0:00:08 > 0:00:14Last night's deadline came and went without any Russian response to the
0:00:14 > 0:00:18British ultimatum over the Salisbury nerve gas attack. In an hour the
0:00:18 > 0:00:22Prime Minister will reveal the extent of British retaliation in one
0:00:22 > 0:00:36of the toughest tests of Theresa May's premiership.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Good morning - welcome to this special edition
0:00:59 > 0:01:01of the Daily Politics, live from Westminister,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04extended to bring you not only Prime Minister's Questions,
0:01:04 > 0:01:07but Mrs May's promised list of sanctions against the Kremlin
0:01:07 > 0:01:11and the response of the Leader of the Opposition.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15We expect to be on air until at least 1.30.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19This morning the Prime Minister met with her National Security Council
0:01:19 > 0:01:24to discuss the British response - she'll make her statement just
0:01:24 > 0:01:28after Prime Minister's Questions and we'll bring it to you live.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32Russia, which continues to deny any involvement in the Salisbury attack,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35has warned that any punitive action on Britain's part will be met
0:01:35 > 0:01:38with a tough response, one Kremlin figure even reminding us
0:01:38 > 0:01:39that Russia is a nuclear power.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43As if we hadn't noticed.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46But what are the Prime Minister's options and how much international
0:01:46 > 0:01:48support can she count on for a robust British response?
0:01:48 > 0:01:54We'll speak to a senior former diplomat.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56And of course, on top of all this we'll be live
0:01:56 > 0:02:04for Prime Minister's Questions at noon.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07All that coming up, and with me for the duration Conservative Vice
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Chair Chris Skidmore and Shadow Treasury
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Minister Jonathan Reynolds.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15Welcome.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Well, as expected, Theresa May's midnight deadline for a Russian
0:02:18 > 0:02:23explanation for the poisioning of former spy Sergei Skripal
0:02:23 > 0:02:27in Salisbury passed with no response from Moscow and now we wait to learn
0:02:27 > 0:02:29what the Prime Minister's next move will be.
0:02:29 > 0:02:35Russia still denies any involvement in the attack and has warned any
0:02:35 > 0:02:37sanctions from us will have consquences.
0:02:37 > 0:02:45Lets get the latest from Richard Galpin, who's in Moscow.
0:02:45 > 0:02:50Is there any other credible explanation doing the rounds in
0:02:50 > 0:02:57Moscow, if this was not Russia in Salisbury, who was at?They are
0:02:57 > 0:03:03saying they got rid of chemical weapons stockpile some time ago and
0:03:03 > 0:03:08so it could not possibly be Russia and they are insisting on that, they
0:03:08 > 0:03:12are not giving other theories. I have not heard anything in terms of
0:03:12 > 0:03:18saying another country might have done this. They are saying, the
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Foreign Minister, that Russia had no motive but obviously the British
0:03:22 > 0:03:27Government will look at that with a wry smile, given what happened in
0:03:27 > 0:03:32London in 2006 with the assassination of another man who
0:03:32 > 0:03:36betrayed his country, Alexander Litvinenko. The Russians have passed
0:03:36 > 0:03:42form for assassinating people who have betrayed them, intelligence
0:03:42 > 0:03:46agents who have gone to the other side, in this case working for MI6.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51My understanding is Mrs May will reveal the nerve agent used has been
0:03:51 > 0:03:54produced only by the Russian government and the Russian
0:03:54 > 0:03:57government has stockpiles of that, perhaps not large, but had an
0:03:57 > 0:04:02element of it, and that will be the reason she will say the British are
0:04:02 > 0:04:06in no doubt the Russians did it and she will outline sanctions including
0:04:06 > 0:04:15expulsions. Are the Russians drawing up a list of Riyadh -- a list of
0:04:15 > 0:04:21retaliation?I am sure they are prepared and I expect they will act
0:04:21 > 0:04:29quickly. The Kremlin spokesman said clearly, we will retaliate. If the
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Russian ambassador for example is expelled and the intelligence
0:04:31 > 0:04:36officers working in the Russian Embassy in London, many of those
0:04:36 > 0:04:42will be expelled, possibly more. There are hints there will be a
0:04:42 > 0:04:45larger number than expulsions that happened following the death of
0:04:45 > 0:04:52Alexander Litvinenko. The Russians are ready and they say they will
0:04:52 > 0:04:56retaliate to everything Britain does. One interesting quote that
0:04:56 > 0:05:03stands out to me, coming from the Kremlin spokesperson, he has
0:05:03 > 0:05:09effectively fired a warning shot to other countries, such as the
0:05:09 > 0:05:12European Union, presumably the United States, saying we hope other
0:05:12 > 0:05:16countries will think about whether there is evidence provided so far by
0:05:16 > 0:05:22the UK. We know Theresa May, Boris Johnson will be working hard to try
0:05:22 > 0:05:26to get solidarity and unity in Europe and other countries and get
0:05:26 > 0:05:31these countries behind the UK on this and Russia is now trying to
0:05:31 > 0:05:36fragment that.It sounds like it is escalating into a major
0:05:36 > 0:05:40international story. Thank you.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42It was on Monday that the Prime Minister gave
0:05:42 > 0:05:43her ultimatum to President Putin.
0:05:43 > 0:05:51Here's a reminder of what she said.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56On Wednesday, we will consider in detail the response from the Russian
0:05:56 > 0:06:00state. Should there be no credible response we will conclude this
0:06:00 > 0:06:05action amounts to an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against
0:06:05 > 0:06:10the United Kingdom. And I will come back to this House and set out the
0:06:10 > 0:06:16range of measures we will take in response. This attempted murder
0:06:16 > 0:06:25using a weapons grade nerve agent in a British town was not just a crime
0:06:25 > 0:06:28against the two. It was an indiscriminate and reckless act
0:06:28 > 0:06:32against the UK, putting lives of innocent civilians at risk and we
0:06:32 > 0:06:36will not tolerate a brazen attempt to murder innocent civilians on our
0:06:36 > 0:06:44soil.That was the Prime Minister on Monday. She is now coming back to
0:06:44 > 0:06:47the Commons and will follow Prime Minister's Questions with a more
0:06:47 > 0:06:51detailed statement on what the British response will be.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53After the murder of former Russian secret service operative
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Alexander Litvinenko in 2006,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Britain expelled some Russian diplomats and enforced tighter visa
0:06:58 > 0:06:59restrictions on Russia officials.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03But many argue that these measures didn't go far enough.
0:07:03 > 0:07:09So, what are Theresa May's options now for retaliation?
0:07:09 > 0:07:17She could...
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Expel more Russia diplomats from the UK, maybe including
0:07:21 > 0:07:24the Russian ambassador.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29The numbers will be important. Ted Heath in 71 kicked out a large
0:07:29 > 0:07:30number of diplomats.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32Introduce asset freezes and travel bans on Russians
0:07:32 > 0:07:36involved in corruption and human rights abuses.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Or at least toughen up the existing powers.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Bar wealthy Russian oligarchs from
0:07:40 > 0:07:47accessing their property in London by seizing their assets.
0:07:47 > 0:07:52Take RT - or Russia Today - off the air.
0:07:52 > 0:07:59The British believe it is a Kremlin financed propaganda channel.
0:07:59 > 0:08:07Or boycott the football World Cup in Russia later this year.
0:08:08 > 0:08:13And talk the British could launch a cyber-attack on Russia.
0:08:13 > 0:08:20This morning I was told that option was downplayed.
0:08:20 > 0:08:21They could convince the EU to strengthen
0:08:21 > 0:08:26sanctions against Putin.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31The European Union put the sanctions with British support in place after
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Crimea and Ukraine. That is the sort of thing that could be done.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Wth me now is Larissa Brown, the defence and security editor
0:08:36 > 0:08:38at the Daily Mail.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40And Adam Thompson, who was until recently Britain's
0:08:40 > 0:08:45Permanent Representative to Nato.
0:08:45 > 0:08:52Larissa Brown, Theresa May was criticised when she was Home
0:08:52 > 0:08:58Secretary for arguing for a weak response to the Litvinenko business.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02Issued under pressure to show she is tougher than that?She is under
0:09:02 > 0:09:08pressure and the worst thing she can do is give a feeble response to the
0:09:08 > 0:09:15poisoning of the double agent. I think she will have to come out this
0:09:15 > 0:09:17afternoon and give a strong statement and outline various
0:09:17 > 0:09:25measures which could cross the diplomatic circles, which could be a
0:09:25 > 0:09:33unilateral response. She could go to Nato, the EU, UN, and call for a
0:09:33 > 0:09:36unified, common international response which would make Britain
0:09:36 > 0:09:42look more powerful in response to Putin.Do we have evidence there is
0:09:42 > 0:09:47appetite in the European Union, in Nato, or even in the Trump
0:09:47 > 0:09:53administration in America to get involved in this and to follow a
0:09:53 > 0:10:01robust response, to back that response, two -- to participate in
0:10:01 > 0:10:05that response?We have seen warm statements towards the UK from both
0:10:05 > 0:10:13Nato Secretary General, apparently Donald Trump, certain EU officials.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17There will be at least verbal support for what Theresa May decides
0:10:17 > 0:10:23to do. But whether that is followed through by action is going to be
0:10:23 > 0:10:27dependent I think on how credible Britain's diplomacy over this crisis
0:10:27 > 0:10:36is.Does it help this happens as we are leaving the EU, and that a man
0:10:36 > 0:10:41in Washington who stood up most for us, Rex Tillerson, Secretary of
0:10:41 > 0:10:45State, was fired within 24 hours of standing up for us.None of that
0:10:45 > 0:10:49mood music is helpful. It probably does not help but I'm not sure it
0:10:49 > 0:10:57will get in the way, either. I think serious Americans and Europeans,
0:10:57 > 0:11:02seeing the first use of nerve agents since the Second World War on
0:11:02 > 0:11:05European territory will understand it is a serious issue for them and
0:11:05 > 0:11:14not just the UK.The law based on this man who was trying to help
0:11:14 > 0:11:22people get out of Russia. He was imprisoned. It freezes assets of
0:11:22 > 0:11:26those involved in corruption, there are travel restrictions on these
0:11:26 > 0:11:29people. My understanding is the British Government says we can do a
0:11:29 > 0:11:34lot of that in this country but it will probably accept a version of
0:11:34 > 0:11:40this law to show they can toughen it up.It has gone through the Lords
0:11:40 > 0:11:44and we expect it to come back to the Commons and there have been
0:11:44 > 0:11:48amendments to the UK version of these laws that will basically
0:11:48 > 0:11:55enable the UK to have the same equivalent of what the US have.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Toughening up sanctions, freezing assets, and potentially having a
0:11:58 > 0:12:03list of Vladimir Putin's cronies, oligarchs, that are linked to the
0:12:03 > 0:12:09regime and they would be banned from the UK. This is a measure the Prime
0:12:09 > 0:12:13Minister could do which would not necessarily have huge political
0:12:13 > 0:12:17ramifications in Russia in the same way as expelling our diplomats would
0:12:17 > 0:12:23because Russia said they will retaliate and Russia Today, there is
0:12:23 > 0:12:27talk about the licence being revoked but if the UK does that, in
0:12:27 > 0:12:32response, Russia has said they could end up banning our media
0:12:32 > 0:12:37organisations from operating. That would be a huge loss if BBC Russia
0:12:37 > 0:12:45were expelled from Moscow.What does Russia want out of all this? My
0:12:45 > 0:12:51understanding is that what happened was called by the Prime Minister in
0:12:51 > 0:12:55the National Security Council a Kremlin calling card, that the nerve
0:12:55 > 0:13:00agent was chosen intentionally because we would find out and know
0:13:00 > 0:13:07that only they had it and the world would know the Kremlin had done this
0:13:07 > 0:13:13for all their denials. Why? What is the message, what are they telling
0:13:13 > 0:13:19us by doing this?It is hard to read Russia. It always has been. I
0:13:19 > 0:13:25hesitate, but there is a pattern of Russian behaviour in terms of going
0:13:25 > 0:13:34after opponents of the regime, and throwing Russia's weight around in
0:13:34 > 0:13:40Europe and its region a little bit. The question is whether Putin is
0:13:40 > 0:13:48asking for attention in order to get the west re-engaged with Russia on a
0:13:48 > 0:13:56great power to great power kind of negotiation, or whether he has
0:13:56 > 0:13:59decided destabilising activities are a useful thing for Russia in their
0:13:59 > 0:14:04own right.We have just learned that Britain is calling for an urgent
0:14:04 > 0:14:12meeting of the UN Security Council. We are one off the permanent
0:14:12 > 0:14:16representatives, I assume this is an attempt to internationalise this and
0:14:16 > 0:14:20bring to attention to the other members, that it is a potential
0:14:20 > 0:14:27threat to all of them.Absolutely. That is a basic first step is to be
0:14:27 > 0:14:32taking to raise this in the security council and potentially in the UN
0:14:32 > 0:14:39General Assembly, the wider forum of the UN. It is not the only thing it
0:14:39 > 0:14:42should do internationally, in addition to Boris Johnson's efforts
0:14:42 > 0:14:47with allies, I am sure the UK will go to the organisation for the
0:14:47 > 0:14:53Prohibition of chemical weapons which runs the 1997 Chemical Weapons
0:14:53 > 0:14:59Convention to take that treaty through its paces on a country
0:14:59 > 0:15:11suspected of noncompliance, and of still holding nerve agents.
0:15:11 > 0:15:17We see the huge nuclear arsenal, we see what was done in Crimea, those
0:15:17 > 0:15:20motorised forces, and the claim of undercover forces, and so we think
0:15:20 > 0:15:28it is strong. But, actually, is this a result of weakness? The Russian
0:15:28 > 0:15:32GDP, the Russian economy, is smaller than Italy's, it is a lot smaller
0:15:32 > 0:15:37than Britain's, there is widespread rampant poverty in Russia, the
0:15:37 > 0:15:41moment you leave Moscow and the other big cities. Its capital
0:15:41 > 0:15:45structure of investment, partly because of sanctions, is collapsing,
0:15:45 > 0:15:50it's machine-tool industry is going into dust, its oil industry is
0:15:50 > 0:15:55desperately in need of new capital investment and not getting it. Is
0:15:55 > 0:15:58this partly to cover the fact that the Russian economy, in many ways,
0:15:58 > 0:16:03is a basket case?The Russians are obviously very good at what has been
0:16:03 > 0:16:07coined the information war and they are very good at looking like...
