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Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffith has strongly supported the expulsion of Russian spies and robust action against the Kremlin.

In her first major interview following the attempted murder of double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, she spoke exclusively to the Mirror.

Ms Griffith was commenting shortly after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s Commons speech, in which he appeared to question evidence that Russia is behind the Salisbury outrage.

On the Salisbury nerve agent attack, the Welsh MP, 61, said: “As the Prime Minister has made quite clear, this was a very high-grade weapon and it obviously comes from a state.

(Image: REUTERS)

“Unfortunately, this is not the first thing we have seen done in this way by Russia and I think the context is very important.

“We know about the Alexander Litvinenko case in 2006 – an absolutely agonising death.

“Then we see this appalling incident with the attempted murder of two people, while also putting the public at risk.

“And quite clearly, because of the nature of the weapon, the message that the Prime Minister has conveyed to us is that this is an act of aggression. And that is why we are fully supporting the expulsion of 23 diplomats.”

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Ms Griffith revealed Labour’s hierarchy have been briefed by intelligence agencies and counter-terror cops over the Salisbury attack on Sunday, March 4.

She said: “Clearly, we are pointing the finger at Russia.”

Asked if Mr Corbyn had “undermined” British security assessments that the Kremlin was “highly likely” to be behind it, she said: “Looking back, perhaps it would have been easier for us if he had made it clear at the beginning of what he said, just how much we support the expulsion of the diplomats.

“It would have been easier and perhaps we would not have had the conversations we are seeing.”

A Labour spokesman stressed the party supports the expulsion of spies.

Ex-teacher Ms Griffith, who speaks six languages and became an MP in 2005, cites Russia’s overnight invasion and annexing of Crimea in 2014, and repeated cyber attacks as evidence that has led to the finger of suspicion pointing at Vladimir Putin’s country.

And she said of the Labour leader’s assertion that Britain has made mistakes with weapons of mass destruction claims before, a reference to the illegal Iraq War: “They are very different instances because in this case you have Litvinenko and the other attacks.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

“We’ve seen Russia’s cyber attacks and the annexing of Crimea, which is occupied ­territory now. There are other instances, such as the interfering with elections. We can see a pattern here of different types of activity and it’s really important we say that this cannot continue. The evidence has built up over time of different instances.”

And the Labour leadership, she confirms, has been well briefed by the experts.

“Yes, there has been appropriate briefing of our side and we have to let the investigations take their course. But I am sure they are trying to keep us as up-to- date as they possibly can.”

Ms Griffith is also keen to smash the traditional Tory claim that Labour is soft on defence and promised sweeping changes, revitalising the military if the party wins the next election.

Among her pledges are “costed pay rises” for troops, a boost in dwindling numbers and a

return to traditional recruitment which has been “disastrously” privatised.

Unfortunately, almost seven years of Tory-led cuts to defence have led to military numbers being slashed, falling retention rates and recruitment being bungled following privatisation.

Recruiting firm Capita has made terrible mistakes. In one incident it failed to collect the medical files of hundreds of recruits, who were turned away at the gates of the barracks on day one of their soldiering career. Most never came back.

(Image: Getty)

And now the Tories are rumoured to be considering slashing the Royal Marines, among further cuts.

Ms Griffith says: “The Tories have slashed £10billion off defence spending and this is now a very serious situation.

“There must be no erosion of skill in dealing with chemical, biological and nuclear-type substances. That expertise needs to be kept up to date.

“It worries me that there has been a move to really cut into our defence. Since 2015 they have tried to regain some ground but there is so much to make up.

“The audit office said recently that their equipment plan is £20billion under-funded.”

She stresses that with Britain’s armed forces being “hollowed out”, it could take years for any Labour-led regeneration.

“It is extraordinary that the Royal Marines are apparently under threat,” Ms Griffith adds. “These are aspects of defence that other people look up to us for having.

“If we get into power, we need to review the threats we face then up the services we need.” She said the use of reservists to plug gaps needs to be reviewed and urged the Government to get tough on Capita.

“I am very concerned about their contract. Capita is ­absolutely failing to meet targets

and the Government needs to get tough on them. We want armed forces personnel involved in recruitment.”