Fifteen MPs have been sanctioned by Russia, with one saying they will wear it "as a badge of honour". Moscow's foreign ministry announced the sanctions on Wednesday, in retalation against the UK's response to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.
Among those to be sanctioned is the Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson Helen Maguire MP, who said the sanctions show "we've got under [Vladimir] Putin's skin". Ms Maguire, a British Army veteran, said: "I will wear this retaliatory sanction as a badge of honour — as will my Liberal Democrat colleagues also placed on Moscow’s blacklist. Russia’s sanctions package on British MPs will only further drive our determination to expose the abuses of Putin’s regime as it continues to wage a barbaric war in Ukraine.
"This knee-jerk reaction to our pressure on Russia shows that we've got under Putin's skin. In the Ukrainian people's hour of greatest need, we must not stop now in turning the screws on the Kremlin."
Moscow officials criticised Britain’s supply of weapons to Kyiv and accused the UK of anti-Russian sentiment.
A statement by Russia's foreign ministry also referenced statements over the seizure of Russian assets.
Another MP to have been sanctioned is Defence Committee member Mike Martin.
The Lib Dem MP for Tunbridge Wells said he believes "most" of the MPs sanctioned took part in a debate he brought forward in January about seizing $300 billion of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's war effort.
The former Army officer told the Express the sanctions make "absolutely no difference".
"I'm going to continue speaking out for what's right, continue to point out there's an illegal invasion of Ukraine, war crimes still are being committed, there's 20,000 Ukrainian children who've been kidnapped and taken to Russia.
"I'll still continue to keep talking out on all these issues."
The new Russian sanctions list includes five Labour MPs, eight Lib Dems and six peers from across the political parties.
The move means the parliamenterians have been banned from entering Russia.
Lib Dem Alistair Carmichael said he had “no immediate plans to travel to the Russian Federation, but now they’ve told me I can’t, I may want to look and see if there is an opportunity”.
He added:"If drawing attention to what Putin and his acolytes are doing is something that wins me this favour, then I will wear this as a badge of pride.”
This was echoed by the SNP’s Stephen Gethins who spoke of his “pride” at the announcement.
“No one should be under any illusion about the nature of Vladimir Putin’s murderous dictatorship," he said.
Sanctioned Labour MP Phil Brickell said: "Putin and his cronies must pay for the crimes they have committed”.
“If he thinks that sanctioning myself and colleagues will get us to shut up he has another thing coming," he said.
Tory peer Ross Kempsell thanked Russia for his sanction, and said he is “proud to be on the right side of history”.
British parliamentarians have been sanctioned by Russia before.
Two years ago, Moscow said it was taking action against 287 members of the House of Commons - however, the list releasead at the time contained several former MPs.
