Johnson urged to set up security committee

The Prime Minister has been urged to set up a key Parliamentary Committee so a long-awaited report into alleged Russian interference in UK politics can be published.

The Petitions Committee has written to Boris Johnson to take action after 100,000 people signed a petition on the issue.

The committee of MPs said there had been ‘extensive delays’ to the appointment of the Intelligence and Security Committee, which is appointed by Number 10 and oversees the UK's intelligence community.

It has been more than six months since it has met - the longest hiatus since it was established in 1994.

Chairwoman Catherine McKinnell said she was writing ‘to put to you the views of the more than hundred thousand people who have signed this petition, calling for the Russia report to be published’. Given the ‘ongoing interest’ she has asked for a response by 13 July.