ESSEX MPs have been banned from entering Russia for the alleged “whipping up of Russophobic hysteria”.

Almost 300 UK MPs have been sanctioned as Moscow announced retaliatory sanctions amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian foreign ministry said yesterday it was taking action against 287 members of the House of Commons in response to sanctions against Russian politicians.

Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov’s department announced the move in response to the UK sanctioning 386 members of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, last month.

Among north Essex MPs sanctioned by the Kremlin is Colchester MP Will Quince and Harwich and North Essex MP Sir Bernard Jenkin.

Witham MP and Home Secretary Priti Patel had already been banned by Russia while Clacton MP Giles Watling escaped any form of sanction.

Sanctioned - Sir Bernard Jenkin

Sanctioned - Sir Bernard Jenkin

Sir Bernard, who had long been wary of impending conflict between Ukraine and Russia, previously stated Russian President Vladimir Putin deserves punishment.

He said: “President Putin has already achieved so much of what he has set out to achieve. He has already committed the crimes that deserve the most punishment from the free world.”

Yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the MPs “should regard it as a badge of honour”, and multiple politicians welcomed being included on the list in the Commons.

A translation of a statement reported by state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti said the sanctions were being applied “on the basis of reciprocity”.

“These persons, who are now banned from entering the Russian federation, took the most active part in the establishment of anti-Russian sanctions instruments in London [and] contribute to the groundless whipping up of Russophobic hysteria in the UK,” it read.

“The hostile rhetoric and far-fetched accusations coming from the lips of British parliamentarians not only condone the hostile course of London, aimed at demonising our country and its international isolation, but are also used by opponents of a mutually respectful dialogue with Russia to undermine the foundation of bilateral co-operation.”