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| Boris Johnson faces calls to publish Russian interference report | Boris Johnson faces calls to publish Russian interference report |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson is facing renewed calls to release a report assessing the threat posed by Russia to the UK's democratic processes. | Boris Johnson is facing renewed calls to release a report assessing the threat posed by Russia to the UK's democratic processes. |
| Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said its release was vital ahead of the general election because it contained information relevant to voters. | Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said its release was vital ahead of the general election because it contained information relevant to voters. |
| Mr Grieve, chair of Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee, has accused the PM of sitting on the report ahead of the December 12 poll. | Mr Grieve, chair of Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee, has accused the PM of sitting on the report ahead of the December 12 poll. |
| The report was finalised in March 2019. | The report was finalised in March 2019. |
| The process for clearing it on security grounds was completed in the middle of October, but it has since been with Downing Street for final release. | The process for clearing it on security grounds was completed in the middle of October, but it has since been with Downing Street for final release. |
| Mr Grieve - who sits as an independent MP for Beaconsfield after losing the Conservative whip - said the usual 10 day wait for release has passed, and if it is not published before Parliament dissolves on Tuesday it will not be published at all. | Mr Grieve - who sits as an independent MP for Beaconsfield after losing the Conservative whip - said the usual 10 day wait for release has passed, and if it is not published before Parliament dissolves on Tuesday it will not be published at all. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I cannot think of a reason why he should wish to prevent this report being published. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I cannot think of a reason why he should wish to prevent this report being published. |
| "It's very demoralising for us when we find we put in months of work and at the end of it we're not getting an adequate response." | "It's very demoralising for us when we find we put in months of work and at the end of it we're not getting an adequate response." |
| Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom said she was not aware of any hold-up. Speaking on the Today programme, she added: "I don't think there's anything unusual about this. | Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom said she was not aware of any hold-up. Speaking on the Today programme, she added: "I don't think there's anything unusual about this. |
| "Many select committee reports are produced and the government has to respond properly, it cannot respond in haste." | "Many select committee reports are produced and the government has to respond properly, it cannot respond in haste." |
| Asked if there is useful information in the report for voters, Mr Grieve said: "Yes I think there is. It's about information. I want to emphasise I'm not about to explain what's in the report, I'm not allowed to and I wouldn't dream of doing so. | Asked if there is useful information in the report for voters, Mr Grieve said: "Yes I think there is. It's about information. I want to emphasise I'm not about to explain what's in the report, I'm not allowed to and I wouldn't dream of doing so. |
| "But the report is informative and people are entitled to information and it seems to us that this report is germane because we do know and I think it is widely accepted that the Russians have sought to interfere in other countries democratic processes in the past." | "But the report is informative and people are entitled to information and it seems to us that this report is germane because we do know and I think it is widely accepted that the Russians have sought to interfere in other countries democratic processes in the past." |
| Analysis | |
| By BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera | |
| Extensive evidence has been unearthed of Russian interference in US politics thanks to investigations like the Mueller inquiry, but less has emerged when it comes to UK elections, including the Brexit referendum. | |
| And that is one reason why this report, simply entitled Russia has been so anticipated. | |
| How much evidence is there? It may be less than some hope but more than others expect. | |
| The committee's investigation is set against the wider challenge posed by Russian espionage and subversion directed against the West - which can range from cyber-hacking through social media activity to covert influence through individuals. | |
| This could potentially mean it treads on sensitive areas politically, but those who want to see the report released believe it is vital for the public to have an informed understanding of what Moscow and its agents are really up to as the UK heads to the polls. | |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn echoed Mr Grieve's call for the publication of the report, asking what the government "have got to hide". | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn echoed Mr Grieve's call for the publication of the report, asking what the government "have got to hide". |
| "Yes it should be released," he told reporters on Saturday. | |
| "And I suspect that the reason it hasn't been published is because they're going to delay it past the dissolution of Parliament on Tuesday and then they can hide it away until some point in the future. | "And I suspect that the reason it hasn't been published is because they're going to delay it past the dissolution of Parliament on Tuesday and then they can hide it away until some point in the future. |
| "If a report has been called for and written, and it should be in the public domain, then what have they got to hide?" | "If a report has been called for and written, and it should be in the public domain, then what have they got to hide?" |