Russian spy attack: Incontrovertible evidence needed on Russia - Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn wants to see "incontrovertible evidence" before blaming Russia for the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Salisbury.

The Labour leader said it was "clear" the nerve agent used was "very similar" to those made in Russia - and Moscow should be challenged about this - but "absolute" proof was still needed.

He also said the international chemical weapons watchdog needed greater powers.

Boris Johnson said to deny Russian involvement was "quite extraordinary".

Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found slumped on a park bench in Salisbury on 4 March.

• What happened to Sergei and Yulia Skripal?

• Poisoned ex-spy's daughter leaves hospital

• Who is Sergei Skripal?

The government says they were exposed to a military-grade nerve agent belonging to the Novichok group, and accuses Russia of being behind the poisoning. Russia denies any involvement.

On Sunday, the Bishop of Salisbury called for a deeper and lasting solution to the diplomatic fallout between the UK and Russia, during a service of cleansing in the city centre.

'Appalled and alarmed'

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has said it agrees with the UK's findings on the identity of the nerve agent.

The UK's national security adviser has since said that Russian intelligence agencies targeted Ms Skripal's emails as early as 2013, and that Moscow trained "special units" to use nerve agents.

In a letter to Nato, Sir Mark Sedwill also accused Russia of testing assassination methods with chemical weapons, including using nerve agents smeared on to door handles.

When asked on the Andrew Marr Show what it would take for Mr Corbyn to agree that the Russian state had committed the attack, he said: "I want to see incontrovertible evidence of it.

"I am appalled and alarmed at the idea that anyone would use this nerve agent and clearly it was an attempt to murder the Skripals on British soil.

"Sadly it's not the [OPCW's] job to identify who made it or necessarily where it was made. I think we do need to strengthen the role of the OPCW in the future."

When asked whether he agreed with Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell that the poisoning was a state-sponsored assassination attempt, Mr Corbyn said: "If we're going to make a very clear assertion like that we've got to have the absolute evidence to do it."

Mr Johnson, also speaking to Andrew Marr, said: "To continue to deny the likelihood of Russian involvement, of a state-sponsored assassination attempt, I think is quite extraordinary."

He added that it was a "blindness to reality that I find very perplexing, a defiant refusal to accept the Kremlin was responsible for this".

Sergei Skripal remains in hospital but his daughter Yulia has been discharged

The Skripals are thought by police to have come into contact with the nerve agent on the front door handle of their home in Wiltshire.

The Skripals and Det Sgt Nick Bailey - who was exposed to the Novichok when he was tending to the Skripals - were all treated at Salisbury District Hospital.

The police officer and Ms Skripal, 33, have been discharged. Mr Skripal is "still seriously ill" but his condition is said to be improving.

Areas of the city were cordoned off as special investigators collected samples to test for the nerve agent.

Blessing the city

On Sunday, the Bishop of Salisbury hosted a "service of cleansing and celebration" to symbolically reclaim the city for the common good.

The Right Rev Nicholas Holtam said: "It's a service in which we want to thank the community that have really carried Salisbury through this.

"For some it's had an impact in a whole variety of ways, it's had an impact on business, it's had an impact on people's mental health."

Following the service, clergy blessed the city, near the spot where the Skripals were found.