Commons Sense

The horrendous scenes we’re witnessing in Ukraine are an absolute tragedy.

It pains me that this avoidable crisis has come to pass and I’m saddened that normal, everyday Ukrainians and Russians have to pay the ultimate price for President Putin’s power politics.

I fully support the sovereignty of Ukraine and condemn Putin’s unprovoked, unjustifiable imperialism.

These actions are a flagrant breach of international law and will have deadly consequences.

For Britain’s part, Russia’s invasion must be met with the hardest possible sanctions against Putin’s regime: it must be isolated, its finances frozen and its ability to function crippled.

I welcome the support and sanctions outlined so far by the Government, but it has been slow to react and we must go further – our delay means more lives lost.

For example, the Government should ensure that sanctions can be placed against Russia’s extractive, energy and technological industries, whilst the insurance industry shouldn’t be able to underwrite and de-risk Putin’s war.

Government must also finally implement the Russia Report’s recommendations (published in 2020) and return the millions of pounds the Conservative Party has received from Russian oligarchs in recent years.

As desperate Ukrainians flee the bombing and bloodshed, it’s right the UK plays its part in offering sanctuar y.

I welcome the Home Office extending a family route for

Ukrainians seeking to join relatives in Britain, but this should have been in place from the start and further measures are essential to help our Ukrainian friends.

Despite the tough talk from Government and warm words for Ukrainians, its actions to support refugees have been wholly inadequate.

As other European nations accept hundreds of thousands of desperate fleeing Ukrainians (mostly women and children), except in very limited circumstances, the Home Office here continues to apply normal visa restrictions, such as requiring them to apply as seasonal fruit pickers, rather than as genuine refugees.

That’s immoral and unacceptable, showing just how hollow Government ‘commitments’ to Ukrainians truly are.

Now isn’t the time to dither - proactive, decisive leadership is needed.

The more the Government prevaricates, the more people die.

It’s that simple.