0:16:07 > 0:16:11They are brilliant at reacting on the international stage and standing
0:16:11 > 0:16:17up for Russian values, and obviously we have got Putin's election coming
0:16:17 > 0:16:20up and there have been a lot of people who have suggested that by
0:16:20 > 0:16:25looking like they're Tov, by coming out with these statements, by
0:16:25 > 0:16:28fighting back against Theresa May, it will only help him in Russia and
0:16:28 > 0:16:34make the Russian people think that he's actually being strong. But
0:16:34 > 0:16:38there are things that Britain can do, of course, and there are many
0:16:38 > 0:16:41things that we could do secretly to hit back at Russia, such as
0:16:41 > 0:16:49offensive cyber attacks.How robust should the response be?Of Russia
0:16:49 > 0:16:51are responsible and, let's be honest, it is hard to see a credible
0:16:51 > 0:16:55defence that they are not responsible, there has to be a
0:16:55 > 0:16:58response because this is one of the most serious incidents I can recall
0:16:58 > 0:17:02as a parliamentarian, but it has to be effective. You talk of boycott of
0:17:02 > 0:17:06the World Cup. I don't think that is the quantum of activity we are in
0:17:06 > 0:17:12but we also can't seek to normalise this. We don't want this to be
0:17:12 > 0:17:18continued for years to come. I do think some of the things you've just
0:17:18 > 0:17:21mentioned, the measures put into the anti-money laundering bill last
0:17:21 > 0:17:25week, which we almost got put through, I think that is where we
0:17:25 > 0:17:29can take some real action because, frankly, where we are right now, in
0:17:29 > 0:17:33terms of what we know and what the Prime Minister will say, we've got
0:17:33 > 0:17:38to respond to this robustly.Should we? The amendments will now become
0:17:38 > 0:17:44part of British law, I assume? British government has already
0:17:44 > 0:17:47looked as an anti-corruption strategy. I think it is right that
0:17:47 > 0:17:50we look what needs to take place legislatively and non-legislative we
0:17:50 > 0:18:00move forward.Why would you resist the? These are laws
0:18:01 > 0:18:04the? These are laws that allow you to target those accused of human
0:18:04 > 0:18:12rights abuses or I was a result of corrupt practices.When you transfer
0:18:12 > 0:18:15UK law to US law it is not as easy as saying you can transfer it
0:18:15 > 0:18:24across.Why would you not strengthen it?We have bills going through the
0:18:24 > 0:18:27House of Commons where in the past we have looked at the strength of
0:18:27 > 0:18:30anti-corruption practices so I can't see why we wouldn't want to do that
0:18:30 > 0:18:35in the future.Would it make sense to close down Russia Today or would
0:18:35 > 0:18:40that be a gift to the Russians? We pride ourselves as this being a city
0:18:40 > 0:18:45and country which is the home of free speech. The Russians know that
0:18:45 > 0:18:49what happens in Moscow is increasingly controlled by the
0:18:49 > 0:18:54state, whether it is a state operated media or private. If we
0:18:54 > 0:18:58close their outlets here, they will retaliate and probably close the BBC
0:18:58 > 0:19:02and others too. But, more importantly, the British are meant
0:19:02 > 0:19:05to be in favour of free speech but at the moment they have a station
0:19:05 > 0:19:09they don't like and they close it down.I think that every action
0:19:09 > 0:19:14there will be a reaction but that shouldn't stop us looking at Russia
0:19:14 > 0:19:17Today. Obviously, we want to work with Ofcom over what sort of actions
0:19:17 > 0:19:22may be taken but we have to stop directly elected politicians going
0:19:22 > 0:19:25on this programme. Alex Salmond, for instance, should give up that
0:19:25 > 0:19:31programme.He has his own show on it. Would not be a better way,
0:19:31 > 0:19:34rather than closing it down, to make it well-nigh impossible for
0:19:34 > 0:19:38mainstream politicians to appear on it because they would be attacked
0:19:38 > 0:19:44for doing so?I have never appeared on it and I don't consider it to be
0:19:44 > 0:19:48a news source in the way I would consider the BBC or Sky to be a
0:19:48 > 0:19:53legitimate impartial news broadcaster. But I think if it was
0:19:53 > 0:19:57unilaterally shut down by the Government there is a massive danger
0:19:57 > 0:20:00of propaganda problem and if it is not with due process they will
0:20:00 > 0:20:04appeal that and will enjoy taking us through the courts over at. I think
0:20:04 > 0:20:08the Labour Party will be reviewing the advice given to all MPs as to
0:20:08 > 0:20:13whether they should appear on it. Are Labour MPs going to be allowed
0:20:13 > 0:20:17or encouraged to appear on it or not?It is being reviewed.
0:20:17 > 0:20:26Independent -- individual MPs have their own views on it.Thank you.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28The Prime Minister's statement will be in under an hour.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn came under fire on Monday
0:20:31 > 0:20:33for his reponse to Theresa May's speech on Monday, with
0:20:33 > 0:20:35the Conservative MP Johnny Mercer describing it as "the most shameful
0:20:35 > 0:20:38moment in the House of Commons in my time to date".
0:20:38 > 0:20:42Here's a flavour of what he said.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Mr Speaker, the events in Salisbury on the 4th of March have
0:20:45 > 0:20:51appalled the country, and need thorough investigation.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53The local community and public services involved need reassurance
0:20:53 > 0:20:57and the resources necessary.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00The action the Government takes, once the facts are clear,
0:21:00 > 0:21:07needs to be both decisive and proportionate, and focused
0:21:07 > 0:21:12on reducing conflicts and tensions, rather than increasing them.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14We can speak to senior Labour back bencher Chris Leslie,
0:21:14 > 0:21:21who's in Central Lobby.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26When Mr Corbyn called for a robust dialogue with Russia, what do you
0:21:26 > 0:21:31think he meant?Well, I think we're having a robust dialogue. It
0:21:31 > 0:21:37finished at midnight last night. I think we waiting to see what the
0:21:37 > 0:21:42Prime Minister's report is of the Russian response. That is the sort
0:21:42 > 0:21:45of approach that I think the vast majority of MPs wanted to support
0:21:45 > 0:21:52when they heard about the impact that this chemical attack had on the
0:21:52 > 0:21:56people of Salisbury. It was not just, of course, the people directly
0:21:56 > 0:22:02targeted but there were 38 people taken to hospital, 500 people who
0:22:02 > 0:22:05have been warned about their clothes being affected and so forth, so this
0:22:05 > 0:22:10is a big issue, and I think the Prime Minister's proposals for
0:22:10 > 0:22:16saying to Russia, "You have to answer if you were directly
0:22:16 > 0:22:21responsible or if you lost control of this nerve agent - tell us by
0:22:21 > 0:22:25midnight last night," so we are all waiting to hear the response. I
0:22:25 > 0:22:30think, actually, this is a time for people to come together behind the
0:22:30 > 0:22:36Government and say, let's get them and from Roger.One of your
0:22:36 > 0:22:40colleagues, John Woodcock, said that they could not be read by anyone who
0:22:40 > 0:22:46did not understand the threat Russia poses to this nation. One of your
0:22:46 > 0:22:48fellow Labour backbenchers. Does Mr Corbyn understand the gravity of the
0:22:48 > 0:22:54threat which Russia opposes to this nation?I think he does. I want to
0:22:54 > 0:22:57make sure that if we are led by people that they do understand what
0:22:57 > 0:23:03is actually happening. I think it is pretty clear that when you have this
0:23:03 > 0:23:10sort of absolutely exceptional and quite atrocious activity within the
0:23:10 > 0:23:16UK, we need a very firm response. And, just as in the other conflicts
0:23:16 > 0:23:21in times gone past, people of different political parties, who
0:23:21 > 0:23:24might have normally had disagreements on day today issues
0:23:24 > 0:23:29have managed to put those aside, risen above it and come together.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Clement Attlee and Bevan came together with Churchill in the
0:23:32 > 0:23:37Second World War. The public want to see their leaders come together to
0:23:37 > 0:23:41stand up on behalf of the British public if they are potentially under
0:23:41 > 0:23:46attack.You thought Mr Corbyn's response to the Prime Minister's
0:23:46 > 0:23:51statement on Monday wasn't appropriate. Why?I felt that part
0:23:51 > 0:23:54of a single point scoring at a time when our country was potentially
0:23:54 > 0:23:59under attack was not appropriate. I don't actually regard that as a
0:23:59 > 0:24:02massively unusual statement to make. There have been some people on
0:24:02 > 0:24:05social media and elsewhere who have said, if our country is under attack
0:24:05 > 0:24:09that is appropriate still give partisan attacks. I just disagree
0:24:09 > 0:24:13with that. But, to be honest, I think we need to move on from what
0:24:13 > 0:24:18happened on Monday. Let's see what the Prime Minister's course of
0:24:18 > 0:24:23action is going to be and let's see if Parliament can respond in an
0:24:23 > 0:24:25appropriate way, because the public are watching and those people who
0:24:25 > 0:24:30have been affected by this attack are watching. Detectives are in
0:24:30 > 0:24:36Bailey and others, and Skripal is still in hospital. This is a really
0:24:36 > 0:24:39serious issue and I think the public want to seriousness from all of
0:24:39 > 0:24:44their elected representatives today. Thank you for all that. We will let
0:24:44 > 0:24:50you get from central lobby into the wall for Prime Minister's Questions.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54In Mr Corbyn's response to the Prime Minister on Monday, there wasn't a
0:24:54 > 0:25:00word of criticism of the Kremlin. Why?He condemned the attack...He
0:25:00 > 0:25:04condemned the attack but he didn't involve the Kremlin.He condemned
0:25:04 > 0:25:09the attack and called for action. You could hardly not condemn a nerve
0:25:09 > 0:25:13gas attack on somebody in this country with the collateral damage.
0:25:13 > 0:25:19He did, but he why did he not have a word to say about the Kremlin?He
0:25:19 > 0:25:25condemned it.I'm sorry. He didn't condemn the Kremlin for the attack.
0:25:25 > 0:25:30He didn't even say that if the Kremlin is involved, we condemn it.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34He obviously condemned the attack - everybody condemns the attack - but
0:25:34 > 0:25:40he had nothing to say, no words of criticism, no words of indication
0:25:40 > 0:25:42that the Kremlin was probably involved and dog attacking them. Why
0:25:42 > 0:25:47not?He demanded a response, he proposed to gain what we had already
0:25:47 > 0:25:51tried to get through the week before in the anti-money-laundering bill,
0:25:51 > 0:25:55the Magnitsky amendments, he propose one way forward and an angry about
0:25:55 > 0:26:01whether the NHS have the resources to do it. That strikes me as a
0:26:01 > 0:26:04proportionate response for the Leader of the Opposition.Is there
0:26:04 > 0:26:09not a suspicion in your party that actually Mr Corbyn, John McDonnell
0:26:09 > 0:26:12and those around them and their private offices are rather
0:26:12 > 0:26:17sympathetic to Russia, rather too cosy with Russia?That is not fair
0:26:17 > 0:26:21at all. If you look at things, not just specific amendments around
0:26:21 > 0:26:24replicating the Magnitsky law, the things we have been trying to do in
0:26:24 > 0:26:27that committee around registers of foreign ownership of property in
0:26:27 > 0:26:34London...That covers everybody, it is not specific to Russia.We all
0:26:34 > 0:26:37know London is the favoured playground of very, very wealthy
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Russian people, many of whom have links to the Putin regime.Many of
0:26:40 > 0:26:46those are enemies of Putin.That is true and that is part of the process
0:26:46 > 0:26:49but there is clearly a lack of transparency and a lack of the law
0:26:49 > 0:26:52being applied where we think it could be. I know there are no talks
0:26:52 > 0:26:58between the two frontbenchers...To move on a common basis.I welcome
0:26:58 > 0:27:01that and that is the right way forward and I think we will see more
0:27:01 > 0:27:08of that in a statement.That is not far away. It is coming at dated
0:27:08 > 0:27:13let's have a look at Big Ben. I'm afraid Big Ben's basis rather than
0:27:13 > 0:27:17scaffolding. It may be hiding its face because of what is about
0:27:17 > 0:27:20happen, it doesn't want to look! Prime Minister's Questions is only a
0:27:20 > 0:27:23couple of minutes away and Laura Kuenssberg has just joined us. A
0:27:23 > 0:27:29busy day for the political editor of the BBC. My understanding is that we
0:27:29 > 0:27:32will be getting some outline of what the Prime Minister is going to say
0:27:32 > 0:27:36and it will involve substantial expulsions. I was told that you have
0:27:36 > 0:27:42heard it could be on the scale of close to what Ted Heath did in 1971.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46Indeed, and there is a long history of diplomatic expulsions of Russian
0:27:46 > 0:27:51diplomats from the UK, and the Prime Minister's strength of language on
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Monday suggested that she would really have to come back with
0:27:54 > 0:28:00something that sounded quite dramatic. She didn't say, we will
0:28:00 > 0:28:03respond in due course with some sort of detail. She has clearly said that
0:28:03 > 0:28:07we must take stronger measures than we have on previous occasions. She
0:28:07 > 0:28:11really set the bar very high for herself today, so while I don't
0:28:11 > 0:28:15expect her to come to the Commons with anything that will surprise us
0:28:15 > 0:28:20in terms of the actual measure - I don't mix is going to say anything
0:28:20 > 0:28:26where we will say, "My goodness, I didn't see that coming," - but I
0:28:26 > 0:28:28think it will be very significant and I think there will be some
0:28:28 > 0:28:32promise of tightening up some of the financial regimes around some
0:28:32 > 0:28:37Russians here in London but not a complete green light for the
0:28:37 > 0:28:40Magnitsky Act because that doesn't necessarily apply. If you don't know
0:28:40 > 0:28:43who is behind a particular act, because that is all about targeting
0:28:43 > 0:28:49individuals.You need to know that they had been responsible for humans
0:28:49 > 0:28:52right abuse and the money was the product of corruption. You have to
0:28:52 > 0:28:56have specific information for this law to click in. To stop and while
0:28:56 > 0:28:59the Government at this point does believe that Russia was either
0:28:59 > 0:29:03directly or indirectly responsible for this attack, I don't think it is
0:29:03 > 0:29:05anywhere near the stage of being able to point figures that
0:29:05 > 0:29:12individuals.However, as John Reynolds was just saying, there is
0:29:12 > 0:29:17dialogue about how to move forward with that act but not in terms of
0:29:17 > 0:29:21the specific response to this incident.This is a huge foreign
0:29:21 > 0:29:24policy crisis for the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister has got very
0:29:24 > 0:29:28little previous experience of foreign policy. She was Home
0:29:28 > 0:29:34Secretary for six years. It is not her field. Has she been active in
0:29:34 > 0:29:39trying to bolster support in Europe from the United States, difficult as
0:29:39 > 0:29:43that is in Washington at the moment, given that you don't know who the
0:29:43 > 0:29:48secretary of state is from Monday to the next, and, of course, we are
0:29:48 > 0:29:53done trying to this for the UN Security Council? Has it been a
0:29:53 > 0:29:57broad campaign, almost, to get international opinion on site?I
0:29:57 > 0:30:00think there has been a very considerable effort in government to
0:30:00 > 0:30:06try to get her allies on board, not just because they believe it is time
0:30:06 > 0:30:09for the international community to come together in terms of
0:30:09 > 0:30:11condemnation but also the realpolitik of it is that Britain is
0:30:11 > 0:30:16an important country but not the kind of power that it once was and
0:30:16 > 0:30:20so therefore for a response to seem meaningful, it must be done in
0:30:20 > 0:30:26conjunction with support, not just warm words, from other countries.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29That is why it will be very interesting to see whether or not
0:30:29 > 0:30:35the UK is granted its wish in having a place of the Security Council in
0:30:35 > 0:30:39New York at benighted nations. We know that the response from the
0:30:39 > 0:30:43United States was, in the end, pretty much along the lines of what
0:30:43 > 0:30:47the UK was looking for. We know that the Prime Minister has spoken to
0:30:47 > 0:30:50Angela Merkel. President macron was the first world leader that she
0:30:50 > 0:30:56spoke to about this. There has definitely been an effort.We will
0:30:56 > 0:31:07see how Prime Minister's Questions goes. Let's go to the comment about.
