UK politics news: Government 'did not want to know' about evidence of Russian interference in Brexit vote as long-awaited report released

‘Unanswered questions’ on Brexit vote, claims Verhofstadt

Guy Verhofstadt, the chief Brexit negotiator for the European Parliament, tweeted: “Brexit was always a gift to Putin because it weakened the European Union and left Britain divided, isolated. The Russia Report shows just how many questions remain unanswered.”

Businessman and Vladimir Putin critic Bill Browder tweeted: “My initial take on Russia report: This is a strong report. The ISC recognizes the whole Russian enabler problem in London-lawyers, accountants and consultants getting rich off dirty Russians and refers to link between Russian state and organised crime.”

He added that the report made “good recommendations”, including calls to strengthen the National Crime Agency to investigate “dirty Russian money in the UK”, as well as measures to improve transparency in Russian lobbying and use “targeted Magnitsky sanctions against crooked Russian officials”.

MI5 provided only ‘six lines of text’ for inquiry

When investigating whether “pro-Brexit or anti-EU stories on RT (Russia Today) and Sputnik” or the use of social media “bots and “trolls” were evidence of Russian attempts to influence the 2016 referendum, the ISC said security services were coy about divulging information.

“In response to our request for written evidence at the outset of the inquiry, MI5 initially provided just six lines of text,” according to the report published on Tuesday.

The report added: “The brevity was also, to us, again, indicative of the extreme caution amongst the intelligence and security agencies at the thought that they might have any role in relation to the UK’s democratic processes, and particularly one as contentious as the EU referendum.

“We repeat that this attitude is illogical; this is about the protection of the process and mechanism from hostile state interference, which should fall to our intelligence and security agencies.”

Government refuses to review potential interference in 2016 referendum

In a 20-page response to the report, the government has rejected the call for an assessment of “potential” Russian activity during the Brexit referendum.

It said: “We have seen no evidence of successful interference in the EU referendum. The intelligence and security agencies produce and contribute to regular assessments of the threat posed by hostile state activity, including around potential interference in UK democratic processes.

“We keep such assessments under review and, where necessary, update them in response to new intelligence, including during democratic events such as elections and referendums.

“Where new information emerges, the government will always consider the most appropriate use of any intelligence it develops or receives, including whether it is appropriate to make this public. Given this long-standing approach, a retrospective assessment of the EU Referendum is not necessary.”

Raab quickly rejects investigation into Brexit vote

The intelligence committee’s call for an urgent investigation into “potential” Russian interference in the Brexit referendum has been dismissed by ministers within one hour.

Dominic Raab rejected the demand, claiming: “A retrospective assessment of the EU referendum is not necessary.

No 10 claims about report ‘not true’, says committee member

There was “no reason” for the delay in the publication of the Intelligence and Security Committee’s report on Russia, a committee member has said.

Labour MP Kevan Jones told reporters as the report was released that claims by the prime minister it required six weeks to get his confirmation for the report were “categorically not true”. He also said that claims by No 10 that the report needed to be further circulated for comment in Government were “not true”.

Jones said the ISC’s Russia report was sent to the PM on 17 October. He said Johnson’s confirmation for its release was received the day after the general election in December, having taken “record time”.

Fellow member said member Stewart Hosie told reporters: “There has been no assessment of Russian interference in the EU referendum and this goes back to nobody wanting to touch the issue with a 10-foot pole.

“This is in stark contrast to the US response to reported interference in the 2016 presidential election.”

'Unprecedented delay must never happen again'

The Intelligence and Security Committee has been subjected to "unprecedented delay and dislocation", its chairman Julian Lewis said.

He told journalists on Tuesday: "This really must never happen again. And the sooner normal relations are restored between this committee and the government, the better it will be for all concerned.

"That prospect has not been helped by the government refusing to tell us what was in the written ministerial statement about this Russian report which the government chose to table at the Commons at 10.30 this morning to clash with the start of this event."

Russia denies meddling in electoral processes

The Kremlin said the Russian government has never interfered in another country’s electoral processes, commenting on a report by parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee released this morning.

The report on Russian influence in politics said there was “credible” open source commentary suggesting that Russia undertook influence campaigns in relation to the Scottish independence referendum in 2014.

More reaction to Russia report

It is "outrageous that Russian interference in UK elections and referendums has never been investigated properly," says acting Lib Dem leader Ed Davey.

"It is wilfully negligent for the Govt to turn a blind eye to this, we need a proper investigation into the full role that Russian interference has played in our democracy.

Mr Davey adds that Boris Johnson "refuses a cross-party call to launch an inquiry because he is worried about what it might find. This is a green light for Russia to interfere with our democracy in future, knowing there will be no consequences."

Here's some more reaction from MPs.

Russia 'stirring up political extremism'

Russian disinformation is “fomenting political extremism” around Brexit and other divisive issues in the UK, a report has warned.

The Intelligence and Security Committee’s (ISC) long-awaited report on alleged interference in British democracy found that Russia was spreading fake news and attempting to influence political events “for a wide range of purposes”.

'We must all dine out in August', says business secretary

Alfresco dining midweek in "balmy August weather should be a must for all of us", business secretary Alok Sharma has said.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Sharma responded: "We need to get out there supporting our pubs and restaurants and the 'eat out to help out' scheme operating during August is another great incentive to support participating restaurants, cafes, pubs or other food establishments and alfresco dining midweek in balmy August weather should be a must for all of us."