UK Politics

Armed forces minister says people shouldn’t travel to Ukraine to fightVladimir Putin placed nuclear deterrence forces on high alert after comments made by Liz Truss, a Kremlin spokesman revealed today.Dmitry Peskov said that “unacceptable” statements were made “by various representatives at various levels”, and specifically named the foreign secretary.On Sunday Mr Putin said his nuclear order was due to “aggressive statements” by Nato countries and economic sanctions placed on Russia.In response Boris Johnson said the escalation was a “distraction” from the failures of the Russian president’s army to breakthrough in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Labour has criticised new immigration rules brought in to help Ukrainians seeking refuge in the UK, calling them “shameful”.The relaxation of immigration rules comes after the government faced intense criticism over failing to relax the visa requirements for Ukrainian nationals earlier this week.Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper at first said it was a “welcome first step forward”, but when further guidance was later released by the Home Office on Sunday night was critical that the rules did not apply to the “wider family”.Show latest update

1646059959Do not go to Ukraine to fight, says senior Tory MPSenior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, chair of the select committee, said: “Please, do not go to Ukraine unless you have some kind of combat experience.”It follows foreign secretary Liz Truss said she would “absolutely” support British nationals who chose to go to help fight against the Russian invasion.But defence secretary Ben Wallace has urged Britons not to travel to Ukraine, saying “very dangerous” situation could lead to them being killed.The PM’s spokesperson also said: “We fully recognise the strength of feeling about British people wanting to support the Ukrainians following the Russian invasion … we currently advise against travel to Ukraine.”Adam Forrest reports.Joe Middleton28 February 2022 14:521646058944Boris Johnson blamed EU for Russia’s 2014 attacks on Ukraine and was branded ‘Putin apologist’Boris Johnson blamed the EU for provoking Russia’s earlier attacks on Ukraine in 2014 and was branded a “Putin apologist” amid a storm of criticism.The comments – made at the heart of the Brexit referendum battle, in 2016 – led to the future prime minister being likened to then Ukip leader Nigel Farage and being rebuked by Downing Street.The current crisis has seen Mr Johnson arguing he is leading the West in confronting Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour, by sending weapons to Ukraine and demanding tough sanctions.But, when leading the Brexit campaign, the then-Conservative backbencher took a very different stance over the annexation of Crimea and Putin’s arming of separatists in the east of Ukraine.Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports.Joe Middleton28 February 2022 14:351646058044Tory MP correct to delete tweet suggesting seasonal worker scheme for people fleeing war, say No10Downing Street said Home Office minister Kevin Foster was right to delete his tweet suggesting the seasonal worker scheme was a route for Ukrainian people to flee war.The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I think that tweet was rightly deleted, I think the UK has a proud history of supporting those in need. We’ve done that with Afghanistan and elsewhere and we will continue to do that.”Joe Middleton28 February 2022 14:201646056844Armed forces minister says people shouldn’t travel to Ukraine to fightArmed forces minister says people shouldn’t travel to Ukraine to fightJoe Middleton28 February 2022 14:001646055630Boris Johnson says Putin has made ‘colossal mistake’ as he hails heroic Ukraine resistanceBoris Johnson this morning told cabinet it was becoming clearer by the day that Vladimir Putin had made a “colossal mistake” in invading Ukraine, where “heroic” resistance was inflicting “significant casualties” on Russian forces.The prime minister is to fly to Estonia and Poland on Tuesday as he continues his drive to build international support for Ukraine following the invasion, writes Andrew Woodcock.He told ministers that Putin’s aggression “must fail” and said the UK was determined to continue building international pressure on the Russian president, saying: “The prime minister said we will continue to support Ukraine and its’ people in any way we can.”Joe Middleton28 February 2022 13:401646055044UK signs Brexit trade deal with New Zealand that could damage economyBritain has signed a trade deal with New Zealand, removing trade barriers between the two countries.The deal is the latest agreement signed by the UK since Brexit and will end tariffs on goods between the countries, writes Jon Stone.But the government’s own estimates for the deal published at the start of negotiations suggest that it will either damage the UK economy or have a negligible effect.Joe Middleton28 February 2022 13:301646054144Liz Truss ally hits back at Kremlin claims on nuclear alertAn ally Liz Truss has struck back at the Kremlin’s claims her remarks played a role in Vladimir Putin ordering Russia’s nuclear deterrent on high alert.