#RussiaReport is released, by Int & Sec Committee - it criticises UK intelligence agencies for their lack of interest in Russian attempts to interfere in the democratic process, saying their 'extreme caution' in this was 'illogical' 1/
Criticising the apparatus of government the ISC says intelligence agencies could have prepared better before 2017 to detect & counter Russian activities aimed at influencing elections. Written evidence to ISC suggests the govt did not see or seek evidence of Russian success 2/
"no-one in government knew... because they did not want to know" says @StewartHosieSNP at launch of #RussiaReport 3/
The #RussiaReport examines whether the intelligence machine was too focussed on terrorism & took its eye off the ball on state threats, nb Russia, concluding "the Government had badly underestimated the Russian threat and the response it required" 4/
"the government here have clearly let us down" on protecting the security of elections says @KevanJonesMP of the ISC at launch of #RussiaReport 5/
"nobody wanted to take responsibility" for searching for Russian electoral interference, and agencies seemed very nervous about taking themselves to do it says @StewartHosieSNP this was a "scandal" says @KevanJonesMP at launch of #RussiaReport 6/
that should read 'tasking themselves'. @StewartHosieSNP notes that MI5 can self task and therefore is particularly unfortunate that the work was not done. The "flashing lights" were there from US says @KevanJonesMP so this was a "major failure" 7/
The #RussiaReport cautions against a return to normal in intelligence operations against Russia post-Salisbury but the ISC argues UK & allies must "push forward with greater emphasis on exposing Russian Hostile State Activity" 8/
Asked whether there should be an inquiry into whether the Brexit referendum may have been influenced by Russian interference @KevanJonesMP says "yes we do" but notes the ISC doesn't have the power to mandate it 9/
Concerning links between members of the House of Lords and Russian oligarchs, @StewartHosieSNP says there is a "lack of obvious transparency" in the Lords, in declaring members' interests 10/
In defending against cyber attack, the ISC highlights that the intelligence agencies have no clear lines of responsibility, Stewart Hosie says it a "ridiculously complex wiring diagram... isn't fit for purpose" #RussiaReport 11/
"somebody has to take lead responsibility" for efforts to protect the UK democratic process says ISC chair Julian Lewis, noting that while the agencies' reluctance to self task might be "commendable" in some ways it has resulted in an unsatisfactory situation #RussiaReport 12/
Julian Lewis closes #RussiaReport press conference saying the appointment of his committee was subject to "unprecedented delay and dislocation ... this must never happen again" ENDS
Just adding a last tweet to this thread - if you want to read the #RussiaReport for yourself, it's here docs.google.com/a/independent.…
