygate inquiries and May’s perilous local elections.Emboldened by the delay in publishing the final report into alleged lockdown-breaking gatherings at No 10, supporters of the prime minister believe the wind has gone out of the sails of moves to oust him, and that he will survive a confidence vote by MPs even if he is fined by the police.One well-placed MP predicted that, if so, he would move against those he feels have undermined him. They told The Independent: “Boris is someone who rewards loyalty, and there are a lot of people who very noticeably failed to show it.”There was little to nurture loyalist hopes of a Johnson recovery in an exclusive Savanta Comres survey for The Independent, which showed Conservatives trailing the opposition on 33 per cent compared to Labour’s 40 – a single point up on the low of 32 recorded in the pollster’s political tracker index.Little more than a third (35 per cent) of Conservative supporters viewed the prime minister as their top choice for leader.A massive 63 per cent of voters said Mr Johnson was doing a “bad job” as PM, against just 31 per cent who said he was doing well. Even among Tory voters, 42 per cent said he was performing badly.But the poll confirmed a belief among his supporters that the PM will be protected from removal by the lack of an obvious replacement for opponents to rally around.Among Tory supporters, he remained well ahead of his nearest rival, Rishi Sunak, who was favoured as leader by 23 per cent, with much-touted alternatives Liz Truss (4 per cent), Jeremy Hunt (7 per cent) and Sajid Javid (4 per cent) all trailing “someone else” (20 per cent) as the first choice.Among voters in general, Mr Johnson on 18 per cent was almost neck and neck with Mr Sunak (17 per cent), with Ms Truss (4 per cent), Mr Hunt (7 per cent) and Mr Javid (6 per cent) again far behind.Johnson loyalists who spoke to The Independent accepted that their leader still faces a challenge to hold onto his job, particularly if he is handed a police fine, is found personally culpable in the Partygate report by senior civil servant Sue Gray, or the Tories suffer a drubbing at the local elections on 5 May.But one Tory MP said that even if one of these moments of peril does result in Sir Graham Brady receiving the 54 letters needed to trigger a vote on Mr Johnson’s leadership, there is growing confidence that the prime minister can win it – as did his predecessor, Theresa May – by securing the votes of more than half of the parliamentary party, which at present equates to 181 of the party’s 360 MPs.“It’s a very high bar to reach, and it would take a greater degree of organisation than the rebels have shown so far,” they said.And the May polls could be a blessing in disguise for the PM, as they involve seats – particularly in London – that were last fought at the high point of Jeremy Corbyn’s electoral fortunes in 2018, meaning that Labour will face a tough challenge if it hopes to make significant gains.“We’ll certainly take a hit in May,” said the MP. “But actually we may not lose that many seats in numerical terms because we’re starting from a fairly low base. [Mr Johnson] can take a few hundred losses without it being terminal, especially if he’s just won a confidence vote.”And they added: “If he gets through both of those, I think we can expect a reshuffle, and it won’t be kind to those who failed to step up when he was under threat.“Boris is someone who rewards loyalty. There are a lot of people who very noticeably failed to show loyalty when the stories about parties were appearing. Jacob (Rees-Mogg) and Nadine (Dorries) and some others were out there [in TV and radio interviews] again and again, but there were others at ministerial and PPS level who were notable by their absence. I think some of them will be regretting their decisions come July.”The MP declined to identify potential victims of a revenge reshuffle.Sunak and Truss have both been accused of being “on manoeuvres” courting support in case of an eventual leadership battle – and Sunak’s disavowal of the PM’s smear linking Sir Keir Starmer with Jimmy Savile was viewed by some as disloyal. But few in Westminster believe the PM would move against the pair, who are viewed as being among his more successful ministers. Despite polling evidence of deep voter anger over Downing Street parties – including a recent survey for The Independent which found 75 per cent think he should quit if fined – some supporters believe he could survive a fixed penalty notice from police.One cabinet minister told The Independent: “The parties certainly come up on the doorstep. There’s no doubt people are cross about them. But it isn’t changing the way they say they’ll vote.