“Nothing Liz has said warrants that sort of escalation. It’s clearly designed to distract from the situation on the ground in Ukraine,” the ally said.“The Foreign Secretary has always talked about Nato in the context of it being a defensive alliance. Her point is that we stand by Article 5, and that we must do everything we can to help Ukraine short of putting boots on the ground.“We take it very seriously and want to keep the situation calm.”Joe Middleton28 February 2022 13:151646053244It’s time to block Russian companies funding Putin’s regime from UK portsIf we sanction Russia’s largest shipping company, Sovcomflot, then its major clients will have no excuse not to leave their contracts, writes Alistair Carmichael.Joe Middleton28 February 2022 13:001646052344Mental health demand soars as pandemic leaves new mothers ‘isolated’Tens of thousands of new mothers have been left “hopeless” and “isolated” during the pandemic, with the NHS seeing record numbers of referrals to maternal mental health services.Requests for help from new, expectant and bereaved mothers jumped 40 per cent in 2021 compared to 2019, analysis by The Independent has revealed.NHS data shows mental health referrals hit an all-time high of 23,673 in November last year, with average monthly referrals for the whole of 2021 running 21 per cent higher than the year before from 17,226 to 21,990.Our health correspondent Rebecca Thomas has the details.Joe Middleton28 February 2022 12:451646051764Irish premier casts doubt Ukraine could join EU ‘immediately’The Irish premier has today cast doubt on the idea that Ukraine may be able to join the EU with immediate effect.Speaking in Dublin, Micheal Martin said: “I don’t know whether it can be done immediately.“But I certainly would be a proponent and supporter of accelerating it and making it very clear that they can become members of the European Union.“I’ve always favoured the acceleration of the European perspective for countries in our neighbourhood.”In a video speech President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for “Ukraine’s immediate accession” to the EU under a “special procedure”.Joe Middleton28 February 2022 12:36 More

Every Russian citizen living in the UK should be expelled and “sent home” a Conservative MP has said.Roger Gale, the MP for North Thanet in Kent, argued that visas should be rescinded for “everybody” with Russian nationality on account of the invasion of Ukraine.Sir Roger accepted that this would mean kicking out “good and honest” people – but argued that “collateral damage” was necessary to send a message to Vladimir Putin.It comes amid debate about what sanctions should be imposed on Russia in the wake of Mr Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and how best to help Ukrainian refugees.Speaking during an interview on talkRADIO Sir Roger said: “Well, I’m sorry, my view is that we should send a very clear message and rescind all the visas for Russian citizens currently extant in the United Kingdom and send everybody home.”Asked by the show’s presenter whether he meant “every Russian”, the North Thanet MP replied: “Well there’s going to be some collateral damage because there are good and honest and decent Russians in this country, working in all sorts of spheres.”Sir Roger added that the UK could and should not “pick and choose”, telling the broadcaster: “What we’ve got to do, I’m afraid, is send a very harsh message through the Russian people to Putin.””The only way this message is going to get through – and it may seem facile to say we’re not going to play you at football there – but for the ordinary Russian these things do actually matter.”His comments come after Conservative MP and foreign affairs select committee chair Tom Tugendhat last week suggested that Britain could “expel Russian citizens, all of them”.The government has not said it has plans to impose blanket sanctions on Russian passport holders. Instead sanctions have targeted Russian elites, companies, financial institutions with restrictive measures. More

