Johnson and Starmer clash over Russia report
Starmer #Starmer
Starmer, who became Labour party leader following its heavy defeat in the 2019 general election, told Johnson in the House of Commons on Wednesday (July 22) that national security would always be the party’s “top priority” while he was in charge.
He questioned the Prime Minister about the lengthy 10-month delay over the release of the report, which was authored by parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee.
Johnson failed to address the delay, instead pointing to his record as foreign secretary in the aftermath of the 2018 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury.
Johnson said he had worked to expel Russian diplomats in the wake of the poisoning while Starmer’s party “parroted the line of the Kremlin” – a reference to former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s caution over blaming Moscow for the poisoning.