0:31:18 > 0:31:23Members will also have seen reports of a number of suspicious packages
0:31:23 > 0:31:28targeting Muslim members. I am sure the whole house will join in
0:31:28 > 0:31:32condemning this app horror and behaviour that has no place in our
0:31:32 > 0:31:37society. I can tell the House an investigation is under way and steps
0:31:37 > 0:31:41are being taken to bring the perpetrators to justice. I will make
0:31:41 > 0:31:45a statement following PMQs updating the house on the Salisbury incident.
0:31:45 > 0:31:50This morning I had meetings, in addition to my duties in this House
0:31:50 > 0:31:56I will have further meetings today. I want to thank the Prime Minister
0:31:56 > 0:32:02for agreeing to meet with me to discuss the work of the cross-party
0:32:02 > 0:32:07use violence commission. Youth violence is complex and needs
0:32:07 > 0:32:12long-term solutions but some things can be done now, such as legislating
0:32:12 > 0:32:16to ensure all knives and sharp instruments in shops are knocked
0:32:16 > 0:32:22away or stored behind counters, ensuring no one can steal them and
0:32:22 > 0:32:26use them. Will she do this? The honourable
0:32:26 > 0:32:33lady raises an important issue. This is a complex problem and we need to
0:32:33 > 0:32:37ensure we have long-term solutions. The Home Secretary will publish a
0:32:37 > 0:32:41strategy that will put emphasis on interventions early with young
0:32:41 > 0:32:48people. It is important we have tough legislation, but we need to
0:32:48 > 0:32:52work in partnership with retailers. We have consulted on measures
0:32:52 > 0:32:57including restrictions on knives sold online and in 2016 we reached a
0:32:57 > 0:33:01voluntary agreement with major retailers about how knives were
0:33:01 > 0:33:05displayed and training given to staff to support action to tackle
0:33:05 > 0:33:11knife crime. She is right to raise this as a concern.
0:33:11 > 0:33:16On the subject of Northern Ireland, does the Prime Minister stand-by
0:33:16 > 0:33:21commitments made in the joint report of December and will she confirm we
0:33:21 > 0:33:24will accept nothing that will undermine the integrity of the
0:33:24 > 0:33:30United Kingdom. Can I confirm that we stand by all
0:33:30 > 0:33:35commitments we made in December. We have been clear our preferred option
0:33:35 > 0:33:39is to deliver them through the new partnership with the EU with
0:33:39 > 0:33:42solutions to address the unique circumstances in Northern Ireland if
0:33:42 > 0:33:47needed. The work we are undertaking will include that on the final
0:33:47 > 0:33:54so-called backdrop that will form part of the agreement. I cannot
0:33:54 > 0:33:58approve the text the commission proposes. We stand ready to work
0:33:58 > 0:34:01with commission and Irish governments to ensure all
0:34:01 > 0:34:07commitments are included in the withdrawal agreement.
0:34:08 > 0:34:13I along with the Prime Minister absolutely condemn the vile messages
0:34:13 > 0:34:16and threatening packages that have been sent to Muslim members of the
0:34:16 > 0:34:24house. Also the rise in Islamophobia and abusive messages sent to Muslim
0:34:24 > 0:34:29families all over the country. It has to be condemned by all, as we
0:34:29 > 0:34:34condemn anybody who attempts to divide our country by racism or
0:34:34 > 0:34:38extremism. We have to stand united with any community under threat at
0:34:38 > 0:34:46any time. I am sure the house will join me in supporting what the Prime
0:34:46 > 0:34:50Minister said about Stephen Hawking, one of the most acclaimed scientists
0:34:50 > 0:34:54of his generation who helped us to understand about the world and
0:34:54 > 0:34:59universe and was also concerned about peace and the survival of the
0:34:59 > 0:35:05world, and also a passionate campaigner for the NHS. He said, I
0:35:05 > 0:35:10have received excellent medical attention in Britain. I believe in
0:35:10 > 0:35:15universal health care and I am not afraid to say so. If we believe in
0:35:15 > 0:35:20universal health care, how can it be possible someone lives and works in
0:35:20 > 0:35:27this country, pays taxes, but is denied access to the NHS for
0:35:27 > 0:35:33life-saving cancer treatment? Can the Prime Minister explain? I
0:35:33 > 0:35:40join with him in saying there is no place in society for hate crime or
0:35:40 > 0:35:44racism. We should stand united against such behaviour and
0:35:44 > 0:35:52activities. Can I say to him that we do ensure, and I am pleased we have
0:35:52 > 0:35:57a good record on cancer provision we make. We see more people surviving
0:35:57 > 0:36:03cancer as a result of changes and developments in the NHS, than ever
0:36:03 > 0:36:09before. We works to ensure the situation we are... The treatments
0:36:09 > 0:36:15we are making available of the best we can. I am not aware of the case
0:36:15 > 0:36:21the right honourable gentleman raises.
0:36:21 > 0:36:28raises. But we do want to ensure all those who are entitled to service
0:36:28 > 0:36:33and treatment through the NHS are able to achieve it. There are
0:36:33 > 0:36:37questions around particular drug is made available to individuals, which
0:36:37 > 0:36:43we continue to look at.I will be writing to the Prime Minister about
0:36:43 > 0:36:50the case. It is a man who has lived in this country for 44 years, worked
0:36:50 > 0:36:55and paid his taxes. He is an older gentleman and is now denied cancer
0:36:55 > 0:37:01treatment. I suspect he is not alone and I urge her to discuss this with
0:37:01 > 0:37:06the Home Office and others. I received a letter from Hillary, a
0:37:06 > 0:37:10British pensioner, and it goes to the point the Prime Minister just
0:37:10 > 0:37:16said, and she says, I am now having to pay for my thyroid medication
0:37:16 > 0:37:21because the CCG needs to save money. I have worked all my life, paid
0:37:21 > 0:37:26National Insurance and this is not fair. Last March the Health
0:37:26 > 0:37:32Secretary said it is essential we get back to the 95% target for
0:37:32 > 0:37:36accident and emergency waiting times and he said it should happen, I
0:37:36 > 0:37:40quote, in the course of the next calendar year. The calendar year is
0:37:40 > 0:37:46up, can she explain why this is no longer possible?On the individual
0:37:46 > 0:37:51case I look forward to receiving details from the right honourable
0:37:51 > 0:37:54gentleman. May I take the opportunity of reminding him I think
0:37:54 > 0:37:58he raised a case about Georgina with me last October and has not written
0:37:58 > 0:38:04to me about that.
0:38:11 > 0:38:17So... As I say, I look forward to receiving the details of the case he
0:38:17 > 0:38:21has just set out. What we have done in relation to cancer treatment is
0:38:21 > 0:38:28ensure there are more tests taking place. We see more people being seen
0:38:28 > 0:38:32by specialists for suspected cancer and more people starting treatment
0:38:32 > 0:38:36for cancer which is why I say we have seen an improvement in cancer
0:38:36 > 0:38:42treatment available in this country, and in relation to accident and
0:38:42 > 0:38:45emergency, we have more doctors working in accident and emergency
0:38:45 > 0:38:51and we have put more money in, for winter pressures and to ensure
0:38:51 > 0:38:54accident and emergency departments can provide treatment right for the
0:38:54 > 0:39:01patient before them, because for some, they do not need to be
0:39:01 > 0:39:06admitted to hospital, they need to see a GP. We are working with the
0:39:06 > 0:39:13NHS to ensure the treatment patients receive is right for them.My
0:39:13 > 0:39:16understanding is Georgina's case was resolved before. Following my
0:39:16 > 0:39:22raising it here.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28raising it here. If nothing else, Mr Speaker, it proves the power of
0:39:28 > 0:39:36Parliament. Key A&E waiting targets have not been met since 2015. NHS
0:39:36 > 0:39:41managers say they will not be met until 2019, and February was the
0:39:41 > 0:39:50worst ever month for accident and emergency performances. The NHS
0:39:50 > 0:39:55providers director said, this is the first time we have had to accept the
0:39:55 > 0:40:00NHS will not meet its key constitutional standards, if we want
0:40:00 > 0:40:04to provide quality of care, we need the right long-term financial
0:40:04 > 0:40:11settlement. The NHS is clearly in crisis, so why was there not a penny
0:40:11 > 0:40:19extra for the NHS in yesterday's statement by the Chancellor?We did
0:40:19 > 0:40:22not wait until yesterday's Spring statement to announce more money, we
0:40:22 > 0:40:31announced it in the budget last autumn. As a result of that the NHS
0:40:31 > 0:40:36is getting £2.5 billion more in the forthcoming financial year and more
0:40:36 > 0:40:43to fund the nurses' pay settlement when resolved.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49when resolved.Under Labour, the 18 week target for nonurgent operations
0:40:49 > 0:40:54was in place. The target has been abandoned by the Prime Minister.
0:40:54 > 0:41:00When will it be reinstated? The right honourable gentleman talks
0:41:00 > 0:41:04under Labour things were being delivered, perhaps he might look to
0:41:04 > 0:41:15see what Labour are doing in Wales. The latest annual data shows when
0:41:15 > 0:41:20looking at 12 hour waiting times in A&E that 3.4% of patients waited
0:41:20 > 0:41:27over 12 hours in Wales, compared to 1.3% in England. If he wants to talk
0:41:27 > 0:41:34about meeting targets he should talk to a Labour government in Wales.NHS
0:41:34 > 0:41:39England abandoned the A&E targets until April 20 19. It is a bit rich
0:41:39 > 0:41:43for the Prime Minister to be scaremongering about Wales when she
0:41:43 > 0:41:53has abandoned targets in England. A recent...Order. Lots of questions
0:41:53 > 0:42:03to get through.A recent report states NHS funding will fall by 0.3%
0:42:03 > 0:42:11in 2019. People'slives are at stake. Is the Prime Minister really saying
0:42:11 > 0:42:16A&E doctors are wrong, NHS managers are wrong, Royal colleges are wrong,
0:42:16 > 0:42:20health unions are wrong, and actually it is only she who knows
0:42:20 > 0:42:29best about the NHS?Can I point out to the right honourable gentleman,
0:42:29 > 0:42:33he talks about scaremongering in Wales, I was pointing out the facts
0:42:33 > 0:42:41about what is happening in the NHS in Wales. That is why we do see
0:42:41 > 0:42:46people in Wales often trying to get treatment in England, rather than in
0:42:46 > 0:42:56Wales. Can I also say, we are putting more money into the NHS, but
0:42:56 > 0:43:01what you need in order to be able to do that is to ensure you have a
0:43:01 > 0:43:04strong economy to provide the money for the National Health Service.
0:43:04 > 0:43:08What we know about Labour's policies, it would cause a run on
0:43:08 > 0:43:13the pound, cause a crash on the economy and there would be less
0:43:13 > 0:43:18money for the NHS.When people are dying because of overcrowding and
0:43:18 > 0:43:21long waiting in hospitals I think the Prime Minister should get a grip
0:43:21 > 0:43:26on it and ensure the NHS now has the money it needs to deal with the
0:43:26 > 0:43:32patient demands. In a recent interview the Health Secretary said
0:43:32 > 0:43:37of NHS staff, when they signed up to go into medicine, they knew there
0:43:37 > 0:43:41would be pressurised moments. What they also expected was a
0:43:41 > 0:43:46recognition, annual pay rise, without cuts in paid leave, proper
0:43:46 > 0:43:51funding for the NHS. When there are 100,000 unfilled posts, clearly not
0:43:51 > 0:43:58enough staff around them to share the burden. We started with
0:43:58 > 0:44:03Professor Stephen Hawking who said a few months ago, there is
0:44:03 > 0:44:06overwhelming evidence that NHS funding and the number of doctors
0:44:06 > 0:44:13and nurses are inadequate, and it is getting worse.Does she agree with
0:44:13 > 0:44:22Professor Hawking? I am very happy to point out facts. We have 14,900
0:44:22 > 0:44:30more doctors in the NHS, we have almost 13,900 more nurses working on
0:44:30 > 0:44:36our wards, why did we put an emphasis on nurses working in our
0:44:36 > 0:44:39awards? Because of what we saw under the Labour government in Mid
0:44:39 > 0:44:46Staffordshire. And I say this, what we need to do to ensure we can
0:44:46 > 0:44:51provide the funding for the NHS, and we are providing record levels of
0:44:51 > 0:44:55funding for the NHS, is to ensure we take a balanced approach to the
0:44:55 > 0:45:00economy, an approach that deals with debts, keeps taxes low on working
0:45:00 > 0:45:05families, and puts more money into public services like hospitals and
0:45:05 > 0:45:09schools. Labour's approach would increase debt and mean less money
0:45:09 > 0:45:14for schools and hospitals, and it would mean higher taxes for ordinary
0:45:14 > 0:45:19working people because what we know about the Labour Party, it is always
0:45:19 > 0:45:25ordinary people who paid the price of Labour.