Britain has signed a trade deal with New Zealand, removing trade barriers between the two countries. The deal is the latest agreement signed by the UK since Brexit and will end tariffs on goods between the countries. But the government’s own estimates for the deal published at the start of negotiations suggest that it will either damage the UK economy or have a negligible effect.The UK already enjoyed relatively low tariffs on exports to New Zealand and those that will now be scrapped include 10 per cent charges on clothing and footwear, 5 per cent on buses and up to 5 per cent on ships, bulldozers and excavators. The deal’s official strategic outline published by the Department for International Trade in June 2020 said the effect on GDP (gross domestic product) from the deal will be “close to zero”.But under one modelled scenario government modellers said it would be possible the UK economy could contract by -0.01 per cent because of its effects and the damage competition could do to domestic UK industries like farming.They also expect the overall welfare of the UK of the population to be slightly lower as a result of the agreement.Farmers have previously warned of “huge downsides” to the deal, with the NFU saying it “could damage the viability of many British farms in the years ahead”.The government pushed ahead with the deal despite these predictions. Ministers are keen to sign trade agreements with other countries so they can present them as a benefit of Brexit.Upon signing the tree trade agreement the government said it expected trade with New Zealand to increase as a result of the deal by £800 million – about £12 per person.An analysis by top trade academics published by The Independent in November found that the losses to trade from leaving the EU are around 178 times larger than expected gains from Brexit trade deals.The agreement will also make it easier for UK professionals like lawyers and auditors to work abroad and to bring their families with them.The agreement is the same as the one provisionally announced in October.Ahead of the signing of the agreement on Monday International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “This deal will slash red tape, remove all tariffs and make it easier for our services companies to set up and prosper in New Zealand. “Our trade with New Zealand will soar, benefiting businesses and consumers throughout the UK and helping level up the whole country. “Like all our new trade deals, it is part of a plan to build a network of trade alliances with the most dynamic parts of the world economy, so we set the UK on a path to future prosperity.” The government’s strategic outline said: “A trade agreement with New Zealand could have limited effects on UK GDP in the long run, with the estimated impact on GDP being close to zero under both scenarios compared to the UK not having a trade deal with New Zealand (between 0.00 per cent and 0.01 per cent in scenario 1 and -0.01 per cent and 0.00 per cent in scenario 2).” More

Boris Johnson blamed the EU for provoking Russia’s earlier attacks on Ukraine in 2014 and was branded a “Putin apologist” amid a storm of criticism.The comments – made at the heart of the Brexit referendum battle, in 2016 – led to the future prime minister being likened to then Ukip leader Nigel Farage and being rebuked by Downing Street.The current crisis has seen Mr Johnson arguing he is leading the West in confronting Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour, by sending weapons to Ukraine and demanding tough sanctions.But, when leading the Brexit campaign, the then-Conservative backbencher took a very different stance over the annexation of Crimea and Putin’s arming of separatists in the east of Ukraine.In a speech, he dismissed the EU as a “force for instability”, attacking its “pretensions to run a foreign policy and defence policy” – and claiming there was a direct link to Russia’s actions.“If you want an example of EU policymaking on the hoof and EU pretensions to running defence policy that have caused real trouble, then look at what has happened in the Ukraine,’’ Mr Johnson said.“All the EU can do in this question, in my view, is cause confusion and, as we’ve seen in the Balkans, I’m afraid a tragic incident, and in the Ukraine things went wrong as well.”The speech was widely condemned, also drawing comparisons with the stance taken by the leader of France’s National Front, Marine Le Pen.“If further evidence were needed about the careless disregard for our security demonstrated by Leave campaigners, by being a Putin apologist, Johnson has provided it,” said Jack Straw, the former Labour foreign secretary.A No 10 spokesman criticised Mr Johnson’s comments, saying then-prime minister David Cameron was “clear that the illegal annexation of Crimea was brought about by Russia alone”.The speech was a response to Mr Cameron raising the stakes in the Brexit battle with a claim that the UK leaving the EU could increase the risk of a European war.He had said: “Can we be so sure that peace and stability on our continent are assured beyond any shadow of doubt? Is that a risk worth taking? I would never be so rash as to make that assumption.”Mr Johnson hit back, saying: “I think it is very, very curious that the prime minister is now calling this referendum and warning us that world war three is about to break out unless we vote to remain.In 2022, Mr Farage has continued to blame the West for the current invasion of Ukraine, arguing the attack was caused by Nato and the EU trying to “poke the Russian bear with a stick”.Admitting he had been wrong to dismiss warnings of an invasion, the former Brexit party leader nevertheless pointed to the expansion of the Western military alliance and the EU as the cause. More

