Ian Liddell-Grainger: Russia's MP ban a 'futile gesture'

Mr Liddell-Grainger, who has been an MP continuously since June 2001, is one of 287 British politicians who were banned from entering the Russian Federation on Wednesday, April 27. 

Russia's foreign ministry announced the sanctions in a statement where it accused the MPs of “whipping up Russophobic hysteria”.

Mr Liddell-Grainger was joined on the list by Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane), Marcus Fysh (Yeovil), David Warburton (Somerton and Frome), and Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset). 

Armed forces minister and Wells MP James Heappey – who recently said it is “entirely legitimate” for Ukraine to carry out strikes within Russia to disrupt its supply lines – was not included in the list.

A translation of the Russian foreign ministry statement said the sanctions were applied “on the basis of reciprocity” after the UK Government sanctioned 386 members of the Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament) on March 11.

Boris Johnson said the MPs sanctioned "should regard it as a badge of honour". Picture: Kirsty O'Connor, PA Wire

On Wednesday, Boris Johnson said the MPs sanctioned should “should regard it as a badge of honour” and pledged to “keep up our robust and principled support for the Ukrainian people”. 

Mr Liddell-Grainger told the Bridgwater Mercury: “It appears that any MP who has spoken out against Russia’s invasion and war crimes is automatically being added to it (the list of MPs banned), but it has to be said that not being able to enter Russia is hardly an issue that it going to cause me any loss of sleep.

“What is remarkable, however, is that anyone can believe that such a futile gesture as this is going in any way to diminish the volume of voices denouncing Russia for the atrocities it is committing on a daily basis.”

Tory former chief whip Mark Harper said he is “proud” to be included in the list of sanctioned MPs, while former Brexit secretary David Davis joked: “How will I ever cope?”.