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Russian spy: Row over Boris Johnson's poisoning response Russian spy: Labour urges probe over Johnson comments
(about 1 hour later)
Boris Johnson has hit back at Jeremy Corbyn's criticism of his response to the Salisbury nerve agent attack - accusing the Labour leader of siding "with the Russian spin machine". Labour has called for an investigation into whether Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson "misled" the public over Russian involvement in the Salisbury nerve agent attack.
The foreign secretary said it was "lamentable" that Mr Corbyn was "trying to discredit the UK" over the incident. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn earlier implied Mr Johnson had exaggerated the UK's Porton Down laboratory's findings.
The Labour leader suggested Mr Johnson had exaggerated evidence provided by the UK's Porton Down laboratory. Mr Johnson said that Mr Corbyn's remarks were "lamentable".
Britain says Russia was behind the attack, a claim that Moscow denies. Meanwhile, the international chemical weapons body rejected Russian calls for a joint enquiry into the Skripal case.
The international chemical weapons watchdog has denied Russia's request for a joint inquiry with the UK into the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal.
Russia lost the vote at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons by 15 votes to six, while 17 member states abstained.Russia lost the vote at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons by 15 votes to six, while 17 member states abstained.
On Tuesday the UK's Porton Down laboratory said it was not its job to provide the precise source of the Novichok nerve agent used in Salisbury against Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.On Tuesday the UK's Porton Down laboratory said it was not its job to provide the precise source of the Novichok nerve agent used in Salisbury against Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
Following the verdict, Mr Johnson said Russia had failed in its attempts to "obscure the truth" and "derail the proper international process".
"The purpose of Russia's ludicrous proposal at The Hague was clear - to undermine the independent, impartial work of the international chemical weapons watchdog.
"Russia has had one goal in mind since the attempted murders on UK soil through the use of a military-grade chemical weapon - to obscure the truth and confuse the public."
He added that the strength of the vote showed "the international community has yet again seen through these tactics".
Diplomatic dispute
Russia has pointed to a now-deleted tweet by the Foreign Office which suggested Porton Down had "made clear" the nerve agent was "produced in Russia".Russia has pointed to a now-deleted tweet by the Foreign Office which suggested Porton Down had "made clear" the nerve agent was "produced in Russia".
And Labour highlighted an interview given to German TV last month in which Mr Johnson was challenged on his claim that Russia was the source of the Novichok nerve agent. The shadow Cabinet Office minister, Jon Trickett, said Mr Johnson had "serious questions to answer".
In his response, Mr Johnson told the interviewer that "people from Porton Down" were "absolutely categorical", adding: "I asked the guy myself. I said 'are you sure?', and he said 'there's no doubt'." "He clearly previously indicated that Porton Down had told him 'categorically' that Russia was the source of the nerve agent," Mr Trickett said.
Mr Corbyn said the foreign secretary had "serious questions to answer" and that his remarks about Novichok "are not backed up by evidence". Labour said in an interview given to German TV last month, Mr Johnson said that "people from Porton Down" were "absolutely categorical", adding: "I asked the guy myself. I said 'are you sure?', and he said 'there's no doubt'."
He added that the foreign secretary had "egg on his face for the statement he made on German television". Mr Corbyn said the foreign secretary had "egg on his face for the statement he made on German television".
"Either the foreign secretary has information that he's not sharing with Porton Down or it was a bit of exaggeration," he added."Either the foreign secretary has information that he's not sharing with Porton Down or it was a bit of exaggeration," he added.
"I don't know which it is, but I think we need a responsible, cool approach to this.""I don't know which it is, but I think we need a responsible, cool approach to this."
Labour called on the prime minister to launch an investigation into whether Mr Johnson broke the ministerial code.Labour called on the prime minister to launch an investigation into whether Mr Johnson broke the ministerial code.
Mr Johnson hit back on Twitter.Mr Johnson hit back on Twitter.
"It is lamentable that Jeremy Corbyn is now playing Russia's game and trying to discredit the UK over Salisbury attack," he wrote, setting out what he said were the "key facts"."It is lamentable that Jeremy Corbyn is now playing Russia's game and trying to discredit the UK over Salisbury attack," he wrote, setting out what he said were the "key facts".
He added: "28 other countries have been so convinced by UK case they have expelled Russians. In contrast, Jeremy Corbyn chooses to side with the Russian spin machine."He added: "28 other countries have been so convinced by UK case they have expelled Russians. In contrast, Jeremy Corbyn chooses to side with the Russian spin machine."
The UK has said that identifying the substance at Porton Down was "only one part of the intelligence picture".The UK has said that identifying the substance at Porton Down was "only one part of the intelligence picture".
Speaking during a visit to Bangkok, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said there was "no other plausible area that that could have come from".
He said Porton Down had identified the poison used as a "Russian military grade nerve agent", and that the UK knew that "Russia has been stockpiling amounts of this" and had been "investigating ways of delivering it".
Russia has said the comments from Porton Down's chief executive Gary Aitkenhead reveal the UK's case to be "nothing but assumptions".Russia has said the comments from Porton Down's chief executive Gary Aitkenhead reveal the UK's case to be "nothing but assumptions".
Russia's proposal for a new, joint investigation into the poisoning was voted down at the international chemical weapons watchdog at The Hague.Russia's proposal for a new, joint investigation into the poisoning was voted down at the international chemical weapons watchdog at The Hague.
Russia accused Britain of blocking access to an investigation being carried out by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).Russia accused Britain of blocking access to an investigation being carried out by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
On Twitter, the Russian Embassy highlighted the now-deleted tweet by the UK Foreign Office which suggested Porton Down had said the nerve agent had been produced in Russia.On Twitter, the Russian Embassy highlighted the now-deleted tweet by the UK Foreign Office which suggested Porton Down had said the nerve agent had been produced in Russia.
The Foreign Office said the tweet had been part of a real-time account of a speech by the UK's ambassador in Moscow and was deleted because it "did not accurately report our ambassador's words".The Foreign Office said the tweet had been part of a real-time account of a speech by the UK's ambassador in Moscow and was deleted because it "did not accurately report our ambassador's words".
It added: "None of this changes the fact that it is our assessment that Russia was responsible for this brazen and reckless act and, as the international community agrees, there is no other plausible explanation.It added: "None of this changes the fact that it is our assessment that Russia was responsible for this brazen and reckless act and, as the international community agrees, there is no other plausible explanation.
"No other country has a combination of the capability, the intent, and the motive to carry out such an act.""No other country has a combination of the capability, the intent, and the motive to carry out such an act."
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale said Mr Johnson's "loose language" plus the deleted tweet represented a "self-inflicted wound" by the UK.BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale said Mr Johnson's "loose language" plus the deleted tweet represented a "self-inflicted wound" by the UK.
This had "muddied the waters" and allowed Russia to cast doubt on the UK's assessment, he said - but he added that the "international alliance" supporting the UK's position was "still holding".This had "muddied the waters" and allowed Russia to cast doubt on the UK's assessment, he said - but he added that the "international alliance" supporting the UK's position was "still holding".