Boris Johnson will this week unveil legislation to tackle “dirty money” in the UK’s property market and expose the “ill-gotten gains” of oligarchs who launder their wealth.In an attempt to target Vladimir Putin’s “cronies” following the invasion of Ukraine, the government said anonymous overseas owners of property will be forced to reveal their true identities.The Home Office said the “Register of Overseas Entities” will ensure criminals “cannot hide behind secretive chains of shell companies” and will apply retrospectively to property bought up to 20 years ago in England and Wales.Those that fail to comply will have restrictions placed on selling the property, while those who are found to have broken the rules will face up to five years in prison, the department added.The measure – forming part of the long-awaited Economic Crime Bill – will be introduced to parliament on Tuesday and comes after the government was accused of “dragging its feet” on targeting illicit finance in Britain.The Conservatives first committed to introducing a Register of Overseas Entities Bill six years ago but there has been little action since a government consultation closed in 2018 – leading to frustration among anti-corruption campaigners.Responding to the announcement, David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, insisted Labour had “long called for the government to cut the spider’s web of dirty money that has entangled the UK”.However, he added: “It should not have taken the invasion of Ukraine for the government to act.”In a statement – on the fourth day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – the prime minister said: “There is no place for dirty money in the UK.“We are going faster and harder to tear back the facade that those supporting Putin’s campaign of destruction have been hiding behind for so long.“Those backing Putin have been put on notice: there will be nowhere to hide your ill-gotten gains.”The domestic measures focusing on illicit finance in the UK follow a series of government sanctions on Russian banks, airlines, oligarchs and more than 100 entities associated with the Kremlin.Speaking on Sunday, Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, added that the government was drawing up a “hit list” of oligarchs whose property and private jets would be targeted in the coming weeks.The Home Office said the Economic Crime Bill will also strengthen and expand the system of unexplained wealth orders (UWO), which enables the National Crime Agency to seize assets without having to prove they were obtained through criminal activity.Law enforcement will be given more time to review material provided in response to a UWO and will be protected from incurring substantial legal costs if they bring a reasonable case that is ultimately unsuccessful, the department said. More

Russia could use ‘most unsavoury means’ to win in Ukraine, Truss warnsForeign secretary Liz Truss has refused to disclose the number of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine Britain will accept.It follows ferocious criticism over the Home Office’s failure so far to relax the visa requirements for Ukrainian nationals.When asked if the government will waive the rules for Ukrainians coming to the UK, she said: “It is a desperate situation. We’re working with the United Nations, we’re working with the Red Cross, to keep humanitarian corridors open.“And of course Britain has always welcomed refugees fleeing from war, and we’re urgently looking at what more we can do to facilitate that.”It comes as shadow foreign secretary David Lammy called the visa restrictions imposed on those seeking sanctuary in the UK from Ukraine “totally unacceptable”.He added: “It’s insisting that people demonstrate salaries, that they have family ties in this country.“People are fleeing with their children in their arms. Why would you ask people how rich they are to enter our country? Of course, there are some people who may not have family ties, but want to come into this country.”Show latest update

