MPs call for Government to release Russia interference report

5 November 2019, 07:36

By EJ Ward

MPs are calling for a report into the threat Russia poses to Britain's democratic to be published before the General Election.

The report by the Commons Intelligence and Security Committee, who oversee the work of the UK's intelligence agencies, reportedly looks into claim Russia sought to influence the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum.

The chairman of the Committee, Dominic Grieve, said the report should be published now because it has a "bearing on electoral processes," adding "we know that the Russians have, in other countries interfered in their electoral processes."

The Guardian newspaper reported the Committee's findings are "understood to examine allegations that Russian money has flowed into British politics in general and the Conservative party in particular."

Ahead of Parliament closing down for General Election campaigning MPs will call on the new Speaker to allow an Urgent Question asking why the Government will not release the report.

The report is subject to clearance by Downing Street. A No 10 spokesman said: “There are processes reports such as this have to go through before publication, and the committee is well-informed of these.”

But, Dominic Grieve said the Prime Minister's office has had enough time to complete the process. He told Sky News "the process for getting this report cleared is finished, the last stage, the clearance by the Prime Minister is programmed for ten days, the suggestion six weeks are needed is really just astonishing."