Labour’s John McDonnell FINALLY says he will stop appearing on Russian state TV channel Russia Today after spy poisoning
The Shadow Chancellor said he'd be urging his colleagues to do the same after one Labour MP appeared on the channel just last night
JOHN McDonnell has said he will finally stop appearing on the Kremlin-backed TV channel Russia Today after the poisoning of an ex-spy.
And the Shadow Chancellor will urge his other colleagues to follow suit too, saying they were not supporting "objective journalism" anymore.
He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show this morning that it was "right" after the attack on former secret service agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter that no Labour figures went on it.
Mr McDonnell said he had been on it to challenge issues and highlight British politics, but vowed today: "I think that’s right, from what we’re seeing from Russia Today is going beyond objective journalism".
He also threw his weight behind plans to slap visa restrictions on corrupt Russians, and put more sanctions on the Russian regime, adding: "we have to isolate them".
But Shadow Treasury Minister Peter Dowd appeared in the network just yesterday.
A spokesperson for the Labour leader said today: "We are keeping the issue under review."
Jeremy Corbyn and a number of allies including Mr McDonnell, Ken Livingstone and Chris Williamson MP have been regular guests on the show.
Mr McDonnell said today: "I can understand why people have (appeared on RT) up until now because we have treated it like every other television station.
"We tried to be fair with them and as long as they abide by journalistic standards that are objective that's fine but it looks as if they have gone beyond that line, so yes, we will have that discussion."
Jose Mourinho was told to stand up for Britain last week and cancel his £1million World Cup contract with the Kremlin-backed broadcasters.
Furious MPs urged the outspoken Manchester United manager to ditch the lucrative deal – where he will work as a pundit for five days in Moscow – earning £200,000 a day.
Tory committee chair Tom Tugenhat told The Sun: “Russia Today is an organ of state influence not a media channel."
The news comes as the Tories faced pressure to give back money they had received from donors linked back to Putin's Russia.
However, Chancellor Philip Hammond said there were stringent checks in place already.
He said any donations were "carefully vetted".
"There are people in this country who are British citizens who are of Russian origin - I don't think we should taint them, we shouldn't tar them with Putin's brush," he added.
But earlier today the widow of murdered former spy Alexander Litvinenko called for the Tories to give back any cash suspected of being linked to corrupt officials in Russia.
Marina told the BBC: "You need to be very careful who you are friends with".
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This morning up to 500 Sailsbury pub-goers who were in the area last weekend when the ex-spy was attacked were told to wash their possessions as a precaution after nerve agent traces were found.
Police are probing several theories about what happened to them - including whether they were poisoned in Zizzi pizza restaurant, at his home, or involving a parcel or flowers.