UK Politics

Nicola Sturgeon has claimed the world would be a “better place” if it were ruled by women.The Scottish first minister also said females are still forced to work “twice as hard” as men to be taken “even half as seriously”.But the 51-year-old SNP leader believes it a good thing women have to be so industrious – as they end up being better and working a lot harder than their male counterparts.Ms Sturgeon, who is the first ever female first minister and has held the top position in Scotland for seven years, also joked the world would be a “much, much better place” if it were run by “menopausal women” who had to work even harder to overcome their hormonal shifts whilst working as well.Speaking on podcast The Shift, Ms Sturgeon said: “I went through periods in life – and still go through periods in life now – where that sense of [ambition] is challenged and I doubt it more.“I have spoken to a lot of women who feel this, friends and other women who would articulate exactly the same thing here…“You really have to work so much harder to prove yourself so much more, to be taken probably half as seriously – particularly in the profession I’m in – as your average man.“It can be tiresome are wearisome that we still have to do that but I’ve come to the conclusion in my life that it’s actually quite a good thing.“Because you end up being better [than the men], because you work a lot harder and you have to really go so much further to prove yourself and be taken seriously.“I have to be careful that doesn’t sound like an argument for women always having to struggle more to be taken seriously, because it shouldn’t be like that…“But when you see women, and I’m not talking about myself here I’m talking about other women in senior positions: by and large, they’re better than their equivalent man and, more often than not, they’ve had to push themselves a lot harder to get to where they are.“I often think the world would be a much better place if it were ruled by women.“I guess most women in positions like mine – and there’s not been that many – who have gone through the menopause, the response is they need to work much harder to overcome it to make sure you’re trying not to let it interfere in any way.“[So] maybe the world would be a much, much better place if it was ruled by menopausal women.”Ms Sturgeon added she still struggles with “imposter syndrome” relating to her gender and working-class background – but added a little bit of self doubt is healthy and would do prime minister Boris Johnson, 57, “the world of good”.“I’m an innately shy person, so I suppose I’ve had to overcome that along the way,” she said.“I have always had this inner-confidence, but coupled with an inner-doubt.“There’s always a constant battle between the two, and that is probably true even now.“I think for many women, no matter how successful or senior they’ve come to be, have that sense of not entirely ever feeling that you’ve earned it or that it’s justified.“I suppose it’s what is often called the imposter syndrome… I suffer from that, absolutely.“Partly I think it’s gender, although I know some men suffer from that as well, and partly it’s the working-class background.“All through my career there’s a sense of almost always waiting to be found out, and that you’re not really good enough to be doing this, that there are better people that could be doing it…“But, as long as it actually doesn’t completely cripple you and stop you doing the things you want to do, a little bit of that is healthy and, actually, is quite good for you.“I think of people like Boris Johnson, and I think, ‘My God, a little bit of imposter syndrome would do you the world of good’.“Because actually it would make you take a step back and think, ‘Maybe I’ve just got to work a bit harder? Maybe I’ve got to prove myself a bit more,’ instead of this gliding through life as if the world owes you a living’.”Ms Sturgeon, from Ayrshire in south-western Scotland, first became a member of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, and has held the dual positions of leader of the SNP and first minister of Scotland since 2014 – as the first woman to hold either position.Solent News More

