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UK politics live: minister says Russian invasion of Ukraine likely to become more violent, with ‘horrific’ casualties possible UK politics live: minister says Russian invasion of Ukraine likely to become more violent, with ‘horrific’ casualties possible
(32 minutes later)
Defence secretary Ben Wallace says there could be ‘indiscriminate bombing of cities and propelling forward of soldiers’Defence secretary Ben Wallace says there could be ‘indiscriminate bombing of cities and propelling forward of soldiers’
And here are some more line from Ben Wallace’s interviews this morning.And here are some more line from Ben Wallace’s interviews this morning.
Wallace, the defence secretary, said Russian invasion of Ukraine was likely to become more violent, with “horrific” casualty levels possible. He said:Wallace, the defence secretary, said Russian invasion of Ukraine was likely to become more violent, with “horrific” casualty levels possible. He said:
Wallace described Putin’s decision to put his nuclear deterrent on high alert as “rhetoric”. It did not fundamentally change the threat, he implied. He said:Wallace described Putin’s decision to put his nuclear deterrent on high alert as “rhetoric”. It did not fundamentally change the threat, he implied. He said:
Wallace also said that, after Putin’s announcement, his 12-year-old son had asked if it meant there would be nuclear war. Asked how he replied, Wallace told LBC:Wallace also said that, after Putin’s announcement, his 12-year-old son had asked if it meant there would be nuclear war. Asked how he replied, Wallace told LBC:
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has criticised the Kremlin for suggesting that Liz Truss is responsible for President Putin deciding to put his nuclear forces on alert. (See 12.37pm.)
Here are the main points from the Downing Street lobby briefing.
The prime minister’s spokeman suggested that Boris Johnson wants the war in Ukraine to lead to the downfall of President Putin. This may seem obvious, but it is not something that ministers have said publicly. (As anyone who remembers the Iraq war will remember, setting regime change as policy is a significant act, with consequences in international law.) Talking about the impact of all the anti-Russia measures being taken, the spokesman said:
But when asked specifically if bringing down Putin was a goal of policy, the spokesman (who has a reputation for being careful with his language) retracted the suggestion. “We are not seeking anything in terms of regime change,” he said.
The spokesman suggested the PM wanted City law firms to stop doing business with Russian state-owned companies. He said:
These are from Times Radio’s Tom Newton Dunn.
Johnson will tomorrow travel to Poland and Estonia for meetings with his counterparts and the Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, on Tuesday, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said Priti Patel, the home secretary, will give “more detail” of measures to help Ukrainian refugees wanting to come to the UK in the Commons this afternoon, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said up to 100,000 Ukrainians with British national relatives could come to the UK under the measures already announced.
The spokesman refused to back Liz Truss’s claim that it was acceptable for Britons to travel to Ukraine to fight against Russia. (See 1.35pm.)
The spokesman said the immigration minister Kevin Foster was wrong to post a message on Twitter on Saturday saying Ukrainians wanting to escape to the UK could get a fruit picker’s visa. Asked about the tweet, the spokesperson said:
Here is the tweet.
The spokesman dismissed the Kremlin’s critcism of Truss this morning (see 12.37pm) as a distraction exercise. Asked for a response, he said:
Johnson told cabinet this morning that Putin had made a “colossal mistake” with the invasion, the spokesman said. Giving a readout from cabinet, he said:
An unnamed ally of Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, has dismissed the Kremlin’s attempt to blame her for President Putin putting his nuclear forces on alert as an attempt to distract attention from what is happening in Ukraine. (See 12.37pm.) The “ally” told PA Media:An unnamed ally of Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, has dismissed the Kremlin’s attempt to blame her for President Putin putting his nuclear forces on alert as an attempt to distract attention from what is happening in Ukraine. (See 12.37pm.) The “ally” told PA Media:
It has been quite a morning for Truss. Both No 10 (see 1.35pm) and the Kremlin have been briefing against her.It has been quite a morning for Truss. Both No 10 (see 1.35pm) and the Kremlin have been briefing against her.
Evgeny Lebedev, the former KGB agent’s son who owns the Evening Standard and who was given a peerage by Boris Johnson, has used a column in his paper to urge President Putin to stop the war.Evgeny Lebedev, the former KGB agent’s son who owns the Evening Standard and who was given a peerage by Boris Johnson, has used a column in his paper to urge President Putin to stop the war.
As my colleague Peter Walker points out, in his article Lebedev refers to it as a conflict, not an invasion.As my colleague Peter Walker points out, in his article Lebedev refers to it as a conflict, not an invasion.
These are from the Times’s Steven Swinford on today’s cabinet.These are from the Times’s Steven Swinford on today’s cabinet.
Last week, on the day invasion started, Boris Johnson was reluctant to admit that it would involve to accept that British consumers would pay a price in his TV address to the nation.Last week, on the day invasion started, Boris Johnson was reluctant to admit that it would involve to accept that British consumers would pay a price in his TV address to the nation.
The Downing Street lobby briefing has just finished, and it saw the PM’s spokesman slap down Liz Truss’s suggestion that it would be acceptable for Britons to go to Ukraine to join the fight against the Russians. Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, distanced himself from what Truss said in interviews this morning, but No 10 effectively said she was wrong.The Downing Street lobby briefing has just finished, and it saw the PM’s spokesman slap down Liz Truss’s suggestion that it would be acceptable for Britons to go to Ukraine to join the fight against the Russians. Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, distanced himself from what Truss said in interviews this morning, but No 10 effectively said she was wrong.
Asked if Britons should go abroad to fight, the spokesman said:Asked if Britons should go abroad to fight, the spokesman said:
That is a reference to this appeal.That is a reference to this appeal.
