Russia has banned 287 British MPs from entering the country it accuses of contributing to “the groundless whipping up of Russophobic hysteria in the UK”.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle, and Labour backbencher Diane Abbott are targeted.
Sir Lindsay said he was “of course alarmed” by the move when informed by Tory backbencher Michael Fabricant, who had said: “I’m proud to say, Mr Speaker, that both you and I are on that list.”
The Speaker replied: “Rather than give a kneejerk reaction…., I’m sure the Government will rapidly be assessing the implications of this move. I am therefore asking the Government to keep me, and the House authorities briefed on this very important issue.”
He said he would ensure MPs are “kept informed as appropriate”.
Boris Johnson, who was on a previous sanctions list, said the MPs “should regard it as a badge of honour”.
He said: “What we will do is keep up our robust and principled support for the Ukrainian people and their right to protect their lives, their families, and defend themselves.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the ban on Parliamentarians who have “demonized” Russia was a direct response to the UK’s blacklisting of the 386 deputies of the State Duma last month who greenlit Putin’s war in Ukraine.
It had previously banned 13 MPs, including Mr Johnson, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and ex-PM Theresa May, bringing around 300.
Tory former chief whip Mark Harper said he is “proud” to be included, ex-minister Andrew Murrison said he is “delighted”. In contrast, former Brexit secretary David Davis joked: “How will I ever cope?”
