South Essex MPs banned from entering Russia

They are part of a wider group of MPs who have been named on the banned list by the Russian foreign ministry.

It said on Wednesday it was taking action against 287 members of the House of Commons in response to sanctions against Russian politicians.

The MPs in south Essex included on the list were Rochford and Southend East’s James Duddridge, Rayleigh and Wickford’s Mark Francois, Castle Point’s Rebecca Harris, Basildon and Billericay’s John Baron and South Basildon and East Thurrock’s Stephen Metcalfe.

Mr Duddridge jokingly welcomed the news on Twitter, saying the ban was “quite the accolade”.

Newly appointed Southend West MP Anna Firth was not included on the banned list, despite saying she stood against “Putin’s aggression” when meeting Ukrainian refugees last week.

Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price was also not on the list.

Russia’s foreign ministry announced the move to ban MPs in response to the UK sanctioning 386 members of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, last month.

A translation of a statement reported by state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti said the sanctions were being applied “on the basis of reciprocity”.

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“These persons, who are now banned from entering the Russian Federation, took the most active part in the establishment of anti-Russian sanctions instruments in London (and) contribute to the groundless whipping up of Russophobic hysteria in the UK,” it read.

“The hostile rhetoric and far-fetched accusations coming from the lips of British parliamentarians not only condone the hostile course of London, aimed at demonising our country and its international isolation, but are also used by opponents of a mutually respectful dialogue with Russia to undermine the foundation of bilateral co-operation.”

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced the sanctions against the Duma on March 11.