PMQs: Boris Johnson faces grilling from Starmer over Russian sanctions and partygate probe

The Prime Minister has defended the decision to issue sanctions on Russian nationals and banks, saying doing so will "hit Putin where it hurts".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asked the Prime Minister why he has not introduced a "full package of sanctions".

He pressed the PM, asking: "If not now, when?"

In response Mr Johnson said "The UK is out in front [in acting against Russia].

"We will squeeze him [Putin] simultaneously in London, in Paris, in New York, at the same time."

The Labour leader told the House the PM's strategy "could send the wrong message".

Sir Keir also pushed the PM on what was being done to prevent Russian political donations in the UK.

"I don’t think any Government could conceivably be doing more to root out corrupt Russian money", Mr Johnson said.

"People around the world can see that the UK was the first to call out what President Putin was doing in Ukraine.

"We have been instrumental in bringing the western world together."

Mr Johnson went on: "There is still time for President Putin, as I’ve said, to de-escalate.

"It is absolutely vital that we in the UK should stand united.

"What is at stake… is not just the democracy of Ukraine but the principle of democracy around the world."

In response to Vladimir Putin's decision to move Russian troops into the Donbas, Boris Johnson announced in the Commons yesterday that three oligarchs linked to the Kremlin as well as five smaller Russian banks were to be targeted in the “first barrage” of sanctions.

But members of the PM's own Party have been critical of the Government's approach.

Conservative MP and a former United Nations commander who led peacekeeping forces in Bosnia, Bob Stewart (Beckenham), said: "Mr (Vladimir) Putin may well have won. He may well have won because we’ve not reacted hard enough."

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has suggested that Vladimir Putin has gone “full tonto”, following the latest escalation in the Ukraine crisis.

Mr Wallace said the UK has 1,000 personnel on stand-by to respond to the crisis, adding: "The Scots Guards kicked the backside of Tsar Nicholas I in 1853 in Crimea – we can always do it again."

Boris Johnson was also expected to field questions on the Metropolitan Police's probe into the partygate scandal.

Labour had previously branded the Prime Minister as a "national embarrassment" after it emerged the Mr Johnson had received a questionnaire from the Metropolitan Police regarding his possible role in Downing Street parties that took place during national lockdowns.

The Met is investigating 12 parties, including as many as six which the Prime Minister is reported to have attended.

Allegations were made that Downing Street staff were engaged in excessive drinking, purchasing a wine fridge and stocking up on booze by filling a suitcase with bottles from a local supermarket.

The Met's questionnaire, which the force has says has "formal legal status and must be answered truthfully", was completed by the PM.

It's been suggested that Mr Johnson may be the first Prime Minister to be questioned under caution by police.