0:45:28 > 0:45:32Last week's launch of a consultation on all aspects of domestic violence
0:45:32 > 0:45:36will be widely welcomed in Gloucester and across the country,
0:45:36 > 0:45:39so will the Prime Minister, who has done so much on these issues,
0:45:39 > 0:45:45confirmed today that the Government intends to increase spending, bed
0:45:45 > 0:45:49provision and, when Cesare, women's refuges so that those who have
0:45:49 > 0:45:53survived get the help and save haven they deserve?My honourable friend
0:45:53 > 0:45:58has raised a very important issue, which I have not only given
0:45:58 > 0:46:02considerable attention to but my right honourable friend the Home
0:46:02 > 0:46:07Secretary continues to follow. It is a very important point. We are
0:46:07 > 0:46:10entirely committed to developing a sustainable funding model for
0:46:10 > 0:46:16refugees. -- refugees. I can guarantee that funding will continue
0:46:16 > 0:46:19to refuges at a similar level to today because I know how important
0:46:19 > 0:46:25it is to people at a time of crisis. We will increase the funding for
0:46:25 > 0:46:30short-term supported housing overall including Refuges indefinitely,
0:46:30 > 0:46:34which means no refuge should worry about closing or have any doubts
0:46:34 > 0:46:42about our commitment to ensuring we find a sustainable model for them.
0:46:42 > 0:46:45Thank you, Mr spigot it can I associate myself with the remarks of
0:46:45 > 0:46:51the Prime Minister and the Labour Party leader about Islam phobia and
0:46:51 > 0:46:54our thoughts are with the family and friends of doctor Steven Holker in.
0:46:54 > 0:47:00Mr Speaker, four months the devolved administrations have been waiting
0:47:00 > 0:47:03for the devolved straight to table amendments to close 11. On Monday
0:47:03 > 0:47:07bees long awaited amendments were published but without the agreement
0:47:07 > 0:47:14of the devolved governments. Can the Prime Minister Talbot House why
0:47:14 > 0:47:19these amendments have been forced on the devolved administrations?Can I
0:47:19 > 0:47:24say to him, in one sentence he says he was waiting for this amendment,
0:47:24 > 0:47:27and the reason we were taking time is because we were talking with the
0:47:27 > 0:47:35Scottish Government and the Welsh Government, and when we do publish,
0:47:35 > 0:47:39we -- he complains that we have published it. You need to get his
0:47:39 > 0:47:42sorry state itI would encourage the Prime Minister to listen to the
0:47:42 > 0:47:48question because it was a about agreement. The Prime Minister
0:47:48 > 0:47:52famously claimed that the UK was made up of equal partners. What an
0:47:52 > 0:47:57irony, now that she is overseeing the demolition of the demolition
0:47:57 > 0:48:01settlement. In 1997, the Tories were happy to oppose the re-establishment
0:48:01 > 0:48:06of the Scottish
0:48:07 > 0:48:10of the Scottish Parliament. Things haven't changed. Now in 2018 they
0:48:10 > 0:48:13are happy to systematically destroyed the settlement that the
0:48:13 > 0:48:19parliament provides for. Can I call upon the Prime Minister once again -
0:48:19 > 0:48:22stop this attack on devolution and redouble your efforts in working
0:48:22 > 0:48:28with the devolved administrations and finding agreement.
0:48:29 > 0:48:30and finding agreement.This is a government that has given more
0:48:30 > 0:48:35powers to the Scottish Government, this is a government that will be
0:48:35 > 0:48:39giving more powers to the Scottish Government, significant extra powers
0:48:39 > 0:48:42will be devolved to the Scottish and Welsh Government as a result of the
0:48:42 > 0:48:46decisions we are taking around Brexit. But we have given more
0:48:46 > 0:48:51powers, including, of course, the tax-raising powers. It is just a
0:48:51 > 0:48:55pity that the Scottish Nationalists have chosen to use their tax-raising
0:48:55 > 0:49:02powers on people earning £26,000 or more.
0:49:02 > 0:49:07more.Horsham last week held an apprenticeship there, hailed as a
0:49:07 > 0:49:14success. Since 2010 there has been a 70% reduction in youth unemployment.
0:49:14 > 0:49:16Nationally we see increasing exports, increasing productivity,
0:49:16 > 0:49:21increasing real wages. Were right honourable friend remind the House
0:49:21 > 0:49:25that it is that sustained economic performance that underpins our
0:49:25 > 0:49:31investment in our value public services?Can I commend Horsham for
0:49:31 > 0:49:35holding an apprenticeship there. It is important we give young people an
0:49:35 > 0:49:38opportunity for those apprenticeships but he is right, we
0:49:38 > 0:49:41can only fund those public services if we have the strength and our
0:49:41 > 0:49:45economy providing the income to enable us to do that. In the last
0:49:45 > 0:49:51few weeks we have seen money factory output which has grown for several
0:49:51 > 0:49:56months for the first time since 1968. We have seen the best two
0:49:56 > 0:49:59quarters of productivity growth since the financial crisis and the
0:49:59 > 0:50:03lowest year-to-date net borrowing since 2008 and employment near a
0:50:03 > 0:50:06record high. That is what Conservatives are doing, delivering
0:50:06 > 0:50:11a strong economy, new jobs, healthier finances, an economy that
0:50:11 > 0:50:17is really fit for the future. Mr Speaker, last week GKN workers came
0:50:17 > 0:50:23to Parliament, typically 2530 years' service, their mums and dads before
0:50:23 > 0:50:30them working for a British engineering icon 259 years old. Sat
0:50:30 > 0:50:34opposite were the three fabulously wealthy owners of Melrose,
0:50:34 > 0:50:37determined to stage a hostile takeover of their company, break it
0:50:37 > 0:50:42up and sell it off. Can I ask the Prime Minister this - she told
0:50:42 > 0:50:46parliament she would at a national interest. The next ten days will
0:50:46 > 0:50:52decide the future. Wushu use the powers she has two intervened to
0:50:52 > 0:50:57block this hostile takeover in the British national interest?I say to
0:50:57 > 0:51:00the honourable gentleman, as he knows, the Business Secretary has
0:51:00 > 0:51:04been speaking to both of these companies on an impartial basis. We
0:51:04 > 0:51:10will always act in the UK national interest. Actually, it is under this
0:51:10 > 0:51:14government that we've seen the changes introduced to the takeover
0:51:14 > 0:51:17code to provide greater transparency to give target firms more time to
0:51:17 > 0:51:23respond. There are a narrow range of scenarios where ministers can
0:51:23 > 0:51:27intervene on mergers on public interest grounds but we will always
0:51:27 > 0:51:34act in the national interest.
0:51:34 > 0:51:36act in the national interest.3157 medical students are going into
0:51:36 > 0:51:43general practice this year, which is excellent news. But we are still
0:51:43 > 0:51:48losing too many experienced GPs in their mid-50s due to the tax
0:51:48 > 0:51:54penalties on their old pension scheme. Would be Government look at
0:51:54 > 0:51:59a targeted, time-limited exemption on this dedicated group of
0:51:59 > 0:52:05commissions who do so much for the health of us all?This is an
0:52:05 > 0:52:10important point. As he will know, experienced senior hospital doctors
0:52:10 > 0:52:14and GPs who become a member of the National Health Service pensions
0:52:14 > 0:52:18scheme benefit from one of the best defined benefit occupational health
0:52:18 > 0:52:22schemes and we provide generous tax relief stoop allow everyone to build
0:52:22 > 0:52:27up a pension pot worth just over £1 million tax-free but the issue he is
0:52:27 > 0:52:33raising is that GPs are not penalised if they work after age 55
0:52:33 > 0:52:36but many may have exhausted the generous allowance for tax relief
0:52:36 > 0:52:41that is available by that time. But I can say to the honourable friend
0:52:41 > 0:52:44that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was listening to a question that he
0:52:44 > 0:52:59raised.The 13th of April this year represents the 99th
0:52:59 > 0:53:03represents the 99th anniversary of a massacre in India, in which more
0:53:03 > 0:53:07than 1000 peaceful protesters were murdered by soldiers under the
0:53:07 > 0:53:12command of general Dire. Will the Prime Minister join me in
0:53:12 > 0:53:16commemorating the massacre and meet with me and others campaigning for
0:53:16 > 0:53:20this shameful episode to be remembered across the UK?The
0:53:20 > 0:53:24honourable gentleman has raised a very specific issue and a very
0:53:24 > 0:53:27specific point and I will be happy to look at the question he has
0:53:27 > 0:53:33raised with me and respond in writing.In my constituency,
0:53:33 > 0:53:36Farnborough in the borough of Rushmore, is the birthplace of
0:53:36 > 0:53:42British aviation and now home to a thriving range of aviation,
0:53:42 > 0:53:45aerospace and other businesses. Will the Prime Minister join me in
0:53:45 > 0:53:49extending our best wishes to the Zephyr team as they look forward to
0:53:49 > 0:53:53making a world record breaking attempt for high altitude unmanned
0:53:53 > 0:53:59aviation?I'm very happy to join with my honourable friend in wishing
0:53:59 > 0:54:02all the very best to the Zephyr team in the attempt they are making but
0:54:02 > 0:54:05he is right that his constituency plays a very crucial role in the
0:54:05 > 0:54:10aerospace industry and I am pleased to say that we are continuing to
0:54:10 > 0:54:14work with that industry through the aerospace growth partnership, to
0:54:14 > 0:54:17ensure that we can further enhance that industry and we wish the Zephyr
0:54:17 > 0:54:23team well.UK has the lowest growth in the G7, so why is the Government
0:54:23 > 0:54:29's answer to this to give hand-outs to the wealthiest bankers to fund an
0:54:29 > 0:54:35already lavish lifestyle, paid for by taking the crumbs off the table
0:54:35 > 0:54:39of those on Universal Credit, whose children depend on free school
0:54:39 > 0:54:46meals?
0:54:46 > 0:54:49meals?First of all, the honourable gentleman might not have noticed
0:54:49 > 0:54:52that the wealthiest 1% people in this country are now paying the
0:54:52 > 0:55:00biggest share of tax, 28%, than they ever did under a Labour government.
0:55:00 > 0:55:07If he is referring to the bank levy, can I also say to him, it was the
0:55:07 > 0:55:10Conservative Party that introduced the bank levy that has raised £15
0:55:10 > 0:55:15billion and is predicted to raise a further £11 billion that we can
0:55:15 > 0:55:17spend on public services. It is the Conservative government that is
0:55:17 > 0:55:23changing the way we do it so we do it in a better way, so in future we
0:55:23 > 0:55:28will be raising nearly £19 billion extra from the banks over the next
0:55:28 > 0:55:32five years. That is £3 billion more money from the banks to be spent on
0:55:32 > 0:55:39public services.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41public services.Great British food is produced by hard-working farming
0:55:41 > 0:55:48families in this country. As we produce the new British agricultural
0:55:48 > 0:55:51policy, does my right honourable friend agree with me that supporting
0:55:51 > 0:55:59food production in this country is a public good?I'm very happy to agree
0:55:59 > 0:56:02with my honourable friend. The importance of food production in
0:56:02 > 0:56:05this country... I am also happy to commend the work of hard-working
0:56:05 > 0:56:11farmers up and down the country, but also all those who work in our food
0:56:11 > 0:56:15production industry and we now have, as he will know, a historic
0:56:15 > 0:56:18opportunity as we leave the EU to deliver a farming policy that is
0:56:18 > 0:56:23going to work for the whole industry.Just minutes ago, Facebook
0:56:23 > 0:56:26announced that they will be taking down several pages associated with
0:56:26 > 0:56:32the extremist group Britain First. Does the primaries to join me in
0:56:32 > 0:56:36welcoming that, but does she not also accept that Benny is to be a
0:56:36 > 0:56:39clear rule provided by government to give guidance to social media
0:56:39 > 0:56:46companies on how they operate in our democracyI certainly welcome at
0:56:46 > 0:56:49announcement by Facebook and I'm pleased to say that my right
0:56:49 > 0:56:51honourable friend the Home Secretary has been working with these
0:56:51 > 0:56:56companies to ensure that they do do more, act more clearly in taking
0:56:56 > 0:57:00down material of an extremist nature, but I'm very pleased to
0:57:00 > 0:57:02welcome the announcement that Facebook has made and I hope other
0:57:02 > 0:57:08companies will follow.May I first congratulate the Prime Minister on
0:57:08 > 0:57:12her pioneering work in fighting modern day slavery. However, has she
0:57:12 > 0:57:16been advised that the central plank of her law enforcement policy is not
0:57:16 > 0:57:20working? With 65 prosecutions of traffickers abandoned last year
0:57:20 > 0:57:25because of victim fear as to their safety and no reparations orders to
0:57:25 > 0:57:31compensate victims for the ordeal is made against convicted traffickers?
0:57:31 > 0:57:36I thank the raising what is a very important issue. In fact, at the
0:57:36 > 0:57:41meeting that I chaired recently in a matter of two weeks ago, I think it
0:57:41 > 0:57:44was, of the Modern Slavery Bill task force that I have brought together
0:57:44 > 0:57:47to bring people from across government but also from law
0:57:47 > 0:57:52enforcement, from the judiciary... Sorry, from criminal justice more
0:57:52 > 0:57:58generally, and from others to look at how we are working on this, we
0:57:58 > 0:58:01are looking at prosecutions and how we can ensure that more prosecutions
0:58:01 > 0:58:08go ahead in future and perpetrators are brought to justice.Shockingly
0:58:08 > 0:58:15in this country, in 2017, there were 2120 children who were identified as
0:58:15 > 0:58:21being a potential victims of child slavery. I know the Prime Minister's
0:58:21 > 0:58:25personal commitment to tackling this issue but surely we ought to have
0:58:25 > 0:58:30more data. We have no idea how many of those children go missing, we
0:58:30 > 0:58:35have no idea how many are deported and we have no idea how many are
0:58:35 > 0:58:40trafficked again. In this country in 2018, a modern democracy, that isn't
0:58:40 > 0:58:44to not good enough. Can the Prime Minister tell us what she will do
0:58:44 > 0:58:49about that?He has raised a very important issue and it has for a
0:58:49 > 0:58:54long time where children identified as the victims of slavery and human
0:58:54 > 0:58:58trafficking, and when sometimes we do see them, sadly, being in a
0:58:58 > 0:59:04position where they are then able to be taken out by traffickers and
0:59:04 > 0:59:06resubmitted to the horrible circumstances that that brings to
0:59:06 > 0:59:11them. Just on the point that he is making about asylum and deportation,
0:59:11 > 0:59:16we don't return unaccompanied children who don't qualify for
0:59:16 > 0:59:19asylum or humanitarian protection unless we can confirm that there are
0:59:19 > 0:59:22safe and adequate reception programmes and arrangements in place
0:59:22 > 0:59:26in their home country, and if we can't confirm such arrangements we
0:59:26 > 0:59:31grant temporary leave up until the child is 17.5. We confirmed our
0:59:31 > 0:59:34commitment to roll out independent child trafficking advocates across
0:59:34 > 0:59:38the country. This is a system we piloted previously, which will give
0:59:38 > 0:59:42support to those child victims to ensure they are given the support
0:59:42 > 0:59:49they need and they don't fall back into the hands of traffickers.Like
0:59:49 > 0:59:54many towns and cities across the country, Telford has had some
0:59:54 > 0:59:59experiences of distressing cases of child sexual exploitation. The
0:59:59 > 1:00:03authorities in Telford have now agreed to conduct an independent
1:00:03 > 1:00:08inquiry to find out what happened and to give victims answers. Will my
1:00:08 > 1:00:12right honourable friend join me in congratulating two brave women,
1:00:12 > 1:00:18campaigner Holly archer and Sunday Mirror journalist Geraldine McKelvey
1:00:18 > 1:00:22for their working bringing this about and will she do everything
1:00:22 > 1:00:25possible to ensure this inquiry starts without delay and leaves no
1:00:25 > 1:00:29stone unturned?