British troops will be sent to help protect countries in eastern Europe if Russia invades Ukraine, Boris Johnson has told MPs.As the crisis mounts, the prime minister attacked the Kremlin for threatening the use of “brute force to terrify reasonable people into giving way to completely unacceptable demands”.Overnight, Joe Biden announced that 8,500 US troops are being put on high alert to deploy to Europe as Nato responds to the rising tensions by reinforcing its eastern borders.In his statement, Mr Johnson said: “If Russia invades Ukraine, we would look to contribute to any new Nato deployments to protect our allies in Europe.”He added: “There is nothing new about large and powerful nations using the threat of brute force to terrify reasonable people into giving way to completely unacceptable demands.”Calling an invasion “tragic and futile,” the prime minister said of Vladimir Putin: “Nor can we allow him to believe that he would be able to take some smaller slice of Ukraine.”However, Mr Johnson said UK soldiers in Ukraine itself is not “a likely prospect” – because it is not a Nato member – arguing help with training and “defensive weaponry” were better options.He also warned of “Russian gas blackmail” of dependent countries, telling MPs: “In this era of high gas prices, we are bumping up against that reality.”The UK and other Nato nations have said that diplomatic discussions with Russia remain the priority, to persuade Moscow to “avoid the trap of starting a terrible war”, as Mr Johnson put it.The group has vowed that Moscow will be hit with “swift retributive responses” if a “further Russian incursion into Ukraine” takes place – meaning tougher sanctions.But Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative chair of the Commons defence committee, warned: “The threat of sanctions will not deter this Russian aggression.”Under questioning, Mr Johnson pointed to the existing 850 British troops in Estonia – calling the argument that the number should be increased now “a very good point’.The government is now considering helping to strengthen “the Nato south-eastern flank as well”, MPs were told.He pointed to Hungary – saying there are “questions about what we might do there” – and added: “Everyone can see the need to fortify Nato’s eastern flank.”Keir Starmer offered his party’s full backing, saying: “The Labour party supports the steps that the government has taken to bolster Ukraine’s to properly defend itself.”The prime minister again raised the spectre of “bloodshed comparable to the first war in Chechnya or Bosnia”.“If Russia pursues this path, many Russian mothers’ sons will not be coming home,” he told the House of Commons.“The response in the international community would be the same and the pain that would be inflicted on the Russian economy will be the same.” More

Cressida Dick confirms ‘Met is now investigating’ Downing Street partygate allegationsBoris Johnson has suggested the Metropolitan Police investigation into the Downing Street lockdown party scandal will “help to draw a line under matters”.The prime minister claimed the new probe would “help to give the public the clarity it needs”. The Cabinet Office investigation being led by Sue Gray will continue to take place, despite suggestions it would be “paused”. However, it may not emerge for several weeks while the police carry out their own inquiries. On Monday, ITV News reported that up to 30 people attended the gathering in the Cabinet Room in June 2020, where the prime minister’s wife Carrie Johnson presented him with a cake.No 10 conceded that staff had “gathered briefly in the Cabinet Room after a meeting to wish the prime minister a happy birthday”, with Mr Johnson in attendance “for less than ten minutes”.Show latest update

1643122561The quotes and tweets coming back to haunt Boris JohnsonWhat makes the latest instalment of the “Partygate” significant is that the prime minister had, on 21 March 2020, tweeted a handwritten letter he had received from a seven-year-old girl named Josephine informing him that she had cancelled her own birthday party in order to support the national effort to keep out Covid-19 and comply with the rules.Here Joe Sommerlad looks at the quotes and tweets that are coming back to haunt Boris Johnson:Tom Batchelor25 January 2022 14:561643121368Labour MP compares Putin’s arguments to Hitler’s in call for sanctionsLabour MP Chris Bryant has compared Vladimir Putin’s comments to those used by Adolf Hitler before the Second World War. Mr Bryant said: “The arguments that President Putin uses about Russian speakers in Ukraine are exactly the same as Adolf Hitler advanced over the Sudetenland Germans in Czechoslovakia in the 1930s.”He added: “I don’t quite understand why we’ve only sanctioned 25 per cent of the people that the American government have already sanctioned”He said the House will stand ready if further legislation is needed “to seize Russian assets in the UK and to make sure that the unexplained wealth orders… actually have an effect”.The PM said: “We are bringing forward, as he knows, a statutory instrument greatly to toughen up the package of our ability to sanction people.”Tom Batchelor25 January 2022 14:361643120408Boris Johnson leaves cabinet in dark over police party investigationBoris Johnson did not tell cabinet about the launch of a police probe into allegedly lockdown-breaching parties at No 10, leaving ministers to find out about it on their phones as they left this morning’s meeting.The prime