PM ‘more Chamberlain than Churchill’ over Ukraine, says senior Conservative MP

Boris Johnson’s response to Russian Aggression at the Ukraine border has been “more Chamberlain than Churchill” according to the chair of the House of Commons Defence Committee.

Speaking to The Independent, Tobias Ellwood argued that foreign secretary Lizz Truss’ recent trip to Moscow was “completely” designed to distract from the “Partygate” scandal. Mr Ellwood judged the PM’s trip to Poland along similar lines. 

He also said the government was playing into Putin’s hands by making him the centre of international attention.

“We have entered an era of epic change in the world and we have our heads in the sand,” he told The Independent.

Mr Ellwood, the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, is a former soldier and served in both the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence under David Cameron and Theresa May. 

“We are making a lot of noise, but there’s no strategy,” he said. “Ultimately, we are looking more like Chamberlain than Churchill and not appreciating the bigger picture”.