Defense Secretary announces new arms shipments to Ukraine – UK Politics Live

ben wallaceDefense Secretary, now giving statements about the war to lawmakers.

He says, according to the Ukrainian military, the Russians have lost 285 tanks, 985 armored combat vehicles, 109 artillery systems, 50 multiple launch rocket systems, 44 aircraft and 48 helicopters.

He says Ukrainians also think the Russians have lost 11,000 soldiers.

But he insisted that these are Ukrainian figures; The UK has not been able to verify them, he says.

Ed DaveyThe Lib Dem leader recalls Britain’s long history of accepting refugees. But this week the Ukrainians were deported because they didn’t have the right paperwork. He says that the army should be sent to help.

johnson It is said that what Davy said is wrong. He says 1,000 people are already under the current system. (A few minutes ago he was saying that about 1,000 visas had been issued.)

But investigation is necessary, he says. Some people want to leave them. He says it would be irresponsible. The Kremlin has torn apart this country. We know how dishonest Vladimir Putin can be. He says it would not be right to put Britain at greater risk.

Paul Maynard (Con) asks if the PM will meet with him to discuss how Blackpool can be a showcase for leveling up.

johnson Recalls his previous visit to Blackpool, and says he hopes to create high-skill jobs there.

Abena Oppong-asaagain (Lab) says Britain cannot be home to people who support Russia. Has the Prime Minister ever rejected security advice while appointing colleagues?

no, say Johnson.

He says the Kremlin has criticized the UK for leading the way in global sanctions.

(as my colleague Dan Sabbagh telling HereEvgeny Lebedev’s allegation about Boris Johnson is not that he dismissed intelligence agencies, but that he relied on them to revise his assessment.)

Barbara Keely (Lab) says people who have extra power costs for items like electric wheelchairs need extra help. She says the unexpected tax on energy companies will help.

johnson believes the vulnerable will be most at risk, and says the government will look into it.

john penrose (Kon) asks if the government will take away “golden visas” for Russian oligarchs who earned their money illegally.

johnson Says it will be possible.

Peter Dowd (Lab) says he came from a meeting where families of relatives in care homes said they were still finding it difficult to reach their loved ones. Will the government make a law to deal with this?

johnson says restrictions have been eased for care homes. He is happy to meet on this.

Rick Holden (Con) says a hospital in his constituency is being closed. But a new community hospital is planned under the government’s hospital program.

johnson They say that they are happy that the hospital is being built.

john stevenson (Con) asks the government to review rules that could stifle food security for the UK.

johnson It is said that food security is important. He says food companies are getting more time to adjust to the new anti-obesity rules.

Sir Jeffrey DonaldsonDUP leaders call for a reduction in VAT on fuel and a cut in excise duty, and say the government should not block the Northern Ireland Protocol from benefiting the people of Northern Ireland.

johnson says that the government will take steps to protect people from all over Britain.

Julian SmithThe former Tory chief whip says he thinks people are concerned by the “tone” of the government’s approach to refugees. He urged the government to look into it again.

johnson It is said that the government has done a lot for the rehabilitation of the people. He says Michael Gove, the leveling up secretary, will give details of the sponsorship plan for Ukrainian refugees “in the next few days”.

Ian Blackford, The SNP leader in Westminster says 760 visa clearances in two weeks are embarrassing. They say Poland has captured more than 1.2 million refugees, Hungary more than 190,000 and Germany more than 50,000. The Home Office response has been one of the worst EuropeHe says.

johnson Say about 1,000 people now have visas. He expects those numbers to rise rapidly, and says he expects hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians to come to the UK.

blackford Says Johnson doesn’t understand the urgency. People are fleeing war crimes, and the Home Secretary is stopping them from the bureaucracy. He says that we have seen it many times before. The Home Office is offering bureaucracy when it should be offering compassion. Will the government waive visa restrictions for Ukrainians?

johnson The government claims to have an unparalleled record. The PM, the deputy PM and the home secretary are all descendants of the refugees. The UK is the single largest donor of humanitarian aid UkraineHe says.

Starrer They say opposing Putin will incur additional costs. But people can manage those costs if energy companies are taxed unexpectedly, he claims.

alreadyHenson He says he is trashing “failed energy policies” that have left Britain without sufficient nuclear power. He claims to be overjoyed that Labor also favors nuclear. They say they should work together to maintain their opposition to Putin. He says there will be “dark days and tough times to come”, but the UK will go through this strong, he says.

“Leave it,” says sIntestine, He says that Labor is in favor of nuclear energy. But Johnson cannot lay a single brick for the new nuclear plant.

johnson Say, under Labour, nuclear fell from producing about 25% of the UK’s energy needs to about 10%.

He says the government is supporting homes with energy costs, and it can do so because it has the fastest growth in the G-7. If we had listened to “Captain Hindsight”, we would still be in lockdown, he claims.

Starrer Says PM is “protecting energy profits not working people”. More renewable energy is needed. But the Tories have effectively banned onshore wind. Will the PM relax the planning laws and end this effective ban?

johnson Say, thanks to government policies, the government relies only on Russian gas for 3% of its supply. He says Starmer has also committed to supporting more nuclear powers. He claims it is new, and states that “there is more joy in heaven for a repentant sinner”. Labor canceled nuclear power, he says.