“As far as my constituents are concerned, he delivered Brexit and he delivered the vaccine and that’s good enough for them.”The minister added: “I personally don’t think he’ll get fined. There is a high bar for the cops. Even if he does, I think he can ride it out. The Tory mood in the House was completely different after the Covid statement.”With the final Covid restrictions lifted and tensions over Ukraine dominating the political agenda, Johnson supporters are increasingly doubtful that rebels can revive the momentum that earlier saw confidence letters in double figures sent to the chair of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady.MPs who spoke out against Johnson’s leadership came from different groups – Red Wall newcomers anxious for their slim majorities in formerly Labour seats, veteran Tories with One Nation sympathies and former ministers chafing at being confined to the backbenches – with no organised plot to unite them, they said.Meanwhile, the “Operation Save Big Dog” alternative whipping system has been so successful that activity on its WhatsApp support group has dwindled because members feel it is “job done”.One MP said the furore had helped the PM establish a corps of firm supporters: “There wasn’t really a Johnsonite group before all this, but funnily enough the Partygate affair has created one.”Today’s poll showed Sir Keir having some success eating into the Tory vote, with 13 per cent of 2019 Conservatives now saying they would back Labour, against just 1 per cent who backed Sir Keir’s party at the last election moving the other way.But 45 per cent said Sir Keir was doing a bad job as leader of the opposition, against 35 per cent who said he was doing well.Mr Sunak won a positive rating for his performance as chancellor, with 46 per cent saying he has done well, against 39 per cent who rated him badly. And views on Sajid Javid’s performance as health secretary were evenly split 41-41.- Savanta ComRes questioned 2,201 British adults between 18 and 20 February. More

Parliament is “not the appropriate place” to be raising concerns about Boris Johnson’s comments about Muslims, the Speaker has said.At prime minister’s questions on Wednesday Labour MP Imran Hussain said that Mr Johnson was “no stranger to derogatory remarks about Muslim women”.As if about to ask a question, Mr Hussain continued and said “let me ask the prime minister…” before he was cut off by the Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle. Sir Lindsay said: “This is not the appropriate place to be raising that”, and moved onto another MP without asking Mr Johnson to answer the question or allowing Mr Hussain to continue. The Labour MP for Bradford began his question by raising concerns about Mark Spencer, the MP who has been appointed Commons leader despite being under government investigation for alleged Islamophobia, which he denies. But when he turned to the prime minister’s own record he was cut off by the Speaker. Mr Johnson has previously in 2018 described Muslim women as looking like “bank robbers” and “letterboxes”.In 2019 Tell MAMA, an organisation which documents instances of racism against Muslims, reported a 375 per cent increase in attacks in the week following after Mr Johnson’s comments, some “directly referenced Boris Johnson and/or the language used in his column”. The Speaker did not elaborate on his reasoning for cutting off Mr Hussain, but a spokesperson for the House of Commons authorities toldThe Independent: “Mr Speaker was following the convention set out in Erskine May that Members should not make accusations about the conduct of other Members as a ‘sideswipe’ as part of a question. “In other words, any accusation about a Member’s conduct should only be done in the form of a substantive motion, and not just in passing.”But the decision prompted instant criticism. The Labour Muslim Network said: “Thank you to Imran Hussain for raising the issue of Islamophobia in the House of Commons today. It is absolutely shameful that this important issue was shouted down by Conservative MPs and dismissed by the House of Commons Speaker.”Ali Milani, who was Labour’s parliamentary candidate against Mr Johnson at the 2019 election, said: “Good on Imran Hussain, shame on the Commons Speaker [Linsay Hoyle]”.Following the exchange, Mr Hussain said: “Today I raised the serious issue of Islamophobia at the top of the Conservative Party.”I was silenced in Parliament, but they can’t stop me speaking out against this Government’s disgusting racism – so I ask here: If you can’t call out Islamophobia at PMQs then where can you?” More

Young Labour activists have been rebuked by their party after attacking Keir Starmer for “backing Nato aggression” over the Ukraine crisis.The Labour leader has been condemned for “celebrating” closer cooperation by the 30-country strong alliance while “attacking Stop The War and other pro-peace activists”.“Nato’s acts of aggression both historical and present are a threat to all of our safety,” the party’s youth wing has claimed, in a series of tweets.“Stoking up tension, macho posturing & trying to ‘outdo’ the Tories on hawkish foreign policy will only lead to further devastation, loss of life and displacement of people across the world.”Young Labour – which all members under 26 join automatically – goes on to “offer solidarity with those organising against this, including members of Stop the War”.But David Lammy, Labour’s shadow foreign secretary, condemned the “lazy knee-jerk” anti-Americanism of the group, as Russia threatens a wider invasion of Ukraine.He pointed to the “historical connection” between Labour and the military alliance, saying: “We were instrumental in setting up Nato.“I think this lazy knee-jerk reaction that everything that comes from America is bad and somehow Russia is the underdog – we reject it.”Mr Lammy, speaking on BBC Radio 4, laughed at the suggestion that “someone who is just out of university speaks on behalf of the Labour party”.