1:00:29 > 1:00:35I think we have all been shocked by the horrific case we have seen in
1:00:35 > 1:00:39Telford or some of the most vulnerable being preyed upon by
1:00:39 > 1:00:43ruthless criminals.Sadly this is not the first example we have seen
1:00:43 > 1:00:48taking place across our country. I am happy to join my honourable
1:00:48 > 1:00:53friend in congratulating Holly and Geraldine for their work. It is not
1:00:53 > 1:00:56easy but it is right they have brought this to light and action can
1:00:56 > 1:01:00be taken and I am pleased the authorities will conduct an enquiry.
1:01:00 > 1:01:05It is important it begins its work in order to get to the truth does it
1:01:05 > 1:01:13as quickly as possible. I understand my honourable friend will meet
1:01:13 > 1:01:15Parliamentary Under Secretary for crime, safeguarding and
1:01:15 > 1:01:20vulnerability to discuss this. Shortly after the Prime Minister
1:01:20 > 1:01:24took office she said she wanted to put the government on the side of
1:01:24 > 1:01:29the poorest in society. She even stood in front of a crumbling sign
1:01:29 > 1:01:34that said she wanted a country that works for everyone, but with the
1:01:34 > 1:01:40recent IFS report stating 37% of children are set to live in poverty
1:01:40 > 1:01:46by 2022, what went wrong, Prime Minister?
1:01:46 > 1:01:50Minister?We have seen 200,000 fewer children living in absolute poverty
1:01:50 > 1:01:55under this government. We continue to take action to ensure we are
1:01:55 > 1:01:59helping families get a regular income by helping people into work,
1:01:59 > 1:02:06we are ensuring the lowest paid get that pay increase, through
1:02:06 > 1:02:08increasing the national living wage, and ensuring we help people with the
1:02:08 > 1:02:17standard of living by cutting taxes for 31 million people.Is she aware
1:02:17 > 1:02:21the inspirational music man project in Southend that works with people
1:02:21 > 1:02:26who have learning difficulties has now set a world record for tinkling
1:02:26 > 1:02:33of the most number of triangles ever? Does my right honourable
1:02:33 > 1:02:38friend agree that is yet another reason why Southend should be made a
1:02:38 > 1:02:45city, and will she please now organise a contest with her
1:02:45 > 1:02:52honourable friends so that Southend becomes the first post Brexit city?
1:02:52 > 1:02:56I am very happy to congratulate the music man project in Southend for
1:02:56 > 1:03:04the record achieved in tinkling triangles. I am sure he has heard
1:03:04 > 1:03:08his bid for Southend to become a city. I have to say that of course
1:03:08 > 1:03:12there will be a number of members of the house who will put forward their
1:03:12 > 1:03:18own towns for that accolade. I knew a city had to have a cathedral, I
1:03:18 > 1:03:22did not know it had to have tinkling triangles and!The Prime Minister
1:03:22 > 1:03:27will be
1:03:28 > 1:03:33will be aware the notorious rapist John Worboys was released from high
1:03:33 > 1:03:36security prison. One of my constituents who gave evidence at
1:03:36 > 1:03:43his trial as a victim wants to know why he was not tested first in open
1:03:43 > 1:03:48prison conditions, and why the parole board is not required to
1:03:48 > 1:03:50publish the reasoning behind its release decisions, including
1:03:50 > 1:03:57evidence of contrition?There is a case before the courts at the moment
1:03:57 > 1:04:01and I understand as part of the case the parole board will be required to
1:04:01 > 1:04:04explain the reasons why they took the decision but in terms of the
1:04:04 > 1:04:11overall issue of parole board decisions, when this decision became
1:04:11 > 1:04:18clear, my right honourable friend the then Justice Secretary called
1:04:18 > 1:04:23for work to be done which is being continued under the current Justice
1:04:23 > 1:04:27Secretary to look at the question of decisions and transparency around
1:04:27 > 1:04:37them.Thank you. I am immensely proud to have the world's leading
1:04:37 > 1:04:41teaching hospital of Adam Brookes in my constituency. Their excellence
1:04:41 > 1:04:45means they rely heavily on doctors from overseas but of late have
1:04:45 > 1:04:51struggled to bring doctors in because of restrictions on visa
1:04:51 > 1:04:56numbers and with applications reducing, it is a problem. Can you
1:04:56 > 1:05:01reassure me and Adam
1:05:02 > 1:05:05reassure me and Adam -- the hospital?I am aware of that
1:05:05 > 1:05:10particular issue. In the longer term, one of the things we are doing
1:05:10 > 1:05:14is to ensure we can train more doctors in the UK but I am aware of
1:05:14 > 1:05:21the issue she has raised.I will look into it. Last year the Prime
1:05:21 > 1:05:25Minister acknowledged our social care system is broken and promised
1:05:25 > 1:05:30to fix it. Since then two care providers in Crewe and Nantwich have
1:05:30 > 1:05:33been placed in special measures and another is worried it may close
1:05:33 > 1:05:40because of a lack of funding. What do she say to providers whose state
1:05:40 > 1:05:43the local government settlement does not go far enough and they cannot
1:05:43 > 1:05:49afford to wait for the government green paper?I would say that as she
1:05:49 > 1:05:53will know, I have always said there were short-term measures that needed
1:05:53 > 1:05:57to be taken in terms of pressure on social care and medium and long-term
1:05:57 > 1:06:03measures. In the short-term we have provided more funding, 2 billion
1:06:03 > 1:06:07extra was announced by the Chancellor. We are seeing more money
1:06:07 > 1:06:11going into social care in local authorities. In the medium term we
1:06:11 > 1:06:16need to assure best practice is spread across the country and we
1:06:16 > 1:06:20also need to ensure we can develop a long-term sustainable funding model
1:06:20 > 1:06:30and that is what we continue to work on.It is sadly a matter of public
1:06:30 > 1:06:34record that RBS and HBOS deliberately asset stripped
1:06:34 > 1:06:37thousands of potentially viable businesses to benefit their own bank
1:06:37 > 1:06:41or bankers. Evidence before the High Court indicates Lloyds might also
1:06:41 > 1:06:47beat guilty of the same. Would she considered the cause of the
1:06:47 > 1:06:52all-party group for their business banking, which has been endorsed by
1:06:52 > 1:06:57the chief executive Andrew Bailey for a public inquiry into this
1:06:57 > 1:07:04disgraceful scandal?This is an issue of concern to many. Small
1:07:04 > 1:07:06businesses the backbone of the economy and we need to ensure we
1:07:06 > 1:07:14learn lessons from what happened at RBS and HBOS. The SCA has reported
1:07:14 > 1:07:18areas of widespread inappropriate treatment of firms by RBS, who
1:07:18 > 1:07:23apologised and set up a compensation scheme for victims. There an
1:07:23 > 1:07:29investigation conducted by the SCA into RBS and also they are
1:07:29 > 1:07:32undertaking separate investigations into HBOS but we will continue to
1:07:32 > 1:07:35work with the regulator and industry to ensure small and medium
1:07:35 > 1:07:41businesses get the support they need.Since Christmas there have
1:07:41 > 1:07:48been five high-profile gun crimes in Haringey, including last Thursday
1:07:48 > 1:07:53when a 19-year-old young man was shot in the head with the Marx man
1:07:53 > 1:07:58on the back of the mopeds, to the entrance of the cinema inward green.
1:07:58 > 1:08:02We know our streets are plagued by knife crime, now the intent to kill
1:08:02 > 1:08:08with a gun takes the epidemic to a new level. It cannot go one. Will
1:08:08 > 1:08:13the Prime Minister meet with me and community leaders to put an end to
1:08:13 > 1:08:19this epidemic of gun crime?
1:08:19 > 1:08:21this epidemic of gun crime?I suggest she meets with the Home
1:08:21 > 1:08:26Secretary who will publish a strategy in relation to this issue
1:08:26 > 1:08:29of serious violence that takes place. We are concerned about... The
1:08:29 > 1:08:37use of mopeds has been used for snatching amasses what we have been
1:08:37 > 1:08:40looking at and working on with the police but on the issue of gun
1:08:40 > 1:08:49crime, I am sure my right honourable friend will meet her.
1:08:49 > 1:08:53friend will meet her.Could I agree entirely with what the member said,
1:08:53 > 1:08:57the Prime Minister has done more than anyone to end the terrible
1:08:57 > 1:09:03modern day slavery but we have one problem and that is the treatment of
1:09:03 > 1:09:08child victims. They are put in the care of local authorities. They are
1:09:08 > 1:09:13then trafficked again. Could we have a system like we do for adults when
1:09:13 > 1:09:18safe homes all provided Sentry, not by local government, so that
1:09:18 > 1:09:25trafficking again can not occur? He follows up on an important point
1:09:25 > 1:09:30about child victims of trafficking. I will look at the issue he has
1:09:30 > 1:09:36raised. The Independent child advocates I referred to was one way
1:09:36 > 1:09:42where we can give greater support to child victims to ensure we do not
1:09:42 > 1:09:46see them being lost to the local authorities and trafficked again
1:09:46 > 1:09:50because it is a scandal when a victim goes into the care of the
1:09:50 > 1:09:55local authority and somebody comes along and removes them from care and
1:09:55 > 1:10:04takes them back into slavery.Order. Statement.
1:10:44 > 1:10:44Do everything
1:10:51 > 1:10:56I set out that Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with
1:10:56 > 1:11:06Novichok, a military grade nerve agent developed by Russia.
1:11:10 > 1:11:15The UK Government concluded it was highly likely it was Russia who was
1:11:15 > 1:11:21responsible for this reckless and despicable act. There were only two
1:11:21 > 1:11:24plausible explanations, either a direct act by the Russian state
1:11:24 > 1:11:28against our country or the Russian government could have lost control
1:11:28 > 1:11:31of the military grade nerve agent and allowed it to get into the hands
1:11:31 > 1:11:37of others. Mr Speaker it was right to offer Russia the opportunity to
1:11:37 > 1:11:41provide an explanation. Their response has demonstrated complete
1:11:41 > 1:11:47disdain for the gravity of these events. They have provided no
1:11:47 > 1:11:51credible explanation that could suggest they lost control of their
1:11:51 > 1:11:56nerve agent. No explanation as to how this agent came to be used in
1:11:56 > 1:12:03the United Kingdom, no explanation as to why Russia has a chemical
1:12:03 > 1:12:07weapons programme not declared in contravention of international law.
1:12:07 > 1:12:12Instead, they have treated the use of the military grade nerve agent in
1:12:12 > 1:12:18Europe with sarcasm, contempt and defiance. Mr Speaker, there is no
1:12:18 > 1:12:21alternative conclusion other than the Russian state was culpable for
1:12:21 > 1:12:27the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal and his daughter and for
1:12:27 > 1:12:31threatening the lives of other British citizens in Salisbury,
1:12:31 > 1:12:37including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. It is an unlawful use of
1:12:37 > 1:12:41force by the Russian state against the UK. It has taken place against
1:12:41 > 1:12:46the backdrop of a well-established pattern of Russian state aggression
1:12:46 > 1:12:51across Europe and beyond. It must therefore be met with a robust
1:12:51 > 1:12:56response beyond the actions we have already taken, since the murder of
1:12:56 > 1:13:00Mr Litvinenko and to counter this pattern of Russian aggression
1:13:00 > 1:13:04elsewhere. As the discussion on Monday May clear, it is essential we
1:13:04 > 1:13:10come together with allies to defend our security, to stand up for our
1:13:10 > 1:13:15values, and to send a clear message to those who would seek to undermine
1:13:15 > 1:13:19them. This morning I chaired a meeting of the National Security
1:13:19 > 1:13:23Council where we agreed immediate action to dismantle the Russian
1:13:23 > 1:13:27espionage network in the UK, urgent work to develop new powers to tackle
1:13:27 > 1:13:33all forms of hostile state activity and to ensure those seeking to carry
1:13:33 > 1:13:37out such activity cannot enter the UK and additional steps to suspend
1:13:37 > 1:13:42all planned high-level contacts between the United Kingdom and the
1:13:42 > 1:13:47Russian Federation. Let me start with immediate actions. The house
1:13:47 > 1:13:53will recall that following the murder of Mr Litvinenko, the UK
1:13:53 > 1:13:57expelled four diplomats. Under the Vienna Convention on the United
1:13:57 > 1:14:03Kingdom will now expelled 23 Russian diplomats, who have been identified
1:14:03 > 1:14:08as undeclared intelligence officers. They have just one week to leave. It
1:14:08 > 1:14:12will be the single biggest expulsion for over 30 years and reflects the
1:14:12 > 1:14:17fact it is not the first time the Russian state has acted against our
1:14:17 > 1:14:22country. Through these expulsions we will fundamentally degrade Russian
1:14:22 > 1:14:29intelligence capability in the UK for years to come and if they seek
1:14:29 > 1:14:32to rebuild it, we will prevent them from doing so. We will urgently
1:14:32 > 1:14:37develop proposals for new powers to harden defences against all forms of
1:14:37 > 1:14:41hostile state activity. It will include the addition of the targeted
1:14:41 > 1:14:45power to detain those suspected of hostile state activity at the UK
1:14:45 > 1:14:50border. This power is only permitted currently in relation to those
1:14:50 > 1:14:55suspected of terrorism. I have asked the Home Secretary to consider
1:14:55 > 1:14:58whether there is a need for new counter espionage powers to clamp
1:14:58 > 1:15:04down on the
1:15:07 > 1:15:14As I set out on Monday we will table a government amendment to... In
1:15:14 > 1:15:18doing so, we will play our part in an international effort to punish
1:15:18 > 1:15:23those responsible for the sorts of abuses suffered by surrogate
1:15:23 > 1:15:27Magnitsky and I hope, as with all the measures I'm setting out today,
1:15:27 > 1:15:32this will command cross-party support. We will also make full use
1:15:32 > 1:15:36of existing powers to enhance our efforts to monitor and track the
1:15:36 > 1:15:39intentions of those travelling to the UK who could be engaged in
1:15:39 > 1:15:46activity that of the UK and bye allies, so we will increase checksum
1:15:46 > 1:15:51private flights, customs and freight. We will freeze Russian
1:15:51 > 1:15:54state assets wherever we have the evidence that they may be used to
1:15:54 > 1:16:01threaten the life or property of UK nationals or residents and, led by
1:16:01 > 1:16:03National Crime Agency, we will continue to bring all the
1:16:03 > 1:16:06capabilities of UK law enforcement to bear against serious criminals
1:16:06 > 1:16:10and corrupt elites. There is no place for these people or their
1:16:10 > 1:16:17money in our country. Mr Speaker, let me be clear - while our response
1:16:17 > 1:16:21must be robust, it must also remain true to our values as a liberal
1:16:21 > 1:16:26democracy that believes in the rule of law. Many Russians have made this
1:16:26 > 1:16:30country their home, abide by our laws and make an important
1:16:30 > 1:16:35contribution to our country, which we must continue to welcome. But to
1:16:35 > 1:16:39those who seek to do us harm, my message is simple - you are not
1:16:39 > 1:16:45welcome here. Let me turn to our bilateral relationship. As I said on
1:16:45 > 1:16:50Monday, we have had a very simple approach to Russia - engaged but
1:16:50 > 1:16:53beware - and I continue to believe it is not in our national interest
1:16:53 > 1:16:57to break off all dialogue between the UK and the Russian Federation.
