The long-awaited Russia report confirms Moscow did try to influence the Scottish independence referendum in 2014.

It says that Russia considers the UK one of its top Western intelligence targets and that Moscow’s cyber capability is a ‘matter of grave concern’ that poses an ‘immediate and urgent threat’ to Britain’s national security.

The report, from the Intelligence Select Committee (ISC), questions whether the government ‘took its eye off the ball’ on Russia and is still playing catch-up.

It says it would be ‘difficult – if not impossible – to prove’ allegations that Moscow tried to influence the 2016 Brexit referendum, but said ‘the government was slow to recognise the existence of the threat’.

It says members of the ‘Russian elite’ are ‘involved’ with ‘political organisations in the UK’ and warns several Lords’ relationships with businesses interests ‘should be carefully scrutinised… given the potential for the Russian state to exploit them’.

It states: ‘Several members of the Russian elite who are closely linked to Putin are identified as being involved with charitable and/or political organisations in the UK, having donated to political parties, with a public profile which positions them to assist Russian influence operations.

It is notable that a number of Members of the House of Lords have business
interests linked to Russia, or work directly for major Russian companies linked to the Russian state – these relationships should be carefully scrutinised, given the potential for the Russian state to exploit them.’

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