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Politics
Peter Davidson

Piers Morgan and Scots politicians banned from Russia for supporting 'demonisation' of country

Piers Morgan, Keir Starmer and eight Scottish politicians have been banned from entering Russia for supporting the "demonisation" of the country.

Vladimir Putin's regime announced sanctions against 39 British politicians, officials, business people and journalists.

Those targeted include opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, former prime minister David Cameron and TV journalists Robert Peston and Huw Edwards.

A number of Scottish politicians were also slapped with bans.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, Greens co-leader Lorna Slater, Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson, refugees minister Neil Gray, SNP MSP Fiona Hyslop, Lib Dems leader Alex Cole-Hamilton and Green MSP Ross Greer have all been banned.

The list also features shadow communities secretary Lisa Nandy, shadow international trade secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds and Conservative former cabinet minister Liam Fox.

Former Nato secretary-general George Robertson has also been barred from entering

Their names are added to those of more than 200 other Britons whom Russia has already banned, including most of Britain's leading politicians.

The travel bans - mirroring those Russia has imposed on other Western nations that have hit it with sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine - are largely symbolic given that relations are already at rock bottom and hardly any of those targeted were likely to have intended to visit the country.

Russia's foreign ministry said, however, it would keep adding to the list.

"Given London's destructive drive to spin the sanctions flywheel on far-fetched and absurd pretexts, work on expanding the Russian stop-list will continue," it said in a statement.

Separately, the Russian Prosecutor General's office said it had declared the Calvert 22 Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in London, to be an "undesirable organisation".

"It has been established that its activity poses a threat to the foundations of the constitutional order and the security of the Russian Federation," it said in a statement.

No comment was immediately available from the organisation, which was founded in 2009 by Russian-born economist Nonna Materkova and focuses on arts and culture in Russia and eastern Europe.

Responding to the news Piers Morgan tweeted: "It wasn’t on my immediate vacation to-do list."

Angus Robertson responded by saying: "Russia doesn’t like criticism of its invasion of Ukraine and it doesn’t like freedom of speech either. I will continue to strongly support Ukraine, condemn Moscow’s aggression and its war crimes.

"Many on the latest Russian sanctions list are Scottish politicians and I am proud of the strong and unified opposition there is in Scotland to the Russian invasion and enduring support for Ukraine."

While, Cole-Hamilton said: "One day, after Putin's army has been defeated and his government swept away by the tides of history, I hope that I will have the chance to visit and meet with those who have bravely stood up against the Russian regime. Until that happens, I will wear this ban as a badge of honour.

"The UK must redouble its efforts to help Ukraine achieve victory on the battlefield, while here in Scotland, our government must get serious about patching the holes in the refugee scheme and helping those who have fled to our shores."

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