1:16:57 > 1:17:00But in the aftermath of this appalling attack against our
1:17:00 > 1:17:06country, this relationship cannot be the same so we will suspend all
1:17:06 > 1:17:09planned high level bilateral contacts between the UK and the
1:17:09 > 1:17:13Russian Federation. This includes revoking the invitation to Foreign
1:17:13 > 1:17:15Minister Lovegrove to pay a reciprocal visit to the UK and
1:17:15 > 1:17:18confirming there will be no attendance by ministers or bumpers
1:17:18 > 1:17:24of the Royal family at this summer's World Cup in Russia. Finally, we
1:17:24 > 1:17:27will deploy a range of tools from across the full breadth of our
1:17:27 > 1:17:33national security apparatus in order to counter the threats of hostile
1:17:33 > 1:17:37state activity. We will set out some of these measures today. Members on
1:17:37 > 1:17:47all sides will understand that there are some that cannot...
1:17:47 > 1:17:51are some that cannot... Should we face further Russian provocation.
1:17:51 > 1:17:55None of the actions we take are intended to damage legitimate
1:17:55 > 1:18:00activity or prevent contacts between our populations. We have no
1:18:00 > 1:18:03disagreement with the people of Russia, who have been responsible
1:18:03 > 1:18:08for so many great achievements throughout their history. Many of us
1:18:08 > 1:18:13looked at a post-Soviet Russia with hope. We wanted a better
1:18:13 > 1:18:17relationship and it is tragic that President Putin has chosen to act in
1:18:17 > 1:18:22this way. But we will not tolerate the threat to life or British people
1:18:22 > 1:18:26and others on British soil from the Russian government, nor will we
1:18:26 > 1:18:31tolerate such a flagrant breach of Russia's international obligations.
1:18:31 > 1:18:36As I set out on Monday, the United Kingdom does not stand alone in
1:18:36 > 1:18:40confronting Russian aggression. In the last 24 hours, I've spoken to
1:18:40 > 1:18:44President Trump, Chancellor Merkel and President Macron. We have agreed
1:18:44 > 1:18:48to cooperate closely in responding to this barbaric act and coordinate
1:18:48 > 1:18:51our efforts to stand up for the rules -based international order
1:18:51 > 1:18:56which Russia seeks to undermine. I will also speak to other allies and
1:18:56 > 1:19:00partners in the coming days and I welcome the strong expressions of
1:19:00 > 1:19:04support from Nato and from partners across the European Union and
1:19:04 > 1:19:10beyond. Later today in New York, the UN Security Council will hold open
1:19:10 > 1:19:14consultations, where we will be pushing for a robust international
1:19:14 > 1:19:19response. We have also notified the Organisation for the Prohibition of
1:19:19 > 1:19:22Chemical Weapons about Russia's use of this nerve agent and we are
1:19:22 > 1:19:26working with the police to enable the OPCW to independently verify our
1:19:26 > 1:19:33analysis. Mr Speaker, this was not just an act of attempted murder in
1:19:33 > 1:19:37Salisbury, nor just an act against the UK. It is an affront to the
1:19:37 > 1:19:40prohibition of the use of chemical weapons and it is an affront to the
1:19:40 > 1:19:47rules -based system on which we and our international partners depend.
1:19:47 > 1:19:50We will work with our allies and partners to confront such actions
1:19:50 > 1:19:54wherever they threaten our security at home and abroad and I commend
1:19:54 > 1:20:03this statement to the house.Jeremy Corbyn.Thank you, Mr Speaker. I
1:20:03 > 1:20:05would like to thank the Prime Minister Brad Barnes side of her
1:20:05 > 1:20:10statement and echo absolutely her words about the service of our
1:20:10 > 1:20:16emergency services. -- for advanced site. The attack in Salisbury was an
1:20:16 > 1:20:20appalling act of violence. Nerve agents are abominable if used in any
1:20:20 > 1:20:26walk. It is utterly reckless to use them in a civilian environment. This
1:20:26 > 1:20:28attack on Britain has concerned our allies in the European Union, Nato
1:20:28 > 1:20:34and the UN and their words of solidarity has strengthened our
1:20:34 > 1:20:37position diplomatically. Our response as a country must be guided
1:20:37 > 1:20:43by the rule of law, support for international agreements and respect
1:20:43 > 1:20:47for human rights. So when it comes to the use of chemical weapons on
1:20:47 > 1:20:52British soil, it is essential that the Government works with the United
1:20:52 > 1:20:57Nations to strengthen its chemical weapons monitoring system and
1:20:57 > 1:21:01involves the office of the prohibition of chemical weapons. The
1:21:01 > 1:21:05Prime Minister said on Monday, either this was a direct act by the
1:21:05 > 1:21:08Russian state or the Russian government lost control of their
1:21:08 > 1:21:12potentially catastrophically damaging nerve agent and allowed it
1:21:12 > 1:21:18to get in the hands of others. Our response must be both decisive and
1:21:18 > 1:21:23proportionate and based on clear evidence. Is the Government believes
1:21:23 > 1:21:29that it is still a possibility that Russia negligently lost control of a
1:21:29 > 1:21:33military grade nerve agent, what action is being taken through the
1:21:33 > 1:21:39OPCW with our allies? I welcome the fact the police are working with the
1:21:39 > 1:21:45OPCW... And has the Prime Minister taken the necessary steps under the
1:21:45 > 1:21:51chemical weapons convention to make a formal request for evidence from
1:21:51 > 1:21:58the Russian government under article 9.2? How has she responded to the
1:21:58 > 1:22:01Russian government's request for a sample of the agent used in the
1:22:01 > 1:22:08Salisbury attack to run its own tests?
1:22:08 > 1:22:12tests? Has high-resolution trace analysis been run on a sample of the
1:22:12 > 1:22:17nerve agent, and has that revealed any evidence as to the location of
1:22:17 > 1:22:24its production or the identity of its perpetrators? And can the Prime
1:22:24 > 1:22:28Minister update the house on what conversations, if any, she has had
1:22:28 > 1:22:37with the Russian government? And, while suspending planned high level
1:22:37 > 1:22:40contact, does the Prime Minister agree that it is essential to
1:22:40 > 1:22:47maintain a robust dialogue with Russia? In the interests of our own
1:22:47 > 1:22:54and wider international security. With many countries, Mr Speaker,
1:22:54 > 1:23:02speaking out alongside us, the circumstances demanded that we build
1:23:02 > 1:23:06an international consensus to address the use of chemical weapons.
1:23:06 > 1:23:10We should urge our international allies to join us and call on Russia
1:23:10 > 1:23:19to reveal without delay full details of its chemical weapons programme to
1:23:19 > 1:23:24the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. It is, as we on
1:23:24 > 1:23:29these benches have expressed before, a matter of huge regret that our
1:23:29 > 1:23:34country's diplomatic capacity has been stripped back, with cuts of 25%
1:23:34 > 1:23:42in the last five years. It is, Mr
1:23:42 > 1:23:48SHOUTING
1:23:48 > 1:23:51It is, Mr Speaker...Order! The right honourable gentleman must be
1:23:51 > 1:23:56heard. There will be adequate opportunity for colleagues on both
1:23:56 > 1:24:02sides of the house to put questions. Members must be heard. Jeremy
1:24:02 > 1:24:07Corbyn.I couldn't understand a word of what the Foreign Secretary just
1:24:07 > 1:24:09said, Mr Speaker, but his behaviour demeans his office.
1:24:09 > 1:24:16SHOUTING It is in moments... It is in moments
1:24:16 > 1:24:20such as these that governments realise how vital strong diplomacy
1:24:20 > 1:24:26and political pressure are four hour security and national interest. The
1:24:26 > 1:24:30measures we take have to be effective, not just for the
1:24:30 > 1:24:34long-term security of our citizens but to secure a world free of
1:24:34 > 1:24:42chemical weapons. So, can the Prime Minister outline what discussions
1:24:42 > 1:24:46she has had with our partners in the European Union, Nato and the UN, and
1:24:46 > 1:24:52what willingness there was to take multilateral action? While the
1:24:52 > 1:24:57poisonings, Mr Speaker, of Sergei and you Beer Skripal are confronting
1:24:57 > 1:25:04us today, what efforts are being made by the government to assess the
1:25:04 > 1:25:09death of Mr Skripal's daughter who died in 2012 and the death of his
1:25:09 > 1:25:13elder brother and son, who have both died in the past two years? We have
1:25:13 > 1:25:18a duty to speak out against the -- abuse of human rights by a
1:25:18 > 1:25:22government and its borders both at home and abroad and I join many
1:25:22 > 1:25:27others in this house in paying tribute to the many campaigners in
1:25:27 > 1:25:33Russia for human rights and justice and democracy in that country. And,
1:25:33 > 1:25:37Mr Speaker, we must do more to address the dangers posed by the
1:25:37 > 1:25:43state's relationship with unofficial Mafia like groups and corrupt
1:25:43 > 1:25:51oligarchs. We must also... We must also expose the flows of ill gotten
1:25:51 > 1:25:56cash between the Russian state and billionaires who become stupendously
1:25:56 > 1:26:00rich by looting their country and subsequently use London to protect
1:26:00 > 1:26:05their wealth. We welcome the Prime Minister's statement today, clearly
1:26:05 > 1:26:11committing to support the Magnitsky amendments and implementing them as
1:26:11 > 1:26:17soon as possible, as we on this site have long pushed for. Yesterday, a
1:26:17 > 1:26:22Russian exile who was close friends with the late oligarch Boris
1:26:22 > 1:26:26Berezovsky was found dead in his London home. What reassuring can she
1:26:26 > 1:26:30give to citizens of Russian origin living in Britain that they are safe
1:26:30 > 1:26:39here? The events in Salisbury early this month are condemnable and have
1:26:39 > 1:26:44been rightly condemned across the house. Britain has to build a
1:26:44 > 1:26:53consensus with our allies and we support the Prime Minister in... Mr
1:26:53 > 1:26:56Speaker, we support the Prime Minister in taking multilateral
1:26:56 > 1:27:02action and firm action to ensure we strengthen the chemical weapons
1:27:02 > 1:27:07convention, to ensure that this dreadful, appalling act, which we
1:27:07 > 1:27:14totally condemn, never happens again in our country.
1:27:14 > 1:27:19in our country.The right honourable gentleman raised...
1:27:19 > 1:27:23STUDIO: That was Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Opposition, responding
1:27:23 > 1:27:26to the Prime Minister's statement on Russia. The Prime Minister said that
1:27:26 > 1:27:33they had no alternative now but to conclude that the Russian state was
1:27:33 > 1:27:39culpable in the attacks in Salisbury and that it involved the unlawful
1:27:39 > 1:27:45use of force against the United Kingdom, and that a full and robust
1:27:45 > 1:27:53response was demanded. The headline for
1:27:53 > 1:27:58for that is the expulsion of 22 Russian spies, as Mrs May called
1:27:58 > 1:28:02them, with the Russian Embassy, who are being expelled within one week.
1:28:02 > 1:28:05The Russian ambassador has already talked about retaliation and no
1:28:05 > 1:28:09doubt there will be British diplomats expelled from Moscow. She
1:28:09 > 1:28:13said the purpose of this, other than sending a symbol, was to degrade
1:28:13 > 1:28:18Russian intelligence capabilities in the United Kingdom. She also wanted
1:28:18 > 1:28:22to develop new powers to detain those suspected of intelligence
1:28:22 > 1:28:26activities at the UK border as they came in. There was more support for
1:28:26 > 1:28:30tougher action against those who have been involved in human rights
1:28:30 > 1:28:35abuses or corruption or gaining vast riches through illegal means, and
1:28:35 > 1:28:39talk of freezing Russian state assets in that way. All major
1:28:39 > 1:28:43bilateral contacts with the Kremlin have been cancelled forthwith,
1:28:43 > 1:28:49including a visit by the Russian from the minister to this country.
1:28:49 > 1:28:52-- Foreign Minister. She also said she had been speeding to Mr Trump,
1:28:52 > 1:28:57Chancellor Merkel in Germany, President Back run in France, who
1:28:57 > 1:29:00largely were backing the British position and the response to this
1:29:00 > 1:29:05and that at 7pm London time tonight there would be a briefing to the UN
1:29:05 > 1:29:10Security Council by Britain of what evidence they have and why they have
1:29:10 > 1:29:15taken the actions, and what they believe happened in Salisbury.
1:29:15 > 1:29:20Meanwhile, Nato has asked the Kremlin for full details of its
1:29:20 > 1:29:26nerve agent programme. The nerve agent that was used in the attack in
1:29:26 > 1:29:35Salisbury. In their reply, Mr Corbett concentrated mainly on the
1:29:35 > 1:29:37chemical weapons convention protocol, mentioning it several
1:29:37 > 1:29:41times, coming back to it after having mentioned it towards the end
1:29:41 > 1:29:45of his speech as well. He wanted us to work with our allies to make sure
1:29:45 > 1:29:53this convention protocol was being observed and being used. He, in the
1:29:53 > 1:29:59end, did involve the Kremlin too but for most of the time he seemed more
1:29:59 > 1:30:04concerned about making this a story of the illegal use of chemical
1:30:04 > 1:30:09weapons, rather than a murder attempt on British soil involving
1:30:09 > 1:30:13the use of chemical weapons. We're going to look at a lot more of this
1:30:13 > 1:30:17over the next 30 minutes. Let me go straight to our camp whoa political
1:30:17 > 1:30:22editor Laura Kuenssberg for her reaction.
