Jeremy Corbyn was today branded a ‘disgrace’ after he failed to condemn the Kremlin and suggested Russia might not be behind the Salisbury poisoning.
The Labour leader was jeered and met with cries of ‘shame’ as he stood up in the Commons and failed to back Theresa May’s tough stance against Russia.
He prompted gasps of disbelief as he parroted the Russian line calling for Britain to share samples of the poison used against Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with Moscow to run their own tests.
And he used the assassination attempt to blast Government cuts to diplomats and call for a ‘robust dialogue’ with Vladimir Putin.
He sparked fresh fury after his official spokesman said MI5 could be wrong in blaming Russia because they were wrong about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
The PM tore into the Labour leader for failing to condemn Moscow despite all the evidence pointing to Russian state involvement in the murder attempt.
Jeremy Corbyn was today branded a ‘disgrace’ after he failed to condemn the Kremlin over the Salisbury spy poisoning and parroted the Kremlin line by demanding that they are given a sample of the poison to test themselves
Theresa May (pictured in the Commons today) tore into Jeremy Corbyn for ducking the opportunity to condemn Russia over the attack – and said he is the only one out of a consensus of MPs and allies who have backed tough action
Tory Business Minister Claire Perry shouted across the Chamber to the Labour leader: ‘You’re a disgrace to your party.’
Mr Corbyn’s spokesman tried to cast doubt over the Government’s assertion that Russia is behind the attack.
What action has Theresa May announced against Russia?
The PM today unveiled the fleet of measures being taken against Russia today
Theresa May has announced a fleet of tough measures against Russia in the wake of the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
They include:
Expulsion of diplomats
Britain will expel 23 Russian embassy staff who have been identified as ‘undeclared intelligence officers’ from the country within a week.
This is the biggest expulsion of diplomats since 1971 when Ted Heath kicked 90 Soviet staff out after the UK uncovered a large Communist spy ring.
All high-level contacts with Russia will also be suspended in protest.
New and tougher anti-espionage laws will be brought forward to help degrade Russia’s capabilities in the UK.
The World Cup:
Ministers and the Royal Family will boycott the football World Cup in Russia this summer.
Britain hopes that other allies will also snub the sporting event .
Tougher Sanctions:
Theresa May also signaled that Russian oligarchs wanting to come into the UK and live the high life in London will face tough new checks and sanctions.
The Government will now back amendments to bring in a Magnitsky Law into the UK – which imposes sanctions on Russians found to be linked to corruption or human rights abuses.
Private plane checks
While checks on Russian nationals coming to the UK will be stepped up.
This will include increased checks on private flights and extra customs checks.
The UK will also freeze Russian state assets.
Cyber warfare?
Mrs May suggested there will be covert action that would not be announced – an apparent hint at cyber attacks.
But this is unlikely to ever be confirmed by the Government officially.
He said: ‘In these times of crises initial reaction is not necessarily backed by reality and fact.
‘Jeremy has been proved to make the right call time and time again.
He added: ‘There is a history between WMDs and intelligence which is problematic.’
The PM said she was ‘surprised and shocked’ at the statement, which was repeated to her in the Chamber.
And Labour MPs took to Twitter to vent their fury at the comments by the spokesman – who they named as Seumus Milne.
Labour MP Anna Turley summed up the mood of many by saying: ‘I’m afraid Seumas doesn’t speak for my Labour or British values.’
In a fiery exchange in the House of Commons today, Mr Corbyn was condemned by the Prime Minister, many Labour MPs and Tories for failing to strike the right tone on the Salisbury poisoning.
Labour moderates queued up to publicly back the PM’s action and to take stinging swipes at their own pacifist leader.
Labour MP Pat McFadden said: ‘Responding with strength and resolve when you’re country is under threat is an essential component of political leadership….there is a Labour tradition which understands that.’
Mrs May also took aim, saying: ‘This is not a question of our diplomacy, of what diplomatic support we have around the world.
‘This is the question of the culpability of the Russian state for an act on our soil.
‘He said we should be trying to build a consensus – it is clear form the conversations I’ve had with allies that we have a consensus with our allies.
‘It was clear form the remarks made by backbenches in this House on Monday that we have a consensus across the backbenches of this House.
‘I am only sorry that the consensus does not go as far as the right honourable gentleman – who could have taken the opportunity, as the UK government has done, to condemn the culpability of the Russian state.’
She later said there was a clear divide between the Labour leader and his backbenchers who stand ‘full square’ behind the Government.
Mr Corbyn shook his head at the remarks but her words were met with loud shouts of cheers from fellow MPs.
While his ally and shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry hit back at Mrs May through her heckles shouting ‘Shame on you, how dare you.’
Mr Corbyn used his stint in the Commons Chamber to tear into the Government for presiding over cuts to the Foreign Office.
And instead of taking the opportunity to condemn Russia he talked instead of the need to work with international partners.
He said: ‘We should urge our international allies to join us and call on Russia to reveal without delay full details of its chemical weapons programme to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.’
Mr Corbyn added: ‘The events in Salisbury earlier this month are abominable and have been rightly condemned across the House.’
It was a ‘dreadful, appalling act which we totally condemn’ he said as he urged multilateral action.
