As it happenedended

Russia statement - as it happened: Theresa May to expel 23 spies from UK in response to Salisbury poisoning attack

All the updates from Westminster

Ashley Cowburn

Political Correspondent

Wednesday 14 March 2018 13:08 GMT

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Theresa May orders biggest expulsion of Russian spies in 30 years in response to Salisbury poisoning

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Theresa May has said that 23 Russian spies will be expelled from the UK as a response to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury.

The move, which is the biggest expulsion in more than 30 years, has been described by the Russians as "unacceptable" and a "provocation".

The Prime Minister also confirmed that no UK dignitaries will attend the World Cup in Russia this year, and said a planned visit by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov will be scrapped.

Ms May addressed MPs following Prime Minister’s Questions, after Russia failed to comply with the British government’s midnight demand for an explanation of the poisoning of the ex-spy.

She said Vladimir Putin had responded to her demand to explain the “reckless and despicable act” in Salisbury with “sarcasm, contempt and defiance”.

She concluded that that was "no alternative" other than the Russian state was responsible for the incident.

Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman responded to the news by saying Mr Corbyn does not yet believe he has seen enough evidence to point the finger of blame at the Russian state.

He also cast aspersions on the evidence that had been presented, raising Iraq as the reason to be suspicious over intelligence that is presented to the public.

The comments were met with several Labour MPs vocally disagreeing with Mr Corbyn tabling a motion to back Ms May's view that Russia was definitely culpable.

See below for all the updates

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Corbyn understands foreign policy – he proved it yesterday with Russia and he's proven it in the pastIain Duncan Smith said Corbyn shouldn’t “Play politics” over the poisoning by talking about Russia-linked donations to our governing party. The Tory backbenches roared “shame” and “disgrace”. Chris Leslie MP, prominent member of the dwindling New Labour “Resistance” to Corbyn declared it is "just not appropriate" to push "party political differences" when "our country is potentially under attack" in response to the Labour leader’s comments in the Commons last night.

Ashley Cowburn14 March 2018 10:11

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My colleague Lizzy Buchan is at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) briefing on the Chancellor's Spring Statement, delivered in the Commons on Tuesday.

Ashley Cowburn14 March 2018 10:13

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EU expresses 'solidarity' with Britain after use of nerve agent in SalisburyThe European Union has expressed its “solidarity” with the British people and government after the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter on British soil, apparently using a Russian-made nerve agent. Speaking in the European Parliament Frans Timmermans, the first vice president of the European Commission, said European countries and their leaders had a “collective responsibility” to help their ally.

Ashley Cowburn14 March 2018 10:20

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Taxes need to go up by £40bn a year to balance the books, IFS saysTax hikes of around £40bn a year will be needed to balance the books by mid 2020s, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said. The respected thinktank poured scorn on Philip Hammond's optimism in its analysis of his first Spring Statement, where it declared the need for tax rises of £30bn each year to retain public spending and balance the budget by the middle of the next decade - which the Tories had promised to do.

Ashley Cowburn14 March 2018 10:48

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Reject austerity to defeat populism, Portugal's socialist prime minister António Costa tells EUPortugal’s rejection of austerity under a left-wing government has stopped populism from taking root in the southern European country and restored trust in the EU there, its Prime Minister has told European officials.

Ashley Cowburn14 March 2018 10:59

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This is from The Independent's Political Commentator John Rentoul, who is currently outside Parliament. Protestors have brought traffic to a standstill in the area.

Ashley Cowburn14 March 2018 11:30

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Ashley Cowburn14 March 2018 11:31

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The death of the Labour-supporting Stephen Hawking is a big loss for NHS 'privatisation' protestersThe death of the Labour-supporting Stephen Hawking robs campaigners against “backdoor privatisation” of the NHS of their most powerful supporter. The world-renowned and much-loved physicist was embroiled in a fierce legal battle with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt over a shake-up of the health service he had condemned.

Ashley Cowburn14 March 2018 11:53

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Russia statement - as it happened: Theresa May to expel 23 spies from UK in response to Salisbury poisoning attack