Slap shopping ban on Russians: Tory

The Tory leader, who on Saturday flew into the Georgian capital Tbilisi in a show of support for the beleaguered Caucasus republic, urged ministers to tighten the visa restrictions on Russian nationals visiting the UK.

"Russia's elite value their ties to Europe - their shopping and their luxury weekends. We should look at the visa regime for Russian citizens," he said in an article for The Sunday Times.

"Russian armies can't march into other countries while Russian shoppers carry on marching into Selfridges."

Mr Cameron renewed his demands for Russia to be expelled from the G8 while at the same time pressing for Georgia's application for membership of Nato to be speeded up in an attempt to deter future incursions into its territory by Moscow.

"Russia wants international recognition and respect. We must make clear that the path it has chosen leads to isolation and contempt," he said.

However, he was accused by Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey of "posturing" and offering to make commitments Britain would be unable to honour.

"David Cameron is right to criticise Russia but wrong to promise Georgia early Nato membership," Mr Davey said.

"It is simply not credible for Britain and Nato to make confetti commitments to protect every nation with the lives of our servicemen and women.

"When David Cameron matches his tough talk on expanding Nato more quickly with a pledge to double defence spending or introduce military conscription, perhaps then we could take him seriously."