MP, Labour's Shadow Foreign
Secretary, Urgent Question on the status of the
Russian sanctions legislation:
Thank you Mr Speaker and I'm grateful to you for granting this
Urgent Question.
I do not need to remind anyone in this House of the seriousness
of the build-up of Russian forces on Ukraine's borders.
We stand united in opposition to Russian aggression and in
support of Ukraine's sovereignty.
We are all desperate to avoid what could be the worst conflict
the continent of Europe has faced in the modern era.
We urgently want to de-escalate this crisis, and we support
diplomatic efforts to achieve that goal.
But our diplomacy must be matched by deterrence.
On January 31st the Foreign Secretary announced to Parliament the
government’s plan to put in place what she called the “toughest
sanctions regime against Russia”.
She said: “The package that we are putting forward in legislation
will be in place by 10 February”
It is now 10th February and no such legislation has been put in
place.
As the Foreign Secretary meets her counterpart in Moscow, media
reports suggest the plan has “fallen through”.
The House rises today, leaving no parliamentary time for the
government to put the legislation in place until after recess.
That raises the very troubling risk that Russian action against
Ukraine could take place without the necessary legal measures in
place to allow Britain to respond.
So I say to the Minister: where is the legislation you promised?
What is the reason for this delay?
And what reassurance can you offer to this House that, without
the legislation in place, the government can implement severe
sanctions if they are needed?
Promises made to this House should be kept. Honourable members
deserved the opportunity to scrutinise and debate these measures,
in a constructive spirit.
I do not want these sanctions to join the long list of measures
to counter Russia aggression that have been ignored or delayed.
Like the economic crime Bill.
And reform of Companies House
And the register of overseas entities Bill,
And the foreign agent registration law,
And the the new counter-espionage laws,
The list goes on and on Mr Speaker.
With 130,000 troops threatening Ukraine, the opposition stands
ready to work with the government in the national interest to get
the appropriate measures in place.
We can only do so if the government keeps its promise to bring
forth the sanctions legislation.
Where is it?