1645774516Good morning. Welcome to The Independent’s politics liveblog for Friday 25 February. Follow along here for all the latest on the UK response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and more. Emily Atkinson25 February 2022 07:351645776361Charities call on UK government to lead efforts to welcome refugees fleeing UkraineA number of charities are urging the UK government to lead the charge in offering sanctuary to thousands of refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.In a letter to The Times, Save the Children, Amnesty International, the International Rescue Committee UK, the Refugee Council and others said the attacks on Ukraine could constitute “the most significant European conflict since the collapse of Yugoslavia”.“A generation ago, the UK saved the lives of thousands of families from the Balkans through an evacuation and resettlement programme,” they said.“The government should now respond with a well-resourced initiative working with councils across the country, to welcome Ukrainians who need sanctuary.”At present, the Home Office said its priority was British nationals and their families.Emily Atkinson25 February 2022 08:061645776540Ben Wallace compares Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler The defence secretary has compared the Russian president to Adolf Hitler following his comments made last month that there was a “whiff of Munich” about Vladimir Putin.Ben Wallace said “it doesn’t matter how much effort we made” to prevent an invasion of Ukraine because Vladimir Putin “has been set on this for many, many months and certainly over a year”.He told Sky News: “I wrote an article in January that President Putin was beyond this type of persuasion. President Putin, I said and got criticised at the time, there was a whiff of Munich about President Putin.“It wasn’t the bit about appeasement I was referring to, I was referring that in … Munich in 1938 Adolf Hitler all along had a plan to invade parts of Europe and all the diplomacy was about a straw man sort of attempt by him to buy time.“Putin has been set on this for many, many months and certainly over a year, and I think that’s why, you know, it doesn’t matter how much effort we made – and we all made unbelievable amounts of effort, we saw President Macron go, my Prime Minister regularly spoke to Putin – didn’t matter.“As we’re seeing today, it’s not about the Donbas, it’s not about a minority, it is about a greed to subsume Ukraine into the Russian Federation, or indeed for President Putin to land-grab.”Emily Atkinson25 February 2022 08:091645776633Truss slams Putin’s ‘callous disregard for human life’ following talks with Ukrainian counterpartEmily Atkinson25 February 2022 08:101645777326Russia failing to achieve ‘any major objectives’ in Ukraine and has lost 450 personnel, defence secretary saysRussia is failing to achieve any of its key aims at the start of its invasion of Ukraine and has lost 450 personnel, the defence secretary says.Ben Wallace said the Kremlin had been unable to take control of a significant airport, adding: “In fact, the Ukranians have taken it back.”“Our assessment, as of this morning, is that Russia has not taken any of its major objectives – in fact it is behind its hoped-for timetable,” he said.Rob Merrick reports:Emily Atkinson25 February 2022 08:221645777806PM pays tribute to ‘bravery and heroism of the Ukrainian people’Boris Johnson said he is committed to providing further support to Ukraine during a phone call with president Volodymyr Zelensky on the “terrible developments” in Kyiv.A Downing Street statement said: “The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelensky this morning to express his solidarity with Ukraine.“President Zelensky updated the Prime Minister on the most recent Russian military advances, including missile and artillery strikes on Ukrainian cities and the terrible developments in Kyiv in the early hours of this morning.“The Prime Minister assured President Zelensky that the world is united in its horror at what Putin his doing. He paid tribute to the bravery and heroism of the Ukrainian people in standing up to Russia’s campaign of violence, and expressed his deep condolences for those who have been killed.“The Prime Minister committed to provide further UK support to Ukraine in the coming days as the people of Ukraine and the world continue to demonstrate that Putin cannot act with impunity.”Emily Atkinson25 February 2022 08:301645778570UK government sanctions against Russia ‘not strong enough’, says Starmer Sir Keir Starmer has called on the government to impose “further financial restrictions” against Russia as airstrikes continue to rain down on Ukraine’s capital.Speaking on Good Morning Britain, the Labour leader said he supported the government’s package of sanctions announced on Thursday but called for extra measures.He said the UK should “break open” shell companies in Britain providing support to Vladimir Putin and target Russia via Swift, an international financial system.Reacting to news that Russian troops were nearing Kyiv, Sir Keir said the situation was “extremely serious” and Britain should be “absolutely clear” in its stance.“We have to stand together with our allies, particularly Nato, and it’s very important we must stand together as one United Kingdom, and therefore yesterday was significant in Parliament because all political parties spoke with one voice in our support for Ukraine and our support for Nato.