1:30:22 > 1:30:28the Prime Minister had promised extensive measures and in terms of
1:30:28 > 1:30:34the headline from the expelling, 23 so-called diplomats she named as
1:30:34 > 1:30:37basically being Russian spies from London is a more significant
1:30:37 > 1:30:43response from the last time with the Litvinenko murder. At that point
1:30:43 > 1:30:47only four diplomats were expelled. As we expected, there was a promise
1:30:47 > 1:30:52to tighten up the financial grip on Russians who come here who may have
1:30:52 > 1:30:59links to this kind of behaviour, who may be linked, and a promise of new
1:30:59 > 1:31:06legislation to try to block people, associated with Russian espionage,
1:31:06 > 1:31:11coming into the UK. It was a hefty response as she promised on Monday,
1:31:11 > 1:31:17what she did not do is go as far as some expected, which was to think
1:31:17 > 1:31:22about how she might involve Nato, how they might coordinate some kind
1:31:22 > 1:31:26of international response. We know there are meetings coming and there
1:31:26 > 1:31:31has been a strong response from Nato but there was no commitment to push
1:31:31 > 1:31:37for an international response to the incident. She has gone quite far, we
1:31:37 > 1:31:41saw more of that tone from the Prime Minister that she clearly wants to
1:31:41 > 1:31:46be seen as if she is not going to be hedging. She is not going to be
1:31:46 > 1:31:51fudging. And more of the uncomfortable tension in the Commons
1:31:51 > 1:31:57over how Jeremy Corbyn replied. You could hear the barracking through
1:31:57 > 1:32:00the statement.Is it sufficiently robust? I think it was an
1:32:00 > 1:32:04appropriate statement from the Prime Minister and Jeremy has Leader of
1:32:04 > 1:32:10the Opposition. It is good to see perhaps more agreement about
1:32:10 > 1:32:16legislative changes we might make in the Commons. I hope the Russians
1:32:16 > 1:32:22take the opportunity. To say somehow they lost control of the nerve agent
1:32:22 > 1:32:26and that is the account they could give that would at least give them
1:32:26 > 1:32:30diplomatic route out of this. I cannot see any other actions other
1:32:30 > 1:32:35than those we are discussing, I do not see how we can back down in the
1:32:35 > 1:32:40face of this.Jeremy Corbyn wants to share samples with the Russian
1:32:40 > 1:32:44government and that is the Russian government's position. Should we do
1:32:44 > 1:32:50that? Is this a matter of a Chemical Weapons Convention? Why did the
1:32:50 > 1:32:53Leader of the Opposition make it so much about the process of
1:32:53 > 1:33:01implementing a chemical weapons Convention. This is about the
1:33:01 > 1:33:06attempted murder by a foreign state of somebody on British soil, that is
1:33:06 > 1:33:13the issue.As the Prime Minister said in her statement, if there is
1:33:13 > 1:33:19an undisclosed chemical weapons programme in Russia, it has to be
1:33:19 > 1:33:23brought under international law.If it is not disclosed and the Russians
1:33:23 > 1:33:26have continued with a chemical weapons capability, which many
1:33:26 > 1:33:30people think is the case, despite having signed up to the Chemical
1:33:30 > 1:33:36Weapons Convention, the Kremlin is hardly going to say yes, actually we
1:33:36 > 1:33:40have some of this stuff. Where is the realism in that?Whether they
1:33:40 > 1:33:45will or not, that is the appropriate course to take. We cannot sit back
1:33:45 > 1:33:49and be comfortable...What makes you think they would agree to that,
1:33:49 > 1:33:54admit that?It does not mean the rest of the world should not take
1:33:54 > 1:34:00action against Russia because of that.Nato has asked to learn more,
1:34:00 > 1:34:04has asked the Russians to say, it looks like you have some of this
1:34:04 > 1:34:08nerve gas will stop we thought it was to be abolished. It looks like
1:34:08 > 1:34:12you have some, tell us about it. Nato has done the right thing, but
1:34:12 > 1:34:17why would you think the Russians would comply to this, and why make
1:34:17 > 1:34:24it... Surely be issue is not the actual means, dangerous as it was,
1:34:24 > 1:34:28the attempted murder was brought about. They could have chosen to use
1:34:28 > 1:34:33guns, poisons, all sorts of things. The issue is surely the attempted
1:34:33 > 1:34:37murder, not the means of the murder. It is but clearly not one right now
1:34:37 > 1:34:43can ascribe reasonable motive to how Russia is acting. It is reckless
1:34:43 > 1:34:48behaviour from Russia and these things should form our response, the
1:34:48 > 1:34:55chemical weapons regime.You do not use this as a means of assassination
1:34:55 > 1:34:59without knowing it is going to be found out. You do not do this unless
1:34:59 > 1:35:06you want to be found out. Unless you are attempting to send a message.
1:35:06 > 1:35:10That is not reckless, that is calculated, that is clear. If you
1:35:10 > 1:35:15simply wanted to do it, you would hire a hit man and your target would
1:35:15 > 1:35:19be shot in the dead of night and the hit man would disappear before the
1:35:19 > 1:35:24police ever found out. That would be a mystery death, not sending a
1:35:24 > 1:35:29message. This has been done in a way designed to send a message, designed
1:35:29 > 1:35:35to make it public.That is not reckless. I think it is reckless in
1:35:35 > 1:35:39the sense of it is hard to see how it meets Russian objectives in a way
1:35:39 > 1:35:43that does not make them more isolated in the international
1:35:43 > 1:35:47community, more pressure on the economy and people associated with
1:35:47 > 1:35:53the regime. It is Russia acting in a way that takes it down a certain
1:35:53 > 1:36:01path that I would say is not in their interests.Ted Heath expelled
1:36:01 > 1:36:06in 1971 when Soviet KGB activity was rampant in London, almost getting
1:36:06 > 1:36:11out of control, he expelled 105 diplomats. Most of them KGB. There
1:36:11 > 1:36:16was
1:36:17 > 1:36:21was retaliatory action in Moscow. We are expelling 23, is it enough?I am
1:36:21 > 1:36:31not sure of the numbers in respect of the 70s. In terms of 23 it is a
1:36:31 > 1:36:34significant number, certainly more than the four expelled ten years
1:36:34 > 1:36:39ago. It is part of a process and we are beginning the process now. We
1:36:39 > 1:36:46are looking at tightening legislation. We have to look at the
1:36:46 > 1:36:49international response. This is an attack on democracy that affects not
1:36:49 > 1:36:55just the UK but others. What should the international response be? As
1:36:55 > 1:36:59you said it is a calculated attempt by Russia, the use of the Novichok
1:36:59 > 1:37:05nerve agent. A highly dangerous nerve agent that suggests the
1:37:05 > 1:37:08potential for further attacks in the future must be taken seriously and
1:37:08 > 1:37:13we have the briefing of the Security Council. Donald Tusk has said it is
1:37:13 > 1:37:18on the agenda of the EU Council. Will the British Government, should
1:37:18 > 1:37:23the British Government ask for the tightening of sanctions, there are
1:37:23 > 1:37:29already sanctions in place and they have been causing more pain than has
1:37:29 > 1:37:34been reported in the Western media. It resulted in the failure of the
1:37:34 > 1:37:38Russian oil industry to be able to get capital needed to modernise oil
1:37:38 > 1:37:44extraction. I have seen evidence the machine-tool industry in Russia is
1:37:44 > 1:37:51in serious trouble, that its capital is crumbling away. Should we ask for
1:37:51 > 1:37:54more sanctions? Should be leading international effort to get more
1:37:54 > 1:38:00sanctions, or leave it where it is? You cannot simply just have rhetoric
1:38:00 > 1:38:04of taking action and not following through and in terms of further
1:38:04 > 1:38:08sanctions, absolutely, that is a proportionate response, looking at
1:38:08 > 1:38:13the effect, the impact of Russia and Putin's regime.You would support
1:38:13 > 1:38:19that?I agree with you, the sanctions have had profound effects
1:38:19 > 1:38:23in Russia but this is an escalation from what the position was when they
1:38:23 > 1:38:28were introduced.
1:38:28 > 1:38:32were introduced.Laura, we have a Russian guest I'm anxious to go to,
1:38:32 > 1:38:35but Laura, a thought. I think you will have to go and supply other
1:38:35 > 1:38:42media outlets!I think it is likely the government will try to get
1:38:42 > 1:38:48allies to push for further sanctions but particularly the UN. It is
1:38:48 > 1:38:52extremely difficult. Theresa May will want to be sure she can count
1:38:52 > 1:38:57on her allies to be supportive before she pushes forward with the
1:38:57 > 1:39:01high-profile request for sanctions. If it is not followed up with
1:39:01 > 1:39:06support from allies, it leaves her looking isolated.Given the
1:39:06 > 1:39:14importance of London to the Russian diaspora, particularly the
1:39:14 > 1:39:17diaspora, particularly the wealthy and, -- wealthy end, there is
1:39:17 > 1:39:22bilateral action that can be taken. Things she has outlined today will
1:39:22 > 1:39:27have an impact, there will be consequences. 23 out of 58 diplomats
1:39:27 > 1:39:32leaving by the end of the week. That is not everybody having to go home
1:39:32 > 1:39:36apart from the Ambassador, but that will have a consequence. The idea of
1:39:36 > 1:39:40potentially being able to stop people at the border will have a
1:39:40 > 1:39:45consequence. It is likely the government will try to lead some
1:39:45 > 1:39:48kind of international coordinated response that will feel like it has
1:39:48 > 1:39:58more gravity and more impact, but this is a 360 degrees
1:39:59 > 1:40:01this is a 360 degrees picture. It only happened last week and it is as
1:40:01 > 1:40:04much as the government has been able to do but it is not the end of this
1:40:04 > 1:40:08kind of action and there was another suspicious death reported, in the
1:40:08 > 1:40:13suburbs of London yesterday. This may well become one of the defining
1:40:13 > 1:40:19issues of the government in the next couple of years. How do we deal with
1:40:19 > 1:40:26this? How does Britain in this era deal with, when all the other
1:40:26 > 1:40:30challenges the country faces and our relationship with the rest of Europe
1:40:30 > 1:40:35and the US, is changing so much, as well.It is another huge factor. We
1:40:35 > 1:40:41will leave it. Thank you.
1:40:41 > 1:40:45With me now is the Russian journalist Oleg Kashin.
1:40:45 > 1:40:52You have worked in Russia and are now based in London. Given the
1:40:52 > 1:40:59manner of the assassination attempt, the nerve agent used would be
1:40:59 > 1:41:10discovered.Novichok.What was the purpose of doing it this way?Nobody
1:41:10 > 1:41:20knows and not so much Russians believe that the
1:41:20 > 1:41:27believe that the Russian state. I am sure it is possible for Putin to
1:41:27 > 1:41:31say... I do not think he makes orders. Some years ago there was an
1:41:31 > 1:41:41attempt to kill me Russia. Russian detectives found this attempt. It
1:41:41 > 1:41:47was an old friend of Putin. I'm not sure he did not ask Putin, may I
1:41:47 > 1:41:56kill him, no, no, everybody do everything by itself. The Russian
1:41:56 > 1:42:02state organism is huge.Another hand does not think about another hand.
1:42:02 > 1:42:06You say the Russian state could be behind this but not necessarily done
1:42:06 > 1:42:10on the orders of President Putin? What does it mean the Russian State?
1:42:10 > 1:42:17You say Russians, may be you mean Putin.
1:42:19 > 1:42:24Putin. You say Russians, I did not try to kill Skripal.I am not saying
1:42:24 > 1:42:29that but it seems an agency of the Russian state was involved, it had
1:42:29 > 1:42:34the nerve gas. It is not a gas you concocting your kitchen overnight.
1:42:34 > 1:42:44The Russian kitchen is huge. We have a lot of people in this kitchen.
1:42:45 > 1:42:48What person is responsible for this attempt, you don't know, I don't
1:42:48 > 1:42:53know and maybe Putin does not know. You raise interesting issues. I want
1:42:53 > 1:42:58to go to the Foreign Office, Alan Duncan, he joins us from Central
1:42:58 > 1:43:08Lobby. What we heard from Theresa May, the list of measures, the
1:43:08 > 1:43:13expulsions leading the litany of things we are doing, is that it, or
1:43:13 > 1:43:18the beginning of further action?It is essential we have taken robust
1:43:18 > 1:43:24steps. You never know in diplomatic activity of this sort what one might
1:43:24 > 1:43:28have to respond to subsequently but what matters most is we have taken
1:43:28 > 1:43:31firm action against the first time a military grade nerve agent has been
1:43:31 > 1:43:37used in a European country since 1945, and that was used in Britain,
1:43:37 > 1:43:43its origin is Russian, it put at risk people in and the broader town
1:43:43 > 1:43:46of Salisbury, it is not acceptable and that is why the Prime Minister
1:43:46 > 1:43:53properly took the steps today.I understand that. What I'm trying to
1:43:53 > 1:43:56get, what the Prime Minister announced was unilateral actions
1:43:56 > 1:44:02Britain is taking on its own. What I am trying to work out, is that the
1:44:02 > 1:44:06end of unilateral action, is there more to come, and are we now working
1:44:06 > 1:44:12for a multilateral reaction of further sanctions against Russia
1:44:12 > 1:44:17with our allies?We are seeking the maximum international support, which
1:44:17 > 1:44:22is why there will be serious discussions in the National Security
1:44:22 > 1:44:26Council tonight. Before they were announced I and others briefed
1:44:26 > 1:44:31ambassadors in the UK and of course the phone lines have been busy with
1:44:31 > 1:44:34the Prime Minister talking to President Trump and Chancellor
1:44:34 > 1:44:39Angela Merkel and President Macron. We hope for and we are getting
1:44:39 > 1:44:42significant support across the world, because I think people
1:44:42 > 1:44:47realise the severity of what has happened. It could have been equally
1:44:47 > 1:44:54in another European
1:44:54 > 1:44:57in another European town and I'm sure we would be behind any country
1:44:57 > 1:44:59similarly affected. We have just seen the statement from Nato and I
1:44:59 > 1:45:03am sure there will be action in the United Nations but don't forget the
1:45:03 > 1:45:04Russians have a veto on certain things there, but I hope
1:45:04 > 1:45:09international support will be strong and firm, because we cannot see the
1:45:09 > 1:45:14proliferation of chemical weapons of this sort, and we are also invoking
1:45:14 > 1:45:20the details of the office for the Prohibition of chemical weapons,
1:45:20 > 1:45:21which is something the Prime Minister also announced in a
1:45:21 > 1:45:26statement.
