PRESIDENT Putin’s reckless invasion of Ukraine has led to global condemnation and severe sanctions for Russia from the UK, US and the EU.

This is a fast moving situation but I think the West has finally gotten tough with this tyrant.

The Ukraine is bravely fighting and it seems, for now, that Putin’s plan is not working as he believed it would.

In Stroud, people care deeply for the plight of the Ukrainian population and organisations are arranging to send support from our generous towns and villages.

They have asked us to pay attention to what is required as it is medicines and emergency items rather than shoes, clothes and toys at this stage. I know local people will continue to be very angry that a democratic country and friend of Britain can be treated in such a way.

The Government are arranging for a safe route for Ukrainians to the UK and for 100,000 refugees. The early focus is on those with immediate family in the UK, who can come to the country without the need for a visa. The Prime Minister also announced £40 million of humanitarian aid for the country.

I welcome these steps but I have called on the Prime Minister to do more for refugees.

I raised the case of Nichola Arch in the House of Commons last week. She is a former local postmistress and one of hundreds wrongly prosecuted due to a faulty Post Office IT system called Horizon. This is one of the biggest and most serious miscarriages of justice in our history.

I told the minister Paul Scully that Nichola and her family’s lives are on hold. I explained that she lost her job; she was spat at in the street and she lost her home even though she was innocent. She is now waiting to find out how she can gain compensation after being one of the brave group who litigated against Royal Mail and won.

The minister knew of Nichola’s case and said, ‘it will not be a moment longer than is necessary to put these people out of their misery and give them compensation and justice’. I will hold him to that.