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"Though ministers need not resile from previously stated views when directly asked about them, they should exercise discretion and should not take part in the public debate," he said.

But he added he did not "resile from my strongly held views" on the conflict.

“It’s always with us and gives us strength, strength to serve our country and moral messages which we do not have the right to resile from and will never do so,” said Putin.

But health officials have resiled from trumpeting an “elimination date” when the country is deemed free of the coronavirus.

And, what is more, Conservatives will be more wary than ever of seeming to resile on their promise to deliver Brexit.