1:45:28 > 1:45:31Do we want this widespread support from our allies, which we seem to be
1:45:31 > 1:45:34getting, in terms of verbal support, to be turned into further sanctions
1:45:34 > 1:45:40against Russia?I think this will depend very much on subsequent
1:45:40 > 1:45:43Russian reaction. These things don't just get done in one day but the
1:45:43 > 1:45:48first steps we have taken are absolutely right. The Prime Minister
1:45:48 > 1:45:54herself made it quite clear that we have the option of increasing
1:45:54 > 1:45:56sanctions by introducing legislation to increase our border controls, in
1:45:56 > 1:46:02order to prevent people whom we consider to be people with
1:46:02 > 1:46:05hostile...We can do that unilaterally. What I'm asking is, do
1:46:05 > 1:46:11we want a broadly -based firm response?That will be a matter for
1:46:11 > 1:46:14further discussion. You are asking questions we cannot answer
1:46:14 > 1:46:18immediately after the statement. What I'm trying to do... I know
1:46:18 > 1:46:22you're trying to have discussions, that is what diplomats do. I am
1:46:22 > 1:46:29trying to get the purpose of these discussions. Is the purpose of these
1:46:29 > 1:46:34discussions to build an alliance for tougher sanctions against Russia?
1:46:34 > 1:46:38Should other countries are so wish to combine to do that, I'm sure we
1:46:38 > 1:46:43would welcome support in that form. But in addition, by the way, we are
1:46:43 > 1:46:48going to do something very important here as well, which was the Prime
1:46:48 > 1:46:51Minister announcing that we wish to work very, very cooperatively with
1:46:51 > 1:46:56the Labour Party and other parties in parliament, which I am already
1:46:56 > 1:46:59doing during the passage of the sanctions bill which is going
1:46:59 > 1:47:03through Parliament at the moment, to introduce something which is named
1:47:03 > 1:47:08the Magnitsky Act, which means we would focus on people who breach
1:47:08 > 1:47:10human rights by being able to have strong sanctions against them.You
1:47:10 > 1:47:14have changed your mind on that, haven't you? Labour have been
1:47:14 > 1:47:18pushing you to do this and you have resisted.That's not right,
1:47:18 > 1:47:22actually. In the committee stage we made it absolutely clear that we
1:47:22 > 1:47:24thought because of the importance of this it is essential that we have
1:47:24 > 1:47:29cross-party agreement and I think it is something much better decide on
1:47:29 > 1:47:32the main floor of the House of Commons than just a committee room
1:47:32 > 1:47:35upstairs because there are strong feelings about this and rather than
1:47:35 > 1:47:40play party politics with it, we would like this to be a united,
1:47:40 > 1:47:42agreed House of Commons Parliamentary statement on this
1:47:42 > 1:47:48particular part of the sanctions bill.We have - we as in the British
1:47:48 > 1:47:55state - accused the Russians of this act. We think the evidence, the
1:47:55 > 1:47:58Prime Minister tells us, is overwhelmingly that it was from
1:47:58 > 1:48:02Russia, that it was the Russian State's involvement. The Russian
1:48:02 > 1:48:08state, as we have been hearing, has many arms and outlets. And we think
1:48:08 > 1:48:12that this nerve gas has been kept in Russia despite previous chemical
1:48:12 > 1:48:19warfare protocols. The Russians have asked for a sample of this nerve
1:48:19 > 1:48:24gas. Why wouldn't we give them a sample?In asking for that sample,
1:48:24 > 1:48:28they are just playing games. What one has to appreciate first and
1:48:28 > 1:48:32foremost is that the very existence of this nerve agent is a breach of
1:48:32 > 1:48:36the chemical weapons convention. Its use is even more so and the
1:48:36 > 1:48:42organisation through which we work is the office for the prohibition
1:48:42 > 1:48:45for the -- of chemical weapons. So we are doing things properly and I
1:48:45 > 1:48:51would urge people not in any way to allow themselves to be diverted from
1:48:51 > 1:48:54the fundamental, very, very serious act here by gamesmanship on the part
1:48:54 > 1:48:58of the Russians in orders to try to play these games, like asking for
1:48:58 > 1:49:02samples and things like that. We know the origin of this nerve agent
1:49:02 > 1:49:07and we gave the Russians a clear option. We said, either you did it
1:49:07 > 1:49:11or if you didn't, tell us how on earth it got out of the production
1:49:11 > 1:49:16facility which you control. And instead of answering that question
1:49:16 > 1:49:20properly and responsibly, they have treated us with sarcasm and disdain
1:49:20 > 1:49:22and patronising deceit and that is why the Prime Minister has announced
1:49:22 > 1:49:29these actions today.If the Russians have held onto this nerve gas and
1:49:29 > 1:49:33used it in Salisbury against various chemical weapons protocols and
1:49:33 > 1:49:36agreements to ban such weapons, indeed to destroy the arsenals of
1:49:36 > 1:49:40such weapons
1:49:40 > 1:49:41indeed to destroy the arsenals of such weapons, if they have done that
1:49:41 > 1:49:44and used it they are hardly likely to admit that they have got samples
1:49:44 > 1:49:50of this, are they?No but I'm afraid the evidence points to them so
1:49:50 > 1:49:54clearly because we know the origin of the nerve agent and that is why
1:49:54 > 1:49:57we are going to the OPCW and I have no doubt in due course further
1:49:57 > 1:50:00conclusions on this, which I'm confident we'll corroborate our
1:50:00 > 1:50:04conclusions, will come from Matt, which is the proper organisation for
1:50:04 > 1:50:08prohibiting chemical weapons.We will leave at there. Minister Alan
1:50:08 > 1:50:11Duncan from the Foreign Office, thank you for joining us live from
1:50:11 > 1:50:18House of Commons central lobby. Our guest is still with us and I enjoyed
1:50:18 > 1:50:25by Robert Hannigan, the former director of intelligence at GCHQ. If
1:50:25 > 1:50:28we accept that the British government is pretty clear that the
1:50:28 > 1:50:34Russians did this and it was a Russian state involvement, what I'm
1:50:34 > 1:50:38still trying to get to the bottom of is that they chose the assassination
1:50:38 > 1:50:43using this method, using this agent, which meant that their complicity
1:50:43 > 1:50:47could not be disguised. Did they wanted to be known that they were
1:50:47 > 1:50:53behind this?I think it is a key question and I think the answer has
1:50:53 > 1:50:58to be taken in the context of a pattern of reckless behaviour in
1:50:58 > 1:51:01cyberspace, interfering in elections, and on the ground, where
1:51:01 > 1:51:05they increasingly don't care and they are stepping outside the normal
1:51:05 > 1:51:11rules of behaviour between civilisations, so Putin has decided
1:51:11 > 1:51:16to do that. Of the Troisi has made and in that context, he could not
1:51:16 > 1:51:20possibly user nerve agent of this sort without it being traced to
1:51:20 > 1:51:26Russia by a sophisticated state. Everything points to him not really
1:51:26 > 1:51:30caring and that is true of other things they've done over the last
1:51:30 > 1:51:36four or five years.Can I ask you more on the motivation here? As I
1:51:36 > 1:51:39understand it, traditionally, the target in Salisbury was part of a
1:51:39 > 1:51:46spy swap. Some were returned to Russia and he came to the United
1:51:46 > 1:51:52Kingdom. As I understand, usually when that happens, both sides then
1:51:52 > 1:51:56leave their people alone did you don't go...Even in the terms of
1:51:56 > 1:52:03Cold War in Stalin's time.Why would they want to take him out?It is an
1:52:03 > 1:52:06argument for Putin because maybe it isn't Russia, maybe it isn't the
1:52:06 > 1:52:10Russian state it took nobody knows who did it and why. Today in one of
1:52:10 > 1:52:17the Russian tabloids, it was an interview of the niece of Mr Skripal
1:52:17 > 1:52:25and she's out that uncle Sergei was damaged by an angry woman who did
1:52:25 > 1:52:32not want...Saying the woman had nerve gas? That's nonsense, isn't
1:52:32 > 1:52:38it? You know that's nonsense. So this is just fake news and
1:52:38 > 1:52:43disinformation. Let's stick to the facts here. He was a relatively
1:52:43 > 1:52:50low-level agents. He had almost certainly...He was a specialist.He
1:52:50 > 1:52:53had probably told the British just about everything that he knew in
1:52:53 > 1:52:58terms of secrets. He could still mark the British card in terms of
1:52:58 > 1:53:04procedures and the way Russian intelligence operates but why
1:53:04 > 1:53:09attempt to take him out, is what I'm tried to get out?Nobody knows the
1:53:09 > 1:53:18motivation of the attempt to kill Mr Skripal but, actually, I know... Now
1:53:18 > 1:53:22we have new British sanctions against Russia and you should know
1:53:22 > 1:53:29that any external pressure to Russia from the United Kingdom, from
1:53:29 > 1:53:36Europe, will make Putin stronger inside Russia because you British,
1:53:36 > 1:53:43the British state, say, you Russians should choose between Mr Putin - I
1:53:43 > 1:53:48don't like Mr Putin - and Mrs May, who wants to make our Russian lives
1:53:48 > 1:53:55worse. And now a lot of Russians will choose Putin, even if they
1:53:55 > 1:54:00don't like him.A lot of people think that Mr Putin, released those
1:54:00 > 1:54:05around him, are doing this because the Russian economy is so bad, the
1:54:05 > 1:54:11levels of poverty outside your major cities...But Russians have a very
1:54:11 > 1:54:17popular sentence.This is bread and circuses for the masses.If you
1:54:17 > 1:54:21don't leave good, and now we have a reason to live good.The Russian
1:54:21 > 1:54:25Embassy has just issued a statement here in London. The ambassador was
1:54:25 > 1:54:30summoned to the Foreign Office and informed the 23 diplomats were
1:54:30 > 1:54:32declared persona non grata to use the diplomatic language for saying
1:54:32 > 1:54:39they have to go home. They say, we consider this action as
1:54:39 > 1:54:42unjustifiable, short-sighted and all the responsibility for the
1:54:42 > 1:54:45deterioration of the Russia- UK relationship lies with the current
1:54:45 > 1:54:50political leadership of Britain. There will be a response to the
1:54:50 > 1:54:54response. Cannot response hurt us?I think at this stage in the
1:54:54 > 1:54:57relationship, probably not very much, because the relationship is at
1:54:57 > 1:55:02a low base and can't get much lower. There is not going to be much
1:55:02 > 1:55:06communication from diplomats or anyone else so it is formalising
1:55:06 > 1:55:09what is already happening. It is a first step. I think the more
1:55:09 > 1:55:13important things are those that the Prime Minister pointed to, which is
1:55:13 > 1:55:24targeted economic sanctions against individuals. There was
1:55:24 > 1:55:25individuals. There was a great deal of raging collected money and
1:55:25 > 1:55:28individuals and assets flowing through London and that is what will
1:55:28 > 1:55:30hurt Russia.YouTube will be the British government's intention. We
1:55:30 > 1:55:32have the intelligence of the capability to do this, to identify
1:55:32 > 1:55:37the money flows, asset purchases and from whom... To the beneficial
1:55:37 > 1:55:41owners were?I think it will take time, which is why it is not
1:55:41 > 1:55:45sensible to announcing today but there is no place for that kind of
1:55:45 > 1:55:50money in the economy anyway so it is a good moment to bed down and it. I
1:55:50 > 1:55:52think other companies were both countries are looking at the centre
1:55:52 > 1:55:58top there was a general sense that patience has run out. In France and
1:55:58 > 1:56:04Germany and the United States and elsewhere and they're going to
1:56:04 > 1:56:06isolate themselves further. I think the reaction has been pretty
1:56:06 > 1:56:10measured so far from here because we don't want to play into Putin's
1:56:10 > 1:56:14hands. A lot of this is about internal politics, about distraction
1:56:14 > 1:56:19so that the people can be united around a Nationalist flag.The bread
1:56:19 > 1:56:23and circuses part of it. At least the circus. There may not be so much
1:56:23 > 1:56:28bread. But in your former job you did not see a lot of intelligence,
1:56:28 > 1:56:32use or information that was in the public domain. My understanding is
1:56:32 > 1:56:36that the Russian economy is still overwhelmingly dependent on fossil
1:56:36 > 1:56:39fuels, that 4.5 million Russians have left the country because of the
1:56:39 > 1:56:45economic prospects being so poor. Tomography is a real problem,
1:56:45 > 1:56:51Russian machinery, industry, is collapsing. How bad is it?Russia is
1:56:51 > 1:56:55a small economy and bolted onto this is the trapping of a superpower,
1:56:55 > 1:57:00nuclear weapons, a vast military intelligence machine, which
1:57:00 > 1:57:06essentially control the country. Putin is just one of large group.
1:57:06 > 1:57:12That is not going to change even if the leader were to change.Will this
1:57:12 > 1:57:19end badly? Where does it go from here?Two years ago, where it could
1:57:19 > 1:57:27go from here? I don't know. But now Russia is the best place for living.
1:57:27 > 1:57:36You are not sure?Russia isn't the best place.It isn't? Because of the
1:57:36 > 1:57:41state of the economy?Not only economy, the whole political
1:57:41 > 1:57:50situation and social situation.Is Russia heading to... It has now
1:57:50 > 1:57:56moved in an authoritarian direction. Yes, but it is not very good for us,
1:57:56 > 1:58:06for citizens... Antics during the last 20, 25 years, there was no one
1:58:06 > 1:58:12moment that we could understand the West is our friend. Know your enemy
1:58:12 > 1:58:22is Putin and I'm not sure that... And post Cold War there were plenty
1:58:22 > 1:58:28of Western policies.Now we have a new Cold War.We may be root reaping
1:58:28 > 1:58:32the consequences.Absolutely, Russia needed to be helped to reform its
1:58:32 > 1:58:37economy, to diversify, to tackle corruption. We missed that
1:58:37 > 1:58:40opportunity.It will be a while before it comes back again.
1:58:40 > 1:58:46Gentlemen, all of you, thank you for joining me. That's all for today. Jo
1:58:46 > 1:58:53will be here tomorrow at noon. I will be back on BBC One tomorrow
1:58:53 > 1:58:57night on This Week, when we will be also covering this story. Thank you
1:58:57 > 1:59:02very much. Goodbye.