Delayed Russia report expected to be out next week

Labour MP Kevan Jones has said that the much-delayed report into Russian infiltration in the UK could be published next week now that Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee is being set up.

The Labour backbencher told MPs that there ‘was no reason why’ the document could not be published ‘before Parliament goes into recess’. The report, which was sent to Downing Street in October, was blocked by Prime Minister Boris Johnson ahead of the General Election.

With former Transport Secretary Chris Grayling expected to appointed committee chair, it will be up to the Tory-dominated committee to decide whether to finally release the report as written and cleared by the intelligence agencies and belatedly by Downing Street. Its members could also withhold the document or rewrite it.

The Conservative members put forward by Downing Street are, according to reports, Chris Grayling, John Hayes, Julian Lewis, Mark Pritchard and Theresa Villiers. The Labour MPs on the committee are set to be Kevan Jones and Dame Diana Johnson, and the SNP will have one representative - Stewart Hosie.