minister was informed shortly before the weekly meeting that Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick would announce the investigation during her appearance before the London Assembly scheduled for 10am on Tuesday morning.But Mr Johnson’s official spokesperson told reporters that the PM decided not to tell ministers, because the information was sensitive and it was not known at what point during the meeting Dame Cressida would drop her bombshell.Here is the story: Tom Batchelor25 January 2022 14:201643119688Police don’t object to Sue Gray’s report being published – reportThe Guardian’s chief political correspondent tweets that the imminent publication of Sue Gray’s report into lockdown parties is not necessarily opposed by the Met Police, who have launched their own probe: Tom Batchelor25 January 2022 14:081643119067UK troops will be sent to protect eastern Europe if Russia invades Ukraine, PM saysBritish troops will be sent to help protect countries in eastern Europe if Russia invades Ukraine, Boris Johnson has told MPs.As the crisis mounts, the prime minister attacked the Kremlin for threatening the use of “brute force to terrify reasonable people into giving way to completely unacceptable demands”.Here is the latest: Tom Batchelor25 January 2022 13:571643117948Johnson threatens to ‘toughen national sanctions’ against RussiaBoris Johnson told MPs the UK will not hesitate to “toughen our national sanctions” against Russia in response to “whatever President Putin may do”. Mr Johnson said: “Last night I held a virtual meeting with President Biden, President Macron, Chancellor Scholz, President Duda, Prime Minister Draghi, General-Secretary Stoltenberg, President Michel and President von der Leyen.“We agreed that we would respond in unison to any Russian attack on Ukraine, in unison by imposing co-ordinated and severe economic sanctions heavier than anything we have done before against Russia.“And we agreed on the necessity of finalising these measures as swiftly as possible in order to maximise their deterrent effect.”He added: “We in the UK, will not hesitate to toughen our national sanctions against Russia in response to whatever President Putin may do, and the House will soon hear more on this from my right honourable friend the foreign secretary.Tom Batchelor25 January 2022 13:391643117505Russia would create a ‘wasteland’ if it invaded Ukraine, says JohnsonSpeaking on the crisis in Ukraine, Boris Johnson has warned that the country is facing “the danger of a renewed invasion” but said the response from Ukrainian soldiers would be “dogged and tenacious”.“No one would gain from such a catastrophe,” he added, warning that Russia would “create a wasteland” if it chose to start a conflict in the region.Tom Batchelor25 January 2022 13:311643117211Johnson welcomes decision by Met Police to investigateBoris Johnson has told MPs he welcomes the decision by the Met Police to investigate his and other government officials conduct over the pandemic.He said: “A few weeks ago I commissioned an independent inquiry into a series of events in Downing Street, in the Cabinet Office as well as some other Whitehall departments that may have constituted potential breaches of the Covid regulations. “That process has quite properly involved sharing information continuously with the Metropolitan Police, so I welcome the Met’s decision to conduct its own investigation because I believe this will help to give the public the clarity it needs and help to draw a line under matters.”Tom Batchelor25 January 2022 13:261643116739Watch PM’s Ukraine statement live Boris Johnson is now addressing the Commons on the situation in the Ukraine. He started by mentioning the Met Police’s partygate investigation, but reassured the public that his government was prioritising issues like the crisis in the Ukraine.Watch here: Watch live as Boris Johnson delivers statement on Ukraine amid No 10 party scandalRory Sullivan25 January 2022 13:181643116303Johnson has ‘degraded’ office and ‘must go’, says CooperShadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has also rebuked Boris Johnson amid a Met Police inquiry into alleged wrongdoing in Downing Street. “I think there is a morals question as well as a criminal question for the prime minister,” she said.Ms Cooper added: “Boris Johnson has now degraded the office of prime minister, it’s distracting everybody from the serious cost of living and other issues the country faces, and disrespected the sacrifices everyone else has made.“That is why he must go now.”Rory Sullivan25 January 2022 13:11 More

