Keir Starmer defied a growing clamour to U-turn as he was accused of an 'insane' and 'immoral' loosening of sanctions on Russia. The Government slipped out overnight that imports of Moscow's oil refined into jet fuel and diesel in third countries will be allowed. A full ban had been announced in October, but never brought into force - and the latest package of restrictions unveiled overnight included exemptions.The move comes amid fears of surging costs at the pumps, and that shortages from the Middle East crisis could wreck summer holidays.But a similar decision by the US was recently disowned by ministers, while the EU has indicated it will not be weakening its own rules. Labour MPs joined Ukraine, the Tories and Lib Dems in voicing alarm at the decision. Russian Deputy PM Alexander Novak boasted it showed the West 'can't cope' without the country's oil. Kemi Badenoch joked that together with moves to fix prices in supermarkets it was 'like the Soviets won'. However, Sir Keir insisted sanctions were still being bolstered overall. He said the issue was over 'two targeted short-term licences to phase the new sanctions in and to protect UK consumers'. Answering an urgent question in the Common later, trade minister Chris Bryant admitted the handling of the announcement had been 'clumsy'. On the wider cost-of-living crisis, Sir Keir also declared that a 5p fuel duty increase planned to begin in September is being delayed 'for the rest of the year'. Keir Starmer is facing a growing clamour to U-turn today after an 'insane' and 'immoral' loosening of sanctions on Russia Ukraine has voiced concern at the decision by the UK