Question Time audience member gets rapturous applause as she asks, ‘Is Boris really the man to lead us?’ through Ukraine conflict when he’s ‘proven himself to be stupid or a liar’
- Comment was made in last night’s BBC Question Time broadcast from Harrow
- It came as Vladimir Putin’s Russian army continued march on Ukraine’s capital
- The comment about Boris Johnson sparked applause from audience members
- Executive editor of Economist said it was time to let Mr Johnson ‘get on with it’
A BBC Question Time audience member received rapturous applause when she asked: ‘Is Boris really the man to lead Britain?’ in the country’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The audience member made the jibe at the Prime Minister during last night’s live show from Harrow, London, as Vladimir Putin’s troops continued to march on Kyiv.
Russia’s invasion, which sparked Mr Johnson to brand President Putin as a ‘bloodstained aggressor’, dominated discussion on last night’s show.
But appearing to allude to the ongoing Partygate investigation, which had dominated political debate prior to the Ukraine invasion, the woman said: ‘I just feel very embarrassed of our political leaders.
‘Is Boris really the man to lead us through this, when he’s proven himself to be stupid or a liar, I’m not sure which.’
Her comments received loud applause from fellow audience and a disapproving stare from Conservative minister James Cleverly – who sat on last night’s panel.
But her question was rebuffed by Economist executive editor Ann McElvoy, who questioned whether it was the right time to discuss the matter in light of Putin’s actions.
She said: ‘I’ve been critical of Boris Johnson on and off ever since I met him 30 years ago. But I wonder if he has really been so bad in this crisis?
A BBC Question Time audience member received rapturous applause when she asked: ‘Is Boris really the man to lead Britain?’ in the country’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
The audience member made the jibe at the Prime Minister (pictured) during last night’s live show from Harrow, London, as Vladimir Putin’s troops continued to march on Kyiv
Russia’s invasion, which sparked Mr Johnson to brand President Putin as a ‘bloodstained aggressor’, dominated discussion on last night’s show. Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen walk at fragments of a downed aircraft seen in Kyiv
‘He gave a good speech to the Munich security conference. I thought he was good today (yesterday). I would have wanted him to go a bit further, a bit faster, on the sanctions, but it would not have prevented what was going to happen overnight.
UKRAINE WAR: LATEST
- Ukraine says Russia has bombed 33 civilian sites in Kyiv in the last 24 hours
- Two children have been reported killed in Kyiv bombing overnight
- Ukraine has banned men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country to conscript them into armed forces
- Russia is deploying paratroopers to Chernobyl after capturing it yesterday, Moscow said
- Ukraine reported ‘anomalous’ radiation levels at the plant amid fears nuclear storage was breached in fighting, but Moscow said readings are normal
- Russia claims to have destroyed 118 Ukrainian military sites in 30 hours of fighting
- PM Boris Johnson pledged more support is coming to Ukraine in the coming days
- Johnson shared a phone call with Zelensky on Friday morning
‘The Conservative party can sort its own troubles out with Boris Johnson and its Partygate allegation.
‘But this is the sort of time when I look at that type of criticism and say… this is what a Parliamentary democracy is. It is that you can feel so strongly that you can sit here and say this.
‘You could not say this on Russian television in any way. The Russia I knew there were areas of freedom of expression, but they are being stamped out.
‘So that’s why I say at the moment let’s be critical of our leaders and our opposition when they deserved it. But let’s cut ourselves our slack and get on with it.’
Former Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski then chimed, also backing Mr Johnson, who he said he ‘wished was on the European Council’.
He added: ‘I think credit is where credit is due. I think his decision to send anti-tank weapons to Ukraine was timely, British troops to Poland was also good.’
His response also brought claps from the audience. But there were no such claps moments later when another audience member asked: ‘Could this be Boris Johnson’s finest hour?’
It comes as Mr Johnson unveiled ‘unprecedented’ sanctions against Russian banks, firms and oligarchs yesterday as he vowed to cripple ‘bloodstained aggressor’ Putin after the Ukraine invasion.
The PM announced 10 separate strands of measures to inflict ‘significant’ impact on Moscow’s economy on Thursday – with officials saying they should knock several percentage points off its GDP.
The PM announced 10 separate strands of measures to inflict ‘significant’ impact on Moscow’s economy – with officials saying they should knock several percentage points off its GDP
Boris Johnson declared that Putin has ‘chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction’ in Ukraine after launching a ‘horrific attacks’ on its neighbour
Russian armour is now advancing on Kyiv from the north and east, with US intelligence saying the plan is to besiege the city, capture an airport, and fly in paratroopers who would then attack the capital. The aim would be to capture the government and force them to sign a peace treaty handing control of the country back to Russia or a Russian puppet
Boris Johnson’s ten point plan to hammer Putin
One: An asset freeze will be imposed against all major Russian banks, including VTB, the second largest bank in Russia.