Boris Johnson did not tell cabinet about the launch of a police probe into allegedly lockdown-breaching parties at No 10, leaving ministers to find out about it on their phones as they left this morning’s meeting.The prime minister was informed shortly before the weekly meeting that Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick would announce the investigation during her appearance before the London Assembly scheduled for 10am on Tuesday morning.And the news was promptly leaked to the Guido Fawkes political gossip website, which published a report of the impending announcement at 9.28, just after ministers had assembled.But Mr Johnson’s official spokesperson told reporters that the PM decided not to tell ministers, because the information was sensitive and it was not known at what point during the meeting Dame Cressida would drop her bombshell.The police probe was not discussed at all during the two-hour meeting, which focused on the crisis in Ukraine, the BBC funding settlement, the upcoming second anniversary of the UK’s formal departure from the EU and the construction of a new battery factory in Blyth.As the meeting drew to an end – by which time news of the police probe was dominating news headlines and social media – the PM alluded to the ongoing partygate controversy by telling ministers that “there was more work to do to deliver for the public and the government would not be deterred from getting on with the job”.Mr Johnson’s spokesperson said ministers “were able to be informed once cabinet concluded”. It appears that some heard about the development via their phones moments before stepping out of the famous black door of 10 Downing Street to face the media outside.Asked why the PM did not update colleagues, his spokesperson said: “Given that cabinet was taking place and it was unclear at exactly what point Cressida Dick would make her comments, it was right to allow her to make them in the first instance, rather than pre-empting them.” More

Boris Johnson has been hit by allegations of yet another party said to have taken place at Downing Street while social restrictions were in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus.With Whitehall mandarin Sue Gray currently compiling her report into a string of potentially rule-breaking social gatherings and due to file before the end of the week – and with the Metropolitan Police announcing an investigation – ITV News reported on Monday evening that a surprise 56th birthday party was held for Mr Johnson on 19 June 2020.Led by his partner Carrie Johnson, the Cabinet Room bash is said to have featured up to 30 guests enjoying cake and picnic food from M&S at a time when indoor socialising was still banned under the strict conditions of the first national lockdown.A No 10 spokesperson admitted that the gathering had taken place but said it was “untrue” that family friends of Mr Johnson were hosted upstairs in his flat later that evening.What makes this latest instalment of the “Partygate” saga so particularly galling to many is that the prime minister had, on 21 March 2020, tweeted out an incredibly touching handwritten letter he had received from a seven-year-old girl named Josephine informing him that she had cancelled her own birthday party in order to support the national effort to keep out Covid-19 and comply with the rules.Mr Johnson applauded Josephine for her “great example” in his response, which he tweeted out with the hashtag #BeLikeJosephine.A penny for the thoughts of that justifiably embittered eight-year-old now.As a cabal of equally disillusioned Conservative backbenchers await Ms Gray’s verdict and sharpen their feathered quills in anticipation of writing a few letters of their own to Sir Graham Brady, here’s a look at what else Mr Johnson had to say on social media at the height of party season.May 2020Two months into the pandemic, as the spring brought brighter weather and a little relief to a frightened world, it has subsequently emerged that the prime minister and his staff were sitting down to cheese and wine in the garden of 10 Downing Street and sending out invites to a “bring your own booze” party in apparent defiance of their own rules.On 15 May, the Friday on which that first gathering took place, the PM was telling the British public via Twitter: “We can beat this virus together – but only if we all continue to #StayAlert and follow the rules on social distancing.”Two days later, his emphasis was on the nation beating the virus “together” by which he meant complying with the rules as one.On the date his principal private secretary Martin Reynolds was inviting 100 staffers out to enjoy the sunshine in secret, the prime minister was congratulating celebrated centenarian NHS fundraiser Captain Tom Moore on his knighthood. Sir Tom, of course, another man who knew his way around a garden.The morning after, perhaps with an unpleasant throbbing in his temple and a queasy stomach, the prime minister took part in the weekly clap for carers, otherwise apparently without a single qualm about the disparity between his private and public