“They don’t speak on behalf the party – I speak on behalf of the party in relation to foreign policy.”The Young Labour tweets also read: “Labour has too often been on the wrong side of international issues.“Young Labour calls on the leadership to stop backing Nato aggression, call wholeheartedly for peace, commit to constructive engagement with activists and deliver international policy around peace and cooperation.”A group of 13 Labour MPs has signed a Stop The War statement condemning “the British government’s aggressive posturing” over the Ukraine crisis.They include former leader Jeremy Corbyn and his former frontbenchers Diane Abbott, John McDonnell, Richard Burgon and Ian Lavery.The Stop the War Coalition, launched to oppose US military action in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, says it stands against what it describes as Britain’s “disastrous addiction to war”.Earlier this month, Sir Keir attacked his predecessor as leader, insisting “nobody wants war” and dismissing the idea that the group contains “benign voices for peace”.“At first glance, some on the left may be sympathetic to those siren voices who condemn Nato,” he wrote.“But to condemn Nato is to condemn the guarantee of democracy and security it brings, and which our allies in eastern and central Europe are relying on, as the sabre-rattling from Moscow grows ever louder.” More

UK businesses have paid out a record £4.5bn in customs duties over the past year, as the extra bureaucracy imposed by Brexit “begins to bite”.The costly new duties slapped on British firms increased 64 per cent in the year leading up to January 2022, new research has found.The huge hike follows new customs controls on exports, which came into force at the start of last year following the UK’s exit from the EU single market and customs union.Figures compiled by accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young show that the five months leading up to 31 January 2022 were the highest individual months for customs duties ever seen in the UK.The analysts also warned that the sums could soar further this year, after new custom controls on imports were imposed at the start of last month and “rules of origin” requirements became even stricter.From 1 January, Boris Johnson’s government introduced a requirement that importers show a declaration in respect of the origin of goods at the point of entry.If a firm cannot provide all the paperwork showing the origin of their product, they may be liable to pay the full rate of customs duty, and could even face penalties.“Over the past year, customs duties have been a hugely significant additional cost for many businesses,” said Michelle Dale, senior manager at UHY Hacker Young – who said the post-Brexit increase was “really biting”.She added: “The cost of tariffs and extra paperwork is causing serious difficulties for many businesses, who are already struggling to stay profitable in the face of mounting pandemic-induced costs.”Business groups have warned that many firms importing and exporting goods between the UK and the EU will be questioning whether their business models are still viable.MPs and peers on the cross-party UK Trade and Business Commission have called on the government to relaunch the financial support fund for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) hit by post-Brexit red tape – a scheme that closed in June.It comes as logistics chiefs urged the government to start building more lorry parks near Dover or face “complete gridlock” around the port, as post-Brexit checks continue to cause delays.Desperate drivers caught in four-hour queues near Dover have been forced to “s*** in the bushes” and throw bottles of urine out of the window, The Independent has been told.The government has asked National Highways to identify new sites for lorries. But ministers have not yet committed to building an extra park – despite a promise by chancellor Rishi Sunak in the autumn Budget to spend £32.5m on driver facilities. More

Boris Johnson’s government has bowed to pressure and asked media regulator Ofcom to review the broadcast licence of the Russia-backed RT channel.Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called on the government to tackle the “Putin propaganda” put out by the state-controlled channel, formerly known as Russia Today.The prime minister revealed at PMQs on Wednesday that culture secretary Nadine Dorries had now “asked Ofcom to review that matter” – though he also cited the importance of “free speech”.Mr Johnson said: “We live in a country that believes in free speech. I think it’s important we leave it up to Ofcom, rather than politicians, to decide which media organisations to ban – that’s what Russia does.”However, Ms Dorries’ letter to Ofcom, shared at PMQs began, took a quite different tack. The culture secretary urged the regulator to take “timely and transparent” action against RT.The culture secretary said the channel was “demonstrably part of Russia’s global disinformation campaign” – saying it was “essential” that the UK limits Russia’s “ability to spread propaganda at home”.