By Ben Kerrigan
Russia tried to influence the Uk elections and the EU referendum of 2016, according ton a report yet to be released because of vetting procedures.
The report by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee explicitly alleges espionage, subversion and interference in elections and contains evidence from UK intelligence services such as GCHQ, MI5 and MI6 concerning covert Russian attempts to influence the outcome of the 2016 EU referendum and 2017 general election.
The report which was completed in March was sent to No 10 on 17 October. The issue was raised by former presidential candidate, Hilary Clinton during a book tour in the Uk where she slammed the British government for failing to release the report, describing it as shameful and inexplicable.
It is “inexplicable and shameful” that the UK government has not yet published a report on alleged Russian interference in British politics, Hillary Clinton has told the BBC.
The report will not be released until after the 12 December election. However, Clinton said:
“Every person who votes in this country deserves to see that report before your election happens,” the former US presidential candidate said.
The report was finalised in March and referred to No 10 on 17 October but approval for its publication has yet to be given – and is not due to happen until after polling day. MPs on the intelligence committee have been highly critical of that outcome, but the government has said the timing is not unusual. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme while in the UK on a book tour, Mrs Clinton said she was “dumbfounded” that the government would not release the report.
“That should be an absolute condition,” she said.
“Because there is no doubt – we know it in our country, we have seen it in Europe, we have seen it here – that Russia in particular is determined to try to shape the politics of western democracies.
“Not to our benefit, but to theirs.”
She also told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Emma Barnett: “I find it inexplicable that your government will not release a government report about Russian influence. Inexplicable and shameful.”
“The standard process for reports like this is that they have to go through an appropriate period of vetting, due to the sensitive nature of the information they contain,” he said.
He said the report was received at the end of October and the vetting process could take several weeks.
“It’s right that [reports like this are] properly processed to ensure our security and I think those processes are being followed,” he added.