Ukraine war: Chancellor Rishi Sunak defends Johnson comparing Ukraine invasion to Brexit vote

Rishi Sunak has defended Boris Johnson comparing Ukrainians defending their country from Russia with the Brexit vote.

The prime minister has received much criticism for his remarks but the chancellor denied to Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme Mr Johnson was saying the two events were comparable.

Speaking at the Conservative Party's spring conference on Saturday, the prime minister said: "I know that it's the instinct of the people of this country, like the people of Ukraine, to choose freedom, every time. I can give you a couple of famous recent examples.

"When the British people voted for Brexit in such large, large numbers, I don't believe it was because they were remotely hostile to foreigners.

"It's because they wanted to be free to do things differently and for this country to be able to run itself."

Latest updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine

But Mr Sunak said "of course" the two situations "are not analogous" and he did not think the PM believed that either.

He added: "People will make up their own minds. But I certainly don't think those two situations are directly analogous. I don't think he does either."

Labour's Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the programme Mr Johnson should apologise to the people of Ukraine for his "deeply insulting" and "crass" words.

Key developments in the Ukraine war:

• Ukrainian officials claim thousands of residents in besieged Mariupol have been forcibly relocated to Russian territory
• Russia says it struck Ukraine with cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, and launched hypersonic missiles from Crimean airspace
• Some 56 people were killed after Russian troops opened fire on an old people's home in the city of Kreminna, Ukraine claims
• Ukraine's deputy prime minister tells Sky News she believes genocide is being committed against Ukrainian people
• Pope Francis has denounced Russia's "repugnant war" against Ukraine as "cruel and sacrilegious inhumanity"
• Ten million people have been displaced inside Ukraine or have fled abroad, the UN says

Russian sanctions 'not cost free'

Mr Sunak also told the programme sanctions against Russia "are not cost free" for British people and he cannot completely protect them "from difficult times ahead".

The chancellor acknowledged sanctions imposed on Russia for invading Ukraine will add to the cost of living crisis ahead of energy bills soaring on 1 April.

Read more: How much does Russian export to the UK and why it will add to cost of living crisis

Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

Last week, the UK placed sanctions on nearly 400 more Russian oligarchs and entities and also banned luxury goods exports to Russia while raising tariffs on key Russian imports such as cereals, metals and vodka.

In just under a fortnight's time, on 1 April, the energy price cap will increase by 54% as global gas prices have soared over the past six months.

To help with the increase, the government announced last month households in Council Tax bands A-D in England will get a £150 rebate from April and all domestic electricity customers will get £200 in October off their energy bills, which will be repaid from people's bills over five years from 2023.

He refused to speculate on whether the UK is at a high risk of recession but said people "should feel confident about the strength of our economy", which he added was the fastest growing in the G7 last year.

Labour's Ms Reeves told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that "we need more than warm words from the chancellor" as she urged him to relieve pressure on the cost of living on Wednesday, when he delivers his spring statement.