WORCESTERSHIRE’s MPs are among the 287 sanctioned by Vladmir Putin in a tit-for-tat punishment over the UK’s decision to take action against hundreds of Russian politicians last month.
Robin Walker (Worcester), Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire), Nigel Huddleston (Mid Worcestershire) and Rachel Maclean (Redditch) are among the Members of Parliament accused by Russia’s Foreign Ministry of being the ‘most active’ in supporting sanctions against the Kremlin.
It accused them of whipping up ‘Russophobic hysteria’ with ‘hostile rhetoric and ‘far-fetched accusations’.
And while there was no place for Bromsgrove MP and Health Secretary Sajid Javid, it’s unlikely any of our elected representatives will lose any sleep as the list includes 18 politicians who are no longer MPs and former Attorney General Dominic Grieve who appeared on the list twice.
Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke, who was released from prison last year after his sex assault conviction, also appears on the list.
Writing on Twitter, Mrs Baldwin noted how Mr Putin had ‘taken time out from bombing babies in Ukraine to sanction me and many colleagues’
As a result just 265 of the 650 MPs in the House of Commons have been sanctioned by Russia, a fact openly mocked in the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
Speaking during the debate, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said although he did not want to ‘disrespect’ those British politicians who hadn’t been sanctioned – all those 287 should regard it as a ‘badge of honour’.
“What we will do is keep up our robust and principled support for the Ukrainian people and their right to protect their lives, their families and to defend themselves,’ he said.
“That’s what this country is doing and that has the overwhelming support, I think, of the whole House.”