conduct.November 2020More parties were allegedly held later that year when the second wave of the virus struck, which coincided with the departures of several senior aides to Mr Johnson, notably Dominic Cummings (whose own lockdown-breaking jaunt to Barnard Castle in Durham had caused such fury), Lee Cain and Cleo Watson.The PM is alleged to have given a farewell speech at Ms Watson’s leaving do on 27 November at which more drinks were reportedly served.Just a day earlier, he had trailed the new three-tiered system of regional social restrictions incoming in December and warned the public in a video message: “If we ease off now, we risk losing control of this virus all over again.”On the day itself, he was regaling us with an account of his visit to a UK Health Security Agency research laboratory at Porton Down in Wiltshire to inspect the production of rapid lateral flow tests, which subsequently became so integral to home diagnosis protocol.Mr Johnson described the scientists’ work at the facility as “incredibly important” in the accompanying video before swiftly turning on his heel and returning to London to immediately undermine their efforts to keep the country safe.December 2020Despite a November national lockdown, coronavirus cases climbed in the weeks approaching Christmas, ultimately forcing the prime minister to dash the hopes of millions of families desperate to be reunited for the festive season by introducing a further round of tough measures to stop the spread.None of which prevented him hailing the one-year anniversary of the election of his “people’s government” on 9 December, telling the House of Commons that his Cabinet was “delivering on its promises”.Ms Gray is known to be investigating a “work-related” party that took part in Gavin Williamson’s Department of Education the very next day.Four more festive bashes were allegedly held on the 14, 15, 16 and 18 – for, respectively, London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey’s campaign team at Conservative Party headquarters, for Downing Street pub quiz fanatics, for Grant Shapps’s Department of Transport staffers and, apparently, for Mr Johnson’s immediate team.In the midst of which, the prime miniser was heralding Great British Bake Off stalwart Prue Leith for getting her first vaccine jab and declaring, with extraordinary audacity in hindsight: “This Christmas it is vital that everyone exercises the greatest possible personal responsibility. Think hard and in detail about the days ahead and whether you can do more to protect yourself and others.”More in that tone followed over the coming days as he and Ms Johnson posed for a photo op to encourage people to telephone vulnerable loved ones forced to spend Christmas alone, expressed commiserations to French president Emmanuel Macron after he tested positive for Covid and again emphasised “personal responsibility” in message regarding social distancing.“If you are forming a Christmas Bubble, it’s vital that from today, you minimise contact with people from outside your household,” the prime minister tweeted on 18 December 2020. “Everyone must take personal responsibility to avoid passing the virus on to loved ones this Christmas.”Astonishing in light of what has since been alleged about his own behaviour beforehand, during this precise period and subsequently.April 2021The final and most recent chapter of Partygate (that we know of) came in the shape of accusations that two celebrations took place on the evening of Friday 16 April 2021, when England was under Step 2 Covid restrictions that banned indoor mixing and  the evening before the Queen sat alone in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, to mourn her husband of 73 years Prince Philip at his socially-distanced funeral.Witnesses claimed that “excessive alcohol” had been drunk, attendees had danced to music DJ’d by a special adviser, a swing set belonging to Mr Johnson’s infant son Wilf had been damaged when drunken revellers staggered out into the garden and, at one point, a staffer was allegedly dispatched to a local Co-op supermarket with a suitcase to be filled with bottles of wine.On Twitter, however, the prime minister gravely reported his attendance at a graduation ceremony for officers at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, saying the late Duke of Edinburgh had “incarnated the finest traditions of the Royal Navy”.“Our thoughts remain with HM The Queen,” he claimed. More

