The Foreign Affairs Committee has heavily criticised the UK’s position on post-Brexit sanctions. It says Brexit will bring about a “seismic shift” in how the government applies its sanctions policies but says there is little evidence of high-level thought about the future.
The Committee says FCO needs to take responsibility for keeping the UK safe, including from money laundering, instead of saying it is “not quite” its job.
The Committee makes further specific recommendations, including that:
- the Government should appoint a senior responsible officer for sanctions policy across government departments, accountable to the National Security Council;
- FCO should publish its position on Magnitsky sanctions before the end of June 2019; and
- as already recommended by the Treasury Select Committee, the Government should complete and publish a review of OFSI before the end of the year.