The Green MP for Brighton Pavilion urged the Conservative Prime Minister to put an end to Russian money laundering in London.
Caroline Lucas spoke out in the House of Commons after Russian president Vladimir Putin sent troops into two rebel-held eastern regions of Ukraine saying that they had been deployed to “maintain peace”.
As Boris Johnson made a statement to MPs about the situation in Ukraine yesterday (Tuesday 22 February), she told him that newly announced sanctions did not go far enough.
She said: “It is vital to stand in solidarity with Ukraine, in the face of outrageous Russian aggression, with robust, far-reaching sanctions and by closing down London’s money laundering machine now.
“Frankly, sanctions on five banks and three oligarchs are not anywhere near enough.
“We must also recognise the extent of Russian meddling in our own politics.
“Will the Prime Minister stop studiously ignoring the Intelligence and Security Committee’s ‘Russia’ report which found credible evidence of attempts to interfere with the UK’s election processes?
“Will he finally commit to an independent and comprehensive investigation?”
Mr Johnson said: “We are going further than the ‘Russia’ report in implementing sanctions against Russia.
“Of course we will do anything to root out any foreign influence in any UK election but I am not aware of any.”