The leader of Northern Ireland’s Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) says he will let his colleagues decide whether or not he should resign following a row over a number of historical tweets.Doug Beattie, who was elected leader in May, was accused of racism and misogyny when old tweets, written before he entered politics, resurfaced.They came to light after Mr Beattie, a former army captain, posted a separate joke tweet on Saturday in which he referenced the wife of a political rival and a brothel.The historic tweets included derogatory comments about women, Muslims, members of the travelling community and people with mental health issues.The Upper Bann MLA admitted that the posts were “pretty horrific” and that he was “deeply ashamed” of them. He denied being a racist or a misogynist.”I will speak to my MLA group today and I will speak to my party officers through my chairman Danny Kennedy and if either group feels I should step down, then I will,” he told BBC Radio Ulster on Tuesday.”Likewise, if they think I should refer myself to the party executive or the wider council on a vote of no confidence then I shall do that as well and the party will decide whether or not they can follow my leadership.”Asked how close he came to resigning, Mr Beattie added: “On the cusp. I have a few very close friends who rang me – because I had withdrawn – and gave me advice.“I offered my resignation and people said, ‘Let’s engage and see where we go’.”Mr Beattie suggested the “dark and black humour” he used may have been a “coping” mechanism and reflective of him being “desensitised” by battlefield experiences.”My mental health has been affected by what I have seen and what I have done,” he said.Mr Beattie insisted he is not using that potential explanation as an “excuse” for his tweets.”I don’t want anybody to think I’m giving an excuse because I am simply not, it was wrong and I am deeply sorry,” he said.He said he was asking his party for a second chance.”Whether or not my party feels that I am the leader who can lead them into the election and beyond will be their decision and I will abide by that decision,” he said.”It the party want me to stay I will still be the leader next week, if they don’t want me to stay I will not be the party leader next week.”He added: “I am asking people to look at the person I am now and not judge me on the person I was 10 years ago.”The furore erupted after Mr Beattie posted a joke on Twitter on Saturday evening that referenced the wife of a political rival and a brothel.DUP Stormont minister Edwin Poots said his wife was “disgusted” by the joke.Mr Beattie apologised for the post and deleted it.He reiterated that apology on the floor on the assembly on Monday, insisting he was “truly sorry”.However, the controversy then escalated after the focus turned to Mr Beattie’s historical conduct on Twitter.Mr Beattie was defended by two female politicians in his party, including assembly election candidate for North Down, Naomi McBurney, who said she respected Mr Beattie for what “he has delivered and can continue to deliver for Northern Ireland”Several opposition parties criticised Mr Beattie over the tweets. Naomi Long, leader of the Alliance Party and the Stormont justice minister, said she was “genuinely shocked at just how casually misogynistic” the tweet about Mr Poots’s wife was.It would “have made many a 1970s comic blush”, she added.The controversy has marked a dramatic turn of fortunes for Mr Beattie.He posted the tweet on Saturday evening hours after a newspaper opinion poll indicated he was the most popular political leader in Northern Ireland.He said his confidence had been rocked by the controversy and he had isolated himself from friends and loved ones.”I have to pick myself up and come out of the shadows and face this head on,” he said. More

Boris Johnson will “fully co-operate” with any requests from the Metropolitan Police inquiry into alleged Downing Street parties, including by being interviewed by officers or handing over documents, No 10 has said.Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Mr Johnson said he “welcomed” the Met police investigation, and claimed it would help to “draw a line” under the issue.He said: “I welcome the Met’s decision to conduct its own investigation, because I believe this will help to give the public the clarity it needs and help to draw a line under matters.”The prime minister’s official spokesperson said Mr Johnson thinks it is “entirely right” for the Met to look into allegations of breaches of lockdown rules at No 10 and believes the investigation will provide “clarity” and draw a line under the controversy.And asked if the PM believed he had broken the law, the spokesperson replied: “He does not.”The prime minister was informed of the plan to launch a police investigation shortly before it was announced by Commissioner Cressida Dick to the London Assembly on Tuesday morning, said the spokesperson.But Mr Johnson did not tell ministers gathered at No 10 for the weekly meeting of cabinet, which began before Dame Cressida’s bombshell announcement.Instead he alluded briefly to his determination that the government should not be “deterred from getting on with