Thread by @paulwaugh

I'm confused again about govt's position. MPs asked @BorisJohnson yday if further sanctions needed fresh trigger of Putin invasion. Cleverly seemd to say no.
Now @trussliz: "We are very clear there’s a further list of oligarchs" to be imposed *“in the event of a full invasion”*

After both Tory and Labour MPs failed to get straight answer yday from the PM, @JamesCleverly later clarified the position: "We intend to escalate these sanctions, to ratchet up these sanctions, *in response to what has already happened* in order to deter further aggression."

The assumption was that the UK was waiting for other allies to agree strategy on stronger sanctions before going ahead, not that they depended on 'a full invasion'.

Of course, there will be a gradation of sanctions at each stage. But govt position is unclear again. One for #PMQs

Boris Johnson’s mixed messaging on tougher Ukraine sanctions risks sending the wrong signal to Putin.

My pre-#PMQs take for @theipaper:
inews.co.uk/opinion/boris-…

Featuring 'Soap!', the 1970s spoof sitcom. Younger readers can get a flavour here:

Also features this:

https://twitter.com/Joanne_Lake/status/1496125255454281731?s=20&t=Jse_GQRuOf7sR1sl-s6faw