There is a time to speak measured statements opposing government decisions in favour of displaying sensible views of the Labour Party.

This is not one of those occasions. It would not have been shrewd for Theresa May to have sought a parliamentary vote. There is more than sufficient evidence of the crass behaviour by the Russians, either directly in respect of the Skripals or indirectly just by supporting the monster Assad.

And, taking note of the extraordinarily, even surprisingly, naive comments both about Yulia Skripal’s alleged abduction and about Syria’s chemical weapons.