When asked if Truss had gone too far in her commnts, the spokesman pointed out that the Foreign Office’s own website says people should not go to Ukraine. He said:When asked if Truss had gone too far in her commnts, the spokesman pointed out that the Foreign Office’s own website says people should not go to Ukraine. He said:
The website says Britons are advised “to leave Ukraine immediately” and, in another section, it says Britons going to Ukraine to fight could be breaking the law.The website says Britons are advised “to leave Ukraine immediately” and, in another section, it says Britons going to Ukraine to fight could be breaking the law.
Yesterday Truss says she would support Britons going to Ukraine to join the fight against Ukraine in three separate interviews. Asked if she favoured the idea, she told the BBC:Yesterday Truss says she would support Britons going to Ukraine to join the fight against Ukraine in three separate interviews. Asked if she favoured the idea, she told the BBC:
I will post more from the briefing shortly.I will post more from the briefing shortly.
Primary-school-aged children with long Covid are significantly more likely to have a mental disorder than those without, PA Media reports. PA says:Primary-school-aged children with long Covid are significantly more likely to have a mental disorder than those without, PA Media reports. PA says:
Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, has also posted a useful thread on Twitter summarising the impact of the war in Ukraine on UK energy security, and what the government is doing about it.Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, has also posted a useful thread on Twitter summarising the impact of the war in Ukraine on UK energy security, and what the government is doing about it.
There will be two statement in the Commons this afternoon. At 3.30pm Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, will make a statement on sanctionss, and at around 4.30pm Kwasi Kwarteng, the businesss secretary, will make a statement on the economic crime bill.There will be two statement in the Commons this afternoon. At 3.30pm Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, will make a statement on sanctionss, and at around 4.30pm Kwasi Kwarteng, the businesss secretary, will make a statement on the economic crime bill.
Last night the government gave details of the economic crime (transparency and enforcement) bill that will be introduced into parliament this week. (But it is not due to get its second reading this week, the government was briefing last night. It is not being fast-tracked as emergency legislation.) Here is my story about the bill.Last night the government gave details of the economic crime (transparency and enforcement) bill that will be introduced into parliament this week. (But it is not due to get its second reading this week, the government was briefing last night. It is not being fast-tracked as emergency legislation.) Here is my story about the bill.
The Kremlin has claimed that President Putin’s decision to put Russia’s nuclear forces on high alert was taken in response to comments from Liz Truss, the foreign secretary. The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told a press briefing:The Kremlin has claimed that President Putin’s decision to put Russia’s nuclear forces on high alert was taken in response to comments from Liz Truss, the foreign secretary. The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told a press briefing:
Putin’s decision came yesterday morning. Perhaps he had been reading Truss’s interview in the Sunday Times (paywall) in which she warned of the possibility of a confrontation between Russia and Nato (but using language that did not go beyond what ministers have said many times in the past). She said:Putin’s decision came yesterday morning. Perhaps he had been reading Truss’s interview in the Sunday Times (paywall) in which she warned of the possibility of a confrontation between Russia and Nato (but using language that did not go beyond what ministers have said many times in the past). She said:
MSPs and Scottish government ministers have called for the Russian consul general in Edinburgh, Andrey Yakovlev, to be expelled from the UK. Paul Sweeney, a Scottish Labour MSP, has tabled a motion at Holyrood calling for expulsion. “It is increasingly clear that every one of us must do everything we can to send a message to Russia that their actions have consequences,” Sweeney said.MSPs and Scottish government ministers have called for the Russian consul general in Edinburgh, Andrey Yakovlev, to be expelled from the UK. Paul Sweeney, a Scottish Labour MSP, has tabled a motion at Holyrood calling for expulsion. “It is increasingly clear that every one of us must do everything we can to send a message to Russia that their actions have consequences,” Sweeney said.
The UK government has so far resisted calls for the Russian ambassador in London to be expelled, on the grounds that it is helpful for London to be able to communicate directly with someone influential with the ear of the Kremlin.The UK government has so far resisted calls for the Russian ambassador in London to be expelled, on the grounds that it is helpful for London to be able to communicate directly with someone influential with the ear of the Kremlin.
The Scottish government is donating £4m in financial aid to the relief agencies working in Ukraine and additional medical supplies including anaesthetic machines, syringe pumps and bandages.The Scottish government is donating £4m in financial aid to the relief agencies working in Ukraine and additional medical supplies including anaesthetic machines, syringe pumps and bandages.
Officials in the devolved government are talking to aid agencies about the quickest route to deliver the money, which could increase later. The medical supplies, including medicines, were chosen from a list of emergency materials supplied by the Ukrainian consulate in Edinburgh, in coordination with other UK governments.Officials in the devolved government are talking to aid agencies about the quickest route to deliver the money, which could increase later. The medical supplies, including medicines, were chosen from a list of emergency materials supplied by the Ukrainian consulate in Edinburgh, in coordination with other UK governments.
Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, said:Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, said:
Scottish officials are considering supporting a fund-raising appeal organised by the United Nations. António Guterres, the UN secretary general, said it would launch an appeal on Tuesday to fund its humanitarian operations in Ukraine. The UN expects it will need more than $1bn (£890m) over the next three months, the government said.Scottish officials are considering supporting a fund-raising appeal organised by the United Nations. António Guterres, the UN secretary general, said it would launch an appeal on Tuesday to fund its humanitarian operations in Ukraine. The UN expects it will need more than $1bn (£890m) over the next three months, the government said.
Yesterday the UK government announced it was contributing £40m in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, to pay for medical equipment and other basic necessities.Yesterday the UK government announced it was contributing £40m in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, to pay for medical equipment and other basic necessities.