Spy away home

Russian agents and their families kicked out of UK

RUSSIAN diplomats and their families smile and wave as they begin their journey home after being booted out of Britain over the Salisbury nerve agent attack.

The 23 agents were taken by bus to London Stansted Airport, in Essex, yesterday, where they boarded a plane from Russia’s Special Flight Squadron.

Flight RSD039 took off just after 4pm for the five-hour journey to Moscow.

They were given a week to leave following the attempted assassinations of ex-double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, in the Wiltshire city – which were blamed on the Kremlin.

The pair have been in comas since the Novichok nerve agent assault more than two weeks ago. While the Russians were heading home, Theresa May was ordering intelligence chiefs and ministers to draw up plans to hit back at President Vladimir Putin’s regime.

Downing Street said other measures included beefed-up checks on Uk-bound private flights and extra border security to “enhance our efforts to monitor and track the intentions of those travelling to the UK, who could be engaged in activity that threatens the security of the UK and our allies”. Mrs May hopes to maintain support for her stance when she jets to Brussels tomorrow for talks with EU leaders.

But EC President Jean-claude Juncker surprised many by congratulating Putin on his election victory in a letter. He wrote: “Excellency, Mr President, I wish to convey my congratulations on your re-election as President of the Russian Federation.” US President Donald Trump called Putin to applaud his success at the polls.

Trump said the pair discussed a range of topics during the “very good” talk but the Salisbury nerve agent attack does not appear to have been on the agenda.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn insisted he would still “do business” with President Putin if Labour came to power.

Talking about the Salisbury attack, the Labour leader said: “The weapons were made from Russia, clearly.

“I think Russia has to be held responsible for it. But there has to be an absolutely definitive answer to the question: ‘where did the nerve agent come from?’”

He added: “Would I do business with Putin? Sure – and I’d challenge him on human rights in Russia, challenge him on these issues, and challenge him on that whole basis of that relationship.”

There has to be a definitive answer to the question – where did the nerve agent come from? JEREMY CORBYN ON THE POISON USED IN THE SALISBURY ATTACK

ONE-WAY Jet at airport yesterday and, inset, Russian seems upset to be leaving

SURPRISE Jean-claude Juncker wrote to Putin