Labour MP Pat McFadden (pictured in the Commons today) took a stinging swipe at Mr Corbyn, saying: ‘Responding with strength and resolve when you’re country is under threat is an essential component of political leadership….there is a Labour tradition which understands that.’
Prominent Labour moderates John Woodcock (pictured right) and Chris Bryant (pictured left) both pointedly backed the PM’s words. In a swipe at Jeremy Corbyn, Mr Woodcock said Britain’s MPs must unite to show Russia that the UK will not accept a murder attempt on British soil
Anna Turley was among a string of Labour MPs who angrily distanced themselves from the comments made by Jeremy Corbyn spokesman – who said that Russia might not be behind the attack and MI5 cannot be trusted because they were wrong about there being WMDs in Iraq
Furious Labour backbenchers hit back by drawing up an early day motion saying they accept ‘the Russian state’s culpability for the poisoning of Yulia and Sergei Skripal in Salisbury’
He said it was a matter of ‘huge regret’ that there had been cuts of 25% to the UK’s diplomatic network in the last five years – a comment which produced further barracking from the Tory benches.
He added: ‘How has she responded to the Russian government’s request for a sample of the agent used in the Salisbury attack to run its own tests?’
Meanwhile, Labour moderates queued up to back the PM’s tough words and actions in the Commons – and take a swipe at Mr Corbyn’s stances.
Labour MP John Woodcock said: ‘This is day for the House to speak as one for the nation.
‘And the Prime Minister will be reassured to hear that a clear majority of Labour MPs, alongside the leaders of every other party, support the firm stance she is taking.’
He was cheered by fellow Labour backbenchers as he made the comments.
Labour MP Chris Leslie said Russia is ‘thumbing its nose’ at the West and must be brought to heel.
While fellow Labour MP Chris Bryant said: ‘I completely support everything the Prime Minister has aid here today.’
Mr McFadden, a minister under Gordon Brown said: ‘Responding with strength and resolve when you’re country is under threat is an essential component of political leadership.
‘There is a Labour tradition which understands that, and it has been understood by Prime Ministers of all parties who have stood at that despatch box.
‘That means when chemical weapons are used we need more than words but deeds.’
Mr Corbyn had faced calls from within his own party to take a far tougher stance on Russia over the poison plot.
But he defied the calls and stuck to the same tone which he struck on Monday – complaining about the British government and calling for dialogue with Putin.
And today furious Labour backbenchers hit back by drawing up an early day motion saying they accept ‘the Russian state’s culpability for the poisoning of Yulia and Sergei Skripal in Salisbury’.
The motion was circulating within hours of the statement in the Commons – and was signed by over a dozen Labour MPs – including Stella Creasy, Chuka Umunna and Mr Woodcock.
In a lengthy statement to MPs, Mrs May said Russia had failed to meet the midnight deadline to explain how Novichok was used in an assassination attempt on British soil.
Britain’s demand for answers was instead met with ‘sarcasm and disdain’ from Moscow, she said.
She told MPs: ‘There is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable for the attempted murder of Mr Skripal and his daughter – and for threatening the lives of other British citizens in Salisbury, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey.
‘This represents an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom.’
She added: ‘They have treated the use of this poison with sarcasm and disdain… There is no other conclusion other than that the Russian state was responsible for the attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal and his daughter.’
The PM announced she will expel 23 Russian embassy staff, toughen up sanctions against Russia and break off ties with Moscow following the murder attempt.
The PM welcomed support from allies including the US, Nato and the EU, and said Britain would be pushing for a ‘robust international response’ at the UN Security Council later on Wednesday.
‘This was not just an act of attempted murder in Salisbury – nor just an act against UK,’ she said.
‘It is an affront to the prohibition on the use of chemical weapons. And it is an affront to the rules-based system on which we and our international partners depend.’
Mrs May said: ‘Under the Vienna Convention the United kingdom will now expel 23 Russian diplomats who have been identified as undeclared intelligence officers – they have just one week to leave.
‘This will be the single biggest expulsion in over 30 years and it reflects the fact this is not the first time that the Russian state has acted against our country.
‘Through these expulsions we will fundamentally degrade Russian intelligence capability in the UK for years to come. And if they seek to rebuild it we will prevent them from doing so.’
The expulsions amount to around 40 per cent of the 58-strong contingent at the Russian embassy.
By contrast, just four diplomats were expelled following the murder of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006.
Calling out Mr Putin by name, Mrs May said: ‘Many of us looked at a post-Soviet Russia with hope.
‘We wanted a better relationship and it is tragic that President Putin has chosen to act in this way.
‘But we will not tolerate the threat to life of British people and others on British soil from the Russian Government. Nor will we tolerate such a flagrant breach of Russia’s international obligations.’
The Russian embassy in London hit back at Government after today’s statement on the Commons.,
In a statement, it said: ‘On 14 of March Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko was summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where he was informed that 23 diplomats were declared personae non gratae.
‘We consider this hostile action as totally unacceptable, unjustified and shortsighted.
‘All the responsibility for the deterioration of the Russia-UK relationship lies with the current political leadership of Britain.’
Jeremy Corbyn, pictured with his communications chief Seumus Milne, a former Communist who has downplayed the number of people imprisoned under Stalin’s murderous rule. the coterie of Marxist advisers who surrund the Labour leader has raised questions about his response to the poison spy plot