Facts

In an incendiary speech at the Tory Party Conference, Boris Johnson spoke about the Labour party saying: “Do we want them in charge, my friends, at this moment? Do we want them running up the white flag? Do you see them standing up to Putin’s blackmail? 

Johnson has no evidence for this statement. 

The Labour Party put pressure on the Government to act faster in punishing Putin for his invasion of Ukraine. In March, Sir Keir Starmer said he was “frustrated” at the pace with which asset freezes and travel bans were being slapped on those with links to the Putin regime.

Speaking to reporters on a visit to the Tapa military base in Estonia, Sir Keir said: “I called for these sanctions against Abramovich two weeks ago now and a feature of the Government’s reaction here is that they are too slow. I support what they are doing and we voted for these sanctions to go through, but we do want a Government to go further and faster, and not be so slow.”

Verdict

Boris Johnson provided no evidence to support his claim. He was unable to do so because no evidence exists. His statement was false.

We approached Mr Johnson’s office, the Cabinet Office and the No 10 Press Office to give him a chance to comment, but received no response.