Sir Edward: Expel Russia from Council of Europe

Sir Edward Leigh

MP says there is "no place for gangsters" in the halls of civilised nations

Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative MP for Gainsborough, called upon Russia to be expelled from the Council of Europe in a debate in the House of Commons.

The MP said that Winston Churchill created the pan-European body as a "bastion against fascism and communism".

"Since the fall of communism, Russia has set great importance on its membership, as a fig leaf of respectability," Sir Edward continued. "Every time our Conservative group has tried to get it expelled, we have been foiled by Russian gold."

The Lincolnshire MP called upon the Prime Minister to instruct the UK ambassador to the body to move for the immediate expulsion of Russia from the Council "so that there is no place for gangsters in the halls of civilised nations".

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