MP Mel Stride welcomed his opposite number from the German Bundestag to Westminster.

German MP Alois Rainer and his committee joined Mr Stride and members of his House of Commons Treasury Select Committee to discuss how their two countries can co-operate on further sanctions against Russia.

Mr Stride, the Central Devon MP who has been personally sanctioned by the Kremlin in retaliation for his vocal support for Ukraine, said: ‘The sanctions that the UK and our allies have imposed upon Russia since its barbaric and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine on February 24 have damaged the Russian economy and disrupted its military machine.

‘But we must look to go further where possible and explore what other economic tools we can use to turn the screw on the Russian economy and force Putin to change course.

‘Joint action with our allies is crucial and it was very useful to meet with the Bundestag Finance Committee today.’