Councils have been handed powers to terminate commercial relationships with firms that have ‘strong links’ to Vladimir Putin’s ‘murderous regime’.
Secondary legislation that was yesterday laid in Parliament will also empower local authorities to ‘decline to consider new procurement bids from entities which are constituted or organised under the law of Russia or Belarus’.
In a letter to all council leaders in England, local government secretary Michael Gove wrote: ‘As we have done since the invasion of Ukraine, this is another area in which the United Kingdom - both in central and local government - can demonstrate unified action against the Russian and Belarusian regimes, by resisting not solely existing but also potential future ties with companies which are backed by these states.’
A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson added: ‘Businesses with links to Putin’s murderous regime should not benefit from taxpayers’ money.
‘These measures will allow councils to terminate existing contracts – ensuring public money does not fund these organisations or Putin’s barbaric war machine.’
