“I know that people across Hertford and Stortford share my concern and anger about the invasion by Russia of Ukraine - an independent sovereign state, a friend of the UK and a democracy.
“I know that the people of Ukraine are in everyone’s thoughts as they bravely fight off this illegal and cowardly attack. The UK stands in total support of their right to exist and not to be wiped from the map by Putin’s tyranny.
“No country that believes in the rule of law, in liberty and the right to self-determination can think that Putin’s Russia is now anything other than a pariah state.
“The package of sanctions announced by the Prime Minister, and largely mirrored by the United States, the EU and other western nations will squeeze Russia from the global economy and severely limit its ability to function militarily and economically in the months and years to come.
“Asset freezes, legislation to stop Russia and Russian companies raising money in the City, an exclusion from the UK financial system and the banning of the export of any technology that could be used militarily will cause serious damage.
“Putin has unwisely chosen this war despite huge diplomatic attempts to stop it. He is a tyrant. Together the UK, its NATO allies and the rest of the freedom loving world will see him defeated.”