Grant Shapps says ban on Russian oil imports will lead to ‘some higher energy prices’ – UK politics live | Politics

Good morning. “Where are all these mansions [being] seized?”, a Ukrainian activist asked Boris Johnson angrily in Poland last week. The question reflected a concern that the UK has not done enough to directly penalise Russian oligarchs who operate in the UK. But this morning Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, said that he had effectively “impounded” a private jet linked to an oligarch that landed at Farnborough airport. The plane has not been seized under sanctions legislation. But Shapps revoked its flight permit, preventing it from leaving as planned yesterday, to allow more time to establish who exactly owns it, and whether it is covered by sanctions already in place. As the Telegraph reports, the jet is thought to be linked to an oligarch friendly with Roman Abramovic, but it is registered to what seems to be a shell company, and the exact ownership is not clear.

Shapps told BBC Breakfast this morning that Russian private jets had already been banned from the UK, but that there were gaps in the rules. He said:

However there were potential loopholes and I also wanted to make the issue a criminal one, so last night I also signed a law which closes off some of those loopholes to do with trying to work out the ownership of some of these aircraft.

There is one such aircraft on the ground at Farnborough that I have essentially impounded whilst we carry out further investigations, for the last few days.

Shapps said the plane was registered in Luxembourg and that “further checks” were being carried out before it might be released. “And what we won’t do is allow any Russian oligarchs to pass on that jet when it does eventually go,” he added.

Shapps was speaking shortly after Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, announced a tightening of the ban on Russian aircraft coming to the UK. “The ban includes any aircraft owned, operated or chartered by anyone connected with Russia or designated individuals or entities, and will include the power to detain any aircraft owned by persons connected with Russia,” the Foreign Office said.

I will post more from the Shapps interview shortly. Here is the agenda for the day.

9.15am: Jack Monroe, the food campaigner, and other experts give evidence to the Commons work and pensions committee on the cost of living.

10am: Vadym Prystaiko, the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, gives evidence to the Commons home affairs committee about refugees. Lawyers and charities are also giving evidence.

12pm: Boris Johnson faces Keir Starmer at PMQs.

12pm: Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, gives evidence to the Commons Welsh affairs committee.

After 12.30pm: Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, and Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, are both expected to give statements to MPs, respectively about the military conflict and about oil and gas imports from Russia.

2.15pm: Lord Agnew, who resigned as a Treasury minister because he felt the government was not doing enough to tackle fraud, gives evidence to the Commons Treasury committee.

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