“In relation to the sanctions, I thought what the government put forward earlier this week was not strong enough. They came forward yesterday with a stronger package and I was able to say that we, the opposition, will support those further sanctions.“I do want to go further. I think that we do need further financial restrictions, particularly the Swift mechanism. I also think we’ve got to break open the shell companies we have here in the UK that are providing financial support for Putin.”Emily Atkinson25 February 2022 08:421645779442UK must prepare to ‘accept short-term pain for long-term gain’, says TrussForeign secretary Liz Truss has said the UK and its allies must ready themselves to face the “short-term pain” inflicted by sanctions imposed on Russia in the knowledge that “the pain felt by Putin will be exponentially higher.” Writing in The Telegraph, she said Moscow had “lied to the world and their own people” after her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, assured her it would not invade Ukraine.She said: “Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine exposes Vladimir Putin’s regime for what it is: mendacious, bellicose and calculating. “This is not just an assault on the innocent people of Ukraine, their sovereignty and their future. It is also an attack on the security and freedom of Europe.”She continued: “The Kremlin is leading the Russian people into a quagmire and turning Russia into a global pariah. This is the moment to take a hard-headed approach, which means being ready to accept short-term pain for long-term gain – in the knowledge that the pain felt by Putin will be exponentially higher.“With Ukraine’s future in peril, we must unite in putting a stop to President Putin’s aggressive ambitions. He is hell-bent on realising his dream of recreating a Greater Russia with swathes of Europe in his sphere of influence.”Emily Atkinson25 February 2022 08:571645780628Ukraine: UK defence secretary rules out no-fly zone, warning it would be ‘declaring war on Russia’The defence secretary has ruled out imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine, warning it would amount to Nato having “to declare war on Russia”.Senior Conservative MPs have called for the dramatic move and it is a key strand of the requests made by the beleaguered Ukrainian government, as it appeals for Western help.Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has more:Emily Atkinson25 February 2022 09:171645781231Putin ‘won’t stop’ after invading Ukraine – WallaceRussian President Vladimir Putin “won’t stop” after invading Ukraine, defence secretary Ben Wallace has said. He said the decision not to “put British service personnel in direct fighting” was not about “risk”, but to avoid triggering a “war across Europe”.He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I have said continually for a long time, as has Britain, and the Prime Minister has supported this position, that Putin is not rational.“He is trying to invade Ukraine. He won’t stop after he’s … with Ukraine. He will use everything in the Baltic states. He doesn’t believe the Baltic states are really countries.“And we will have to stand up to it. Now, I cannot trigger a European war and I won’t trigger a European war. But what I will do is help Ukraine fight every street with every piece of equipment we can get to them, and we will support them, and that is the reality.”Emily Atkinson25 February 2022 09:27 More

Liz Truss has suggested the Russian invasion of Ukraine could mark the “beginning of the end” for Vladimir Putin, as she warned the conflict could last a “number of years”.As the Kremlin’s military offensive entered its fourth day, the foreign secretary insisted Moscow had not expected the resistance shown by the Ukrainian people and their president.With opposition parties calling for stronger sanctions, Ms Truss also told Sky News the UK government had drawn up a “hit list of oligarchs” whose property and private jets would be targeted.And she suggested the cost to the Russian state of a range of economic sanctions could mean the “beginning of the end for Putin”, with “serious consequences” for him personally.“I fear that he is prepared to use the most unsavoury means in this war,” she said, as she spoke of the possibility of Russia using “even worse weapons”.“He should be aware the International Criminal Court is already looking at what is happening in Ukraine. There will be serious consequences for him and for the Russian government,” she added.Her remarks come after Boris Johnson praised the resistance of the Ukrainian people but warned that there were “grim days” ahead for the eastern European country.Speaking on Sunday, Ms Truss said the British government would continue to provide both military and economic aid to the country.However, she continued: “I fear this this will be a long haul. This could be a number of years. What we do know is Russia has strong forces, but we know the Ukrainians are brave, they are determined to stand up for their sovereignty.” More