Downing Street has refused to support a former Tory MP who went to fight in Ukraine.

Jack Lopresti, 55, is part of the Ukrainian International Legion, a unit of ground forces made up of foreign volunteers, after arriving in the country on Jan 15.

He made the decision to sign up after he lost his seat of Filton and Bradley Stoke in the general election last year.

Under the Foreign Enlistment Act of 1870, it is illegal for British citizens to enlist in an international legion, but the Government has not threatened its enforcement since the Spanish Civil War.

Asked if the Prime Minister supported Mr Lopresti’s decision to serve in the Ukrainian army, a Downing Street spokesman said: “Our long-standing position on this is that we advise against travel to Ukraine, except in some western regions of the country.

“Obviously, the Government is supporting Ukraine wherever we can,” the spokesman added. “We want to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position, we’re continuing to provide essential military equipment to Ukraine, and this year, we’ll provide £4.5 billion of military aid to support forces on the front line in this critical year.”