“I have concerns that broadcasters such as RT, whom Ofcom have found to have repeatedly breached the Broadcasting Code in the past, will also look to spread harmful disinformation about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine,” Ms Dorries said in her letter to Ofcom chief Melanie Dawes.Ofcom has said that – given the seriousness of events in Ukraine – it was ready to act “as a priority” if concerns were raised about the accuracy or impartiality of any broadcaster.In 2019, Ofcom fined RT £200,000 for its failure to observe “due impartiality” in seven news and current affairs programmes, including its coverage of the war in Syria and the Salisbury nerve agent attack.Sir Keir told the Commons on Wednesday that RT was president Vladimir Putin’s “personal propaganda tool” and said he could see “no reason why it should be allowed to keep broadcasting in this country”.Mr Johnson made at jibe about Alex Salmond’s work with RT after SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford attacked the government over the “sewer of dirty Russian money has been allowed to run through London for years”.The prime minister responded: “His indignation is a bit much coming from somebody, whose very own Alex Salmond is a leading presenter, as a far as I know, on Russia Today.”Lib Dem MP Jamie Stone asked Mr Johnson whether he agreed it was “an absolute disgrace” that Mr Salmond “sees fit to broadcast his half-baked views week after week” on RT.The former Scottish first minister is no longer in the SNP, having formed the Alba Party last year. He has faced criticism for continued to broadcast his The Alex Salmond Show on RT.Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Wednesday it was “unthinkable” that her predecessor still has a show on RT, as she also urged Ofcom to examine the channel.The SNP leader told STV News: “I’m appalled at Alex Salmond’s continued involvement with RT,” adding: “It’s a matter for Ofcom, but … I would certainly encourage Ofcom to look at that very, very seriously and closely indeed.”Ms Sturgeon went on to say that no SNP MPs or MSPs should appear on the broadcaster.A spokesperson for Ofcom told The Independent: “All licensees must observe Ofcom’s rules, including due accuracy and due impartiality. If broadcasters break those rules, we will not hesitate to step in.The watchdog added: “Given the seriousness of the Ukraine crisis, we will examine complaints about any broadcaster’s news coverage of this issue as a priority.”Anna Belkina, RT’s deputy editor-in-chief, said UK politicians “are now openly and brazenly interfering in institutions they have long touted as supposedly independent and wholly free from political pressure, exposing their self-proclaimed commitment to such values as free speech and regulatory independence as nothing but a sham”. More

Britain is ready to impose further sanctions on Russia even if Vladimir Putin makes no further incursions into Ukraine, The Independent understands.It is now regarded as inconceivable that the first tranche of measures announced on Tuesday will be the limit of UK action targeting the Russian president and his inner circle.And oligarchs resident in the UK could be among the targets of a new round of sanctions which Boris Johnson has promised will be “much, much tougher” than Tuesday’s list, which drew criticism for being under-powered.Foreign secretary Liz Truss this morning said that “nothing is off the table” if Putin makes further aggressive moves against Ukraine.But The Independent understands that even maintaining the existing Russian military presence in the breakaway Ukrainian regions will be regarded as sufficient trigger for further and more wide-ranging measures.UK officials are in constant contact with US and EU counterparts to discuss a co-ordinated programme of escalation of actions if the Russian president does not pull his troops out and wind down the crisis – a development of which there is no expectation in Whitehall.The government has come under fire for focusing yesterday’s measures on financial institutions and oligarchs with little presence in the UK, with Labour renewing calls for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2020 Russia Report to clamp down on illicit finance.And it has emerged that sanctions against members of the Duma lower house of the Russian parliament, announced on Tuesday, cannot be imposed for weeks to come, because of the need to pass secondary legislation at Westminster.No timetable has been set for further sanctions and ministers have refused to give advance notice of exactly which individuals and entities will be targeted.But a Western official said: “It includes a set of measures targeting the Russian financial and banking sector, and also looking at areas such as high tech exports to Russia – significantly curtailing those.“Also sanctioning a much wider range of oligarchs close to the Kremlin and other entities – companies, banks – in the defence sector, the energy sector and elsewhere of strategic significance to the Russian state. “So we’re very clear we won’t hesitate to go further if Russia chooses to escalate the situation further.”Ms Truss today said the UK has a “long list” of people complicit in the actions of the Russian leadership who the government is willing to “turn up the heat” on unless Moscow pulls back its forces.Asked the government was willing to impose sanctions on Tory donors, the foreign secretary told Sky News: “We are very clear that nothing is off the table, in terms of who we’re targeting … I don’t rule out anything.” More