Starmer hammered over 'insane and immoral' loosening of sanctions on Russia

Keir Starmer is facing a growing clamour to U-turn today after an 'insane' and 'immoral' loosening of sanctions on Russia. The Government slipped out overnight that imports of Moscow's oil refined into jet fuel and diesel in third countries will now be allowed.The move comes amid fears of surging costs at the pumps, and that shortages could wreck summer holidays.But a similar decision by the US was recently disowned by ministers, while the EU has indicated it will not be weakening its own rules. Labour MPs have joined Ukraine, the Tories and Lib Dems in condemning the decision. Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has granted an urgent question on the sanctions after PMQs. A trade licence, which came into effect today, permits the imports 'indefinitely'. According to the licence, the sanctions carve-out will be periodically reviewed as fuel prices rise due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.