RUSSIA'S USE of energy supplies as a political weapon should be a wake-up call to Britain and the West to deal urgently with the threat, senior Conservatives said last night.

Liam Fox, the shadow defence secretary, stepped up Tory calls for a Nato-style "energy pact'' after Gazprom, Russia's state-controlled energy giant, forced the pro-Western former Soviet republic of Georgia to accept a doubling of gas prices.

"While the West has been focused on the Middle East, we have seen the resurgence of Russian nationalism and a willingness to use natural resources as a political weapon,'' he said. "Given the nature of Russia's political leadership, this is hardly surprising. Following events in Ukraine, and now Georgia, it is high time for a wake-up call to western politicians. We have been warned.''

Georgia declared the price increase "unacceptable'' and "politically motivated'' but was forced to accept...