Russia bars Angela Rayner and other UK Cabinet ministers from country after spy row

Russia has imposed a travel ban on Angela Rayner and other Cabinet ministers, following the expulsion of a diplomat accused of spying.

Deputy Prime Minister, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper are among 30 UK citizens included in a "stop list" issued by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The list also features journalists and business leaders.

The Russian ministry stated that these sanctions were a response to the UK’s "hostile actions", specifically referring to UK sanctions on Russia and military support for Ukraine, which it described as "bordering on the direct involvement of Great Britain in the conflict".

Earlier reports from Russian media revealed that a staff member at the UK’s embassy in Moscow had been expelled and the UK’s ambassador to Moscow had been summoned by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This development comes amidst rising tensions between Moscow and Western nations over Ukraine.

Board members from drone company Callen-Lenz and journalists from The Times and Daily Mail were also named in the list. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting were also listed.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were already banned from Russia in 2022.

"In response to the hostile actions of the British side, a decision was made to include on the Russian ‘stop list’ a number of representatives of the political establishment, the military bloc, high-tech enterprises, and the British journalistic corps who have demonstrated themselves to be anti-Russian," the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

Downing Street has refuted claims that the UK diplomat expelled from Russia was engaged in espionage.

"To be clear, we refute these allegations. They’re baseless. We’re now considering our response," stated a No 10 spokesman. He declined to speculate on whether the UK would retaliate with a similar expulsion.

A UK diplomat in Russia will have to leave the country within a fortnight after his accreditation was revoked, as per reports from Tass citing the Russian security service, the FSB. The agency accused the individual of providing false information to obtain entry into Russia and claimed he was involved in espionage and sabotage activities.

Employed at the Moscow embassy, it's been reported that he filled in for one of the six British intelligence officers expelled in August. Tass suggests that the Foreign Office previously denied claims those diplomats were spies, asserting that the expulsions aimed to weaken UK backing for Ukraine.

British ambassador Nigel Casey has reportedly been summoned by Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as stated by spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to Tass. Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel, herself barred from Russia in 2022 while Home Secretary, commented: "Moscow continues with its unjustified campaign of fear and intimidation."