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MP urges UK to 'resist appeasement' of Russia

BBC Head shot of John Glen, who is wearing a blue blazer and white and blue checked shirt. There is a green, blurred garden behind him.BBC
Salisbury MP John Glen spoke of the impact the Novichok poisonings had on his constituency

The MP for Salisbury has urged the government to "resist appeasement" of Russia on the seventh anniversary of the Novichok poisonings.

Sergei and Yulia Skripal, and former police officer Nick Bailey, were all poisoned by the nerve agent, in the Wiltshire city in March 2018.

More than 80 people suffered symptoms and mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess died in July 2018 after exposure to Novichok which had been left in a discarded perfume bottle in nearby Amesbury.

John Glen told MPs in the House of Commons: "An enduring peace can only be achieved if we resist appeasement and ensure that we have a secure arrangement with Europe and the US hopefully fully engaged."

Mr Glen added this was "absolutely clear to the people of Salisbury, as it is to the people of this country".

During business questions in the Commons, Glen, a Conservative former minister, spoke of the impact the attacks had on his Salisbury constituency and asked for a debate on the "role of Russia in the world".

He said that the poisonings had "an enormous impact on the way of life in Salisbury for several months".

Glen added: "Please could we have a debate on the position of Russia in the world at a time of changing geopolitics.

"We need to discuss that urgently and discuss the role of Russia in the world going forward."

Family handout Dawn Sturgess looking into the camera. She is sitting next to a large window near the rooves of buildings seen outside. She is wearing a grey vest and has sunglasses pushed onto her head. She also has a white and pink strap across her chest.Family handout
Dawn Sturgess died after exposure to Novichok which had been left in a discarded perfume bottle

Responding, Commons leader Lucy Powell said: "This is not some separate or foreign incident just affecting Ukraine.

"It has directly affected this country and direct consequences for us, and that's why as a whole house, we stand steadfast in our support for Ukraine."

She said the government was working "night and day" to build global alliances "to ensure that there is that long-lasting security and peace" across Europe and the world.

PA Media Three people in full protective, white clothing with purple gloves and a black head covering. They are holding plastic bags above a pop up bin. They are outside, standing near a bench and there is an orange bag on the floor.PA Media
Personnel in protective suits were sent to the Maltings shopping centre in Salisbury, where the Skripals were found unconscious

In November 2024, Jonathan Allen, director general of defence and intelligence at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, told the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry that he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin would have authorised the assassination attempt on Mr Skripal, because of the "enormous" reputational risk it would have posed to Russia.

Also speaking at the inquiry, Michael Mansfield KC said the threat to Mr Skripal from Russia was "manifestly obvious" and there had been "an abject failure by the United Kingdom government to protect the United Kingdom public".

'Anti-Russian playbook'

The Russian government has always denied involvement in the Salisbury poisonings and the Embassy of the Russian Federation has said the British government "hastily assigned false blame to Russia" for the poisonings.

In a statement on 4 March, it said the government's "destructive processes" had "enabled hostile forces within the UK to perfect their anti-Russian playbook and have therefore contributed to a broader security crisis in Europe".

The embassy called the allegations that Russia was to blame "unsubstantiated", used "under the absurd presumption of guilt in support of a phantom 'Russian menace'".

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