The Intelligence & Security Committee or ISC has promised to release the long delayed #RussiaReport by Wednesday - so what should we expect? A thread ... 1/7
It's about the Russian threat to the UK, incl military activities close to our air & sea space, cyber, intelligence ops incl the Salisbury poisoning, as well as political interference. Given this breadth of scope, passages on Brexit or party funding may be quite brief 2/7
The open section of the #RussiaReport is thought to be about 50 pages long. There's an annexe of classified materiel that will remain secret but even the published part has had 'extensive redactions' by both the intelligence agencies & No10. We won't know who cut what 3/7
Evidence fm intelligence agencies about possible Russian interference in the 2014 Scottish #indyref 2016 Brexit, or 2017 General Election votes likely mirrors their prior public assessments that the Russians tried to influence outcomes but it can't be proven they succeeded 4/7
While the ISC received allegations from Bill Browder, Chris Steele and Ed Lucas of Russian attempts to buy influence, & corrupt UK politics, we don't know how far the committee will endorse these charges in the #RussiaReport 5/7
Given that the evidence in #RussiaReport was taken 18+ months ago, it may already feel out of date in certain respects. The new committee may announce it will conduct its own hearings on Russia 6/7
What to look out for in #RussiaReport ?
- any backing by ISC of the idea that Russian attempts to influence recent votes succeeded
- its judgements about possible corrupting effect on politics of donations + influence peddling
- new details about the Salisbury poisoning 7/7
- any backing by ISC of the idea that Russian attempts to influence recent votes succeeded
- its judgements about possible corrupting effect on politics of donations + influence peddling
- new details about the Salisbury poisoning 7/7
