“Kremlin-linked elites facing exclusion from UK” reports Home Office

Those who could be barred from the UK include anyone who provides significant support to the Russian state, owes their significant status or wealth to the Russian state and enjoys access to the highest levels of the Russian state.

Kremlin-linked elites can pose a real and present danger. They denounce the UK’s values in public, while enjoying the benefits of the UK in private. They can act as tools for the Russian state, enabling the continuation and expansion of Russia’s aggression.      

The move will bolster both UK national interests and national security, one of the key priorities underpinning the Government’s ‘Plan for Change’, by blocking the physical access of those who undermine UK national security.

These new measures will complement the UK’s existing sanctions regime against Russian elites who are supporting Putin’s war effort, which will remain in place as long as Russia threatens Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Continued action

The move follows continued action from the UK to respond to Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, including through the imposition of extensive sanctions on elites linked to the Russian state, strengthening law enforcement capabilities through the National Crime Agency’s (NCA’s) Combating Kleptocracy Cell and closing the legislative loopholes open to money laundering by criminal actors.   

These measures also follow emboldened efforts to tackle Russian illicit finance through the NCA’s Operation Destabilise, successfully disrupting two Russian money laundering networks, which themselves provided services to Russian oligarchs and helped fund Russian state espionage operations.

The NCA-led action led to 84 arrests and upwards of £20 million in illicit funds being seized. This work continues. Since the disruption, a further £1 million in cash has been seized and a further six6 arrests made.

This change builds on the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership signed in January, which commits both countries to work together to tackle the malign influence of elites linked to the Russian state.

Slamming the door shut  

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: “Border security is national security. We will use all of the tools at our disposal to protect our country against the threat from Russia. The new measures slam the door shut on the oligarchs who have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian people, while bankrolling this illegal and unjustifiable war. My message to Putin’s friends in Moscow is simple: you are not welcome in the UK.”

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the UK’s total military, economic and humanitarian support for Ukraine has amounted to £12.8 billion. The Government remains committed to the provision of £3 billion of military support per annum to put Ukraine in the strongest position possible.  

Defence Secretary John Healey recently led the 50-nation strong Ukraine Defence Contact Group for the first time and announced a further £150 million firepower package for Ukraine, including the provision of drones, tanks and air defence systems.

John Healey commented: “As we mark the third anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion, Putin is still waging a war he thought he would win in three days. This is due to the fierce resistance from the Ukrainians. Our support for them is unshakeable.”

Healey added: “I’m proud of the UK’s leadership and unity on Ukraine. Keeping the Ukrainians in their fight and as strong as possible at any negotiating table is critical not only for them, but for the security of all of us here in the UK. These new measures send a powerful message that we will do what it takes to turn the tables on Putin’s aggression.”

Deportation of foreign criminals

Foreign national offenders (FNOs) will now be deported on a much faster basis thanks to a new £5 million Government investment in prisons across England and Wales.

The money will fund the deployment of specialist front line staff in 80 jails with one clear mission – speeding up the removal of prisoners who have no right to be in the UK.

This new squad will also support the Home Office in identifying and managing those going through the immigration process, in turn ensuring that cases are progressed as quickly as possible.

FNOs make up around 12% of the total prison population and deporting them sooner will help save taxpayers’ millions of pounds, while easing the prison capacity crisis inherited by the new Government.

The move is expected to further bolster determined efforts, which have seen 2,580 foreign criminals removed since July 2024. That’s 23% more when compared to the same period in 2023.

James Timpson (Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending) said: “It cannot be right for British taxpayers to foot the bill for jailing foreign criminals who have brought misery to our communities. Under this Government, removals are up by nearly 25%. We’re now taking action to ensure this is done on a swifter footing, thereby easing pressure on overcrowded prisons and on the public purse.”

Timpson added: “This is part of our ‘Plan for Change’: fixing the broken prison system we inherited and keeping our streets safe. The investment will create 82 specialist roles to oversee removals from jails. They will be in post and fully operational by 1 April.”

His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service works with the Home Office to remove thousands of FNOs via the Early Removal Scheme (where they can be deported up to 18 months before the end of their custodial sentence) and via transferring FNOs to serve their sentences in their home country.