the job” by the controversy over parties.Downing Street said that Whitehall mandarin Sue Gray will pause her investigation into those events being looked into by police, but will continue her work on other allegations not deemed to merit criminal investigation.She will be free to publish a report on those allegations when she is ready to do so, but cannot resume work on the events being considered by the Met until the police investigation is over.Mr Johnson’s spokesperson said that everyone at No 10 will “fully co-operate in any way they are asked to” by police. He said this would include the PM being interviewed or handing over documents, diaries or mobile phones.Asked if Mr Johnson thinks he has not broken the law, his spokesperson said: “I need to be cautious about what I say but I think that’s fair to say that he does not.”Mr Johnson’s spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister thinks it is entirely right for the police to investigate these matters.“He commissioned the Cabinet Office to establish the facts and, as set out in the published terms of reference, and as the Commissioner has said this morning, the independent process has always involved the sharing of information with the Met and the ability for the Met to take forward and investigate matters pertaining to the law, as is right.“The PM fully acknowledges the public’s anger and concern about what has been reported, he has taken responsibility for his judgments made and it is right the Met should be now given the time and space to undertake their investigations.“It will provide the public with welcome clarity and help draw a line under these events and everyone required will fully co-operate in any way they are asked.” More

UK foreign secretary Liz Truss has said she would visit Ukraine next week, as she warned Russian president Vladimir Putin of a military “quagmire” if he decides to invade the sovereign territory.Ms Truss also suggested that Germany should “step up” its military support to Ukraine after the UK provided defensive weapons and helped train 20,000 troops in the country.Asked about German government’s decision to refuse the sale of weapons to Ukraine, the foreign secretary said: “We do need all of our allies to step up,” before adding: “We’re pushing our allies to make sure they are offering similar defensive support.”It comes as the US put 8,500 troops on alert to be ready to deploy to Europe in case of any escalation, and Western allies agreed to impose “unprecedented” sanctions against Moscow if it were to invade.Ms Truss said the UK had been working with allies on a package on a “very severe package of sanctions” – but did not reveal whether they were ready to cut Russia off from the global financial payments system SWIFT.Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Ms Truss told MPs she would visit Ukraine next week – saying the UK was “absolutely at the forefront of putting pressure on Russia and supporting our friends in Ukraine”.She said any Russian military incursion would be a “massive strategic mistake” with “severe cost”. The foreign secretary added: “The Ukrainians will fight – and Putin should beware of an intractable quagmire.”Labour MP David Lammy said sanctions should be aimed at “cutting Russia out of the global financial system” and urged the government to start “clamping down on the oligarchs who hide their ill-gotten wealth in this capital city [London]”.Ms Truss said she there would be “severe” economic consequences if Russia invaded Ukraine. “It’s important at this moment that we see all of our partners around the world step up – we are leading by example but we want to see others follow that example.”Asked if British troops could have a combat role in Ukraine in the event of an invasion, Ms Truss said it was “unlikely that that would be the circumstances … what we are doing is working very hard to make sure Ukraine has the defensive weapons it needs”.Nato said on Monday it was putting forces on standby and reinforcing eastern Europe with more ships and fighter jets. Russia denounced the moves as Western “hysteria”.The Kremlin said it was watching with great concern after the US put 8,500 troops on alert to be ready to deploy to Europe in case of any escalation.The “bulk of” the thousands of US troops placed on heightened alert are planned to bolster the 40,000 multinational Nato troops already in a number of eastern European countries near the border with Russia, according to the Pentagon.Some Russian-military linked figures have already moved across the border in Ukraine, according to British defence minister James Heappey.“We are becoming aware of a significant number of individuals that are assessed to be associated with Russian military advance force operations and currently located in Ukraine,” the Armed Forces minister wrote on Tuesday. More