Two: New laws will be published on Tuesday to ban all major Russian companies from being able to raise finance on UK markets.
Three: A second wave of sanctions targeting more than 100 individuals and entities. Includes five more oligarchs and defence companies and their subsidiaries. They will be hit with asset freezes and travel bans for oligarchs. UK citizens will be banned from transacting with the targeted firms.
Four: UK Government is looking to ban the ability of Aeroflot aircraft to land in the UK.
Five: The UK will suspend all dual-use export licences to Russia. This relates to items which could be used for civilian purposes but also for military purposes. Such items could be electrical components which could be used in military computers or parts for military vehicles.
Six: Legislation to prohibit a range of high tech exports to Russia, in alignment with similar measures being rolled out by the US. Will target items like semi-conductors and aircraft spare parts.
Seven: Legislation will be brought forward to limit the amount of deposits that all Russian Nationals can hold in UK bank accounts. The UK is yet to define a limit but it will be designed to target wealthy individuals.
Eight: UK will work with allies to shut Russia out of the Swift payment system which is one of the foundations of the global banking system. However, discussions remain ongoing with G7 allies on doing this amid reports of some opposition.
Nine: The UK will extend the measures applied to Russia to also apply to Belarus.
Ten: The Government will accelerate the timetable for bringing forward its Economic Crime Bill. This will contain new tougher measures to target kleptocrats who launder cash in London. The draft laws will be brought forward before the Easter recess.
Mr Johnson told MPs Mr Putin was flouting ‘every principle of civilised behaviour’ and will ‘never be able to cleanse the blood of Ukraine from his hands’ – even though Ukrainians are ‘offering a fierce defence’. He insisted the world now saw the Russian president for what he is: ‘A bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest.’
The assets of all major Russian banks – including VTB – will be frozen, while new legislation will block the state and all the country’s major firms from being able to raise money on London markets.
Mr Johnson pointed out that half Russia’s trade is currently in dollars and sterling.
The government says over 100 people, entities and subsidiaries will be subject to sanctions, including defence giant Rostec. There will be travel bans and asset restrictions on five more named individuals – including Kirill Shamalov, Russia’s youngest billionaire and previously married to Putin’s daughter.
Sources swiped that they would no longer be able to shop in Harrods or send children to public schools, and had become ‘essentially persona non grata in every major Western capital’.
Ministers intend to put a fixed limit on how much Russian nationals can have in accounts in the UK. Aeroflot planes will be immediately prevented from landing anywhere in Britain, while crucial defence exports of semi-conductors and aircraft spare parts will end.
The PM also committed to shut Russia out of the SWIFT international financial messaging system. However the move, which was supported by the US, was blocked by a number of European countries yesterday.
The government is aiming to extend all the measures to Belarus, which was used as a base to launch Russia’s northern attack.
Mr Johnson said it was ‘the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen’.
Officials said the UK was taking a ‘maximalist’ approach to sanctions and would look to go further where possible. Some of the measures come in immediately, but others could take weeks and will need legislation.
A UK diplomatic source said in relation to the five oligarchs sanctioned: ‘These are people who have international lifestyles.
‘They come to Harrods to shop, they stay in our best hotels when they like, they send their children to our best public schools, and that is what’s being stopped.
‘So that these people are essentially persona non grata in every major Western European capital in the world. That really bites.’
The sanctions package was generally welcomed by Keir Starmer, while Theresa May said Russia needs to feel the ‘cold wind of isolation’.
Natali Sevriukova, a resident of Kyiv, is pictured weeping on the streets of Kyiv after a Russian rocket strike destroyed the apartment block where she lives overnight
Firemen pick their way through the rubble of a destroyed apartment in Kyiv, as President Zelensky said the Russian military is now targeting civilian areas
However, Russia shrugged off the action – with one Moscow ambassador swiping previously that Mr Putin could not ‘give a ‘sh**’ about the punishments.
The statement to the Commons came after flurry of calls with fellow leaders, in which Mr Johnson said Europe faces a ‘dark time’ and told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that ‘inaction or underreaction’ by the West would have ‘unthinkable consequences’.
He held virtual talks with Joe Biden and G7 leaders, after which they condemned the ‘unprovoked and completely unjustified attack’ on Ukraine as a ‘serious violation’ of international law.
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