A former Conservative MP said he is willing to fight on the front line in Ukraine after travelling to the country to join its army.

Jack Lopresti, 55, decided to sign up for the Ukrainian armed forces in November last year after losing his seat of Filton and Bradley Stoke.

He is part of the Ukrainian International Legion, a military unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces that’s made up of foreign volunteers.

It is technically illegal for British citizens to enlist in the legion, because of the Foreign Enlistment Act of 1870, but the law has not been enforced since the Spanish Civil War.

Mr Lopresti, a former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party and parliamentary chairman of Conservative Friends of Ukraine, arrived in the country on Jan 15 and is currently based in Kyiv.

His work does not currently involve face-to-face combat, but Mr Lopresti said he would be willing to fight on the front line if that was needed.

The former veteran told The Telegraph: “I am a soldier. If I’m asked and needed to do any particular task, I will do it to the best of my ability. It would be very strange for me to serve in the Ukrainian military and not say this. I am here and I will do my best.”

He added: “I want to support the wonderful gallant Ukrainian people in their endeavour to remain a separate nation. This is for Europe, this is for freedom and if Putin won, the ramifications for the world would be catastrophic.”

He is currently working in a “bespoke position”, which uses the skills he built up as an MP to help with weapons procurement, international relations and veterans and charities.