Starmer: Probe Tory Russian ‘links’
Labour leader makes call in constituency visit
LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer has claimed the Government has not “looked closely enough” at Conservative Party donations to examine any possible links to Russian influence.
A flurry of diplomacy is currently under way between Western capitals and Moscow with more than 100,000 Russian troops massing on Ukraine’s borders, amid fears of an invasion.
During a visit to Birmingham on Wednesday Sir Keir, asked what more he thought the Government should be doing to combat “Russian aggression”, said: “It’s very important that we stand united with our allies, united with NATO.”
He added: “It’s also important that in the UK our political parties are united against Russian aggression.
“But I do want to see the Government going further in relation to sanctions.
“I don’t think they’ve used the powers they’ve already got as much as they should have done and I don’t think they’ve looked closely enough at their own donations.
“And I think any donations to the Conservative Party that have any link to Putin should be looked at very, very
carefully.” He added: “I want to see further sanctions put in place as quickly as possible. We’ve been waiting for an economic crime bill for some time now.
“That needs to happen, it needs to happen fast and we will push the Government all the way on this.”
Sir Keir also urged the Government to do more on the cost of living, and called again for a “windfall tax” on the profits of oil and gas companies “which could bring energy bills down by £600”.
He was speaking during a visit to Erdington ahead of a by-election there next month, as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published data on Wednesday showing inflation had risen to 5.5% in January, a 30-year high.
It is expected to hit 7.25% in April, the highest level since August 1991.
ONS figures published on Tuesday showed total pay growth rose to 4.3% for the quarter to December, meaning pay is failing to keep pace with rising prices. Sir Keir said: “Inflation has gone up again - it’s running at very high levels, the like of which we haven’t seen for years and years.
“That just adds to the pressure of the cost of living crisis, because families are already seeing their food bill has gone up, their fuel bill has gone up, their energy bill has gone up.
“Just at that moment, the Government intends to impose more tax national insurance tax - on them in April, so the Government is whacking families who are already suffering under the cost of living crisis, instead of helping them.”