22Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM must announce a full investigation into potential Russian interference of our democracy

Parliamentary news
Responding to Intelligence and Security Committee’s long-delayed Russia report which has concluded the Government failed to prepare or conduct any proper assessment of Russian interference with the 2016 Brexit referendum, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: “This watershed report confirms an alarming truth: this Conservative Government has failed to take the Russian threat to our democracy seriously, even despite the clear evidence they interfered to help Donald Trump to the presidency in 2016. “The first duty of government is to protect its citizens. However, the Conservatives have been found asleep at their post with their failure to conduct an assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum. “The protection of our democracy should never come second to the Tories covering their embarrassing connections to Russian oligarchs before an…
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16Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

PM running scared of real scrutiny from Intelligence Committee

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that Julian Lewis MP has had the Conservative Party Whip withdrawn following his election to the position of chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael said: “Chris Grayling was never an obvious choice for a committee dealing with intelligence and security - he is notorious for not having much of either. "Having failed to install a loyalist to the post, the Prime Minister is now running scared of real scrutiny. Removing the whip from Julian Lewis is an overreaction, most likely from Dominic Cummings rather than the Chief Whip. "The Prime Minister must stop interfering and let the Committee do its job. This starts with publishing the Russia Report immediately and allowing MPs to debate it before the Summer Recess. MPs…
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09Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Publishing Russia report top of the list for intelligence committee

Parliamentary news
Responding to confirmation that the House of Commons will be asked to approve membership of the intelligence and security committee on Monday, Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse said: “With the threat of coronavirus, people are rightly worried and need a Government they can trust. Boris Johnson has failed to do that with his conspicuous delay to reconvening the intelligence committee. “After months of pressure from Liberal Democrats and others, I am glad the committee is due to be restored. However, it should never have needed this fight. The Prime Minister has a lot to do to claw back public confidence. “At the top of the list for the intelligence committee must be forcing the Government to publish the report into Russian interference of our democracy, and before the summer recess…
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