Theresa May is facing mounting pressure to take decisive action against whoever was behind the nerve agent attack on an ex-Russian spy and his daughter....
Former national security advisor Lord Ricketts said "firm action" was needed once responsibility was confirmed.
Foreign affairs committee chairman Tom Tugendhat said evidence was mounting against Russia, which has denied involvement in the Salisbury attack.
Sergei and Yulia Skripal remain in a critical but stable condition.
The 66-year-old retired Russian military intelligence officer and his daughter, 33, were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury on 4 March.
Mr Skripal was convicted by the Russian government of passing secrets to MI6 in 2004, but given refuge in the UK in 2010 as part of a "spy swap".
The prime minister is chairing a National Security Council meeting to discuss the latest intelligence with ministers and intelligence and military chiefs.
"And, frankly, I would be surprised if she (Theresa May) did not point the finger at the Kremlin."
He added: "We need to be absolutely ready to make sure that we stand up to this because if we don't the danger is that this gets worse and spreads further."
"The really difficult judgement is who authorised it and why - was it some sort of rogue element or was it centrally authorised, I suppose that does have some impact on the kind of reactions that we need," he said.
The government should take "pretty firm action", he said, once a conclusion on responsibility was reached.
"We need to make the guys in the Kremlin sit up and take notice," he said, suggesting that action could include the expulsion of diplomats.
Dmitry Peskov, press secretary to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said: "The citizen of Russia which you mentioned (Skripal) as you know worked for one of the intelligence services of Great Britain.
"This incident happened on British soil and it doesn't have anything to do with the Russian Federation whatsoever, let alone the president."
On Sunday, up to 500 Salisbury pub-goers and diners were told to wash their possessions as a precaution.
Trace amounts of the substance used to poison the pair were found on and around a table where they had eaten in Zizzi on 4 March. The table has since been destroyed.
As well as in Zizzi's restaurant, traces of the nerve agent were also found at the Mill pub in Salisbury.
Prof Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, said the risk of harm to fellow diners was "low".
The advice to wash possessions applies to anyone in either venue between 13:30 GMT on Sunday 4 March to closing time on Monday. People have been advised:
- Clothes should be washed, ideally in a washing machine
- Clothes which cannot be washed, for example if they need dry cleaning, should be double bagged in plastic until further notice
- Mobile phones, handbags and other electronic items should be wiped with baby wipes, which should be bagged in plastic and put in the bin
- Other items such as jewellery and glasses should be washed with warm water and detergent
- Hands should be washed after the handling of any items suspected of being contaminated
Dame Sally said the advice was a "belt and braces" measure, adding: "I am confident none of these customers or staff will have suffered harm."
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