THE Intelligence and Security Committee has confirmed it will publish its eagerly anticipated report on Russia next week.
The committee has reconvened after a seven-month delay, with Julian Lewis named chair despite Downing Street’s efforts to see Chris Grayling installed.
The report on Russian interference in UK democracy was submitted to Boris Johnson in October, and by convention Downing Street has about 10 days to raise objections to publication.
The former chair of the ISC, Dominic Grieve, then said it was "unprecedented" when Number 10 failed to grant approval for the report's release before parliament was dissolved for the election.
READ MORE: Sacked Tory MP says Boris Johnson made ‘improper request’ over ISC vote
Now, the newly formed committee has unanimously agreed it will publish the report before Parliament rises for the summer next week.
The former Tory head of the intelligence committee Malcolm Rifkind told the Today programme earlier that it would be released in a matter of days.
He added: “We should have seen it seven months. It’s absolutely absurd. It had already been vetted by No 10 for any aspects of national security that couldn’t be published.
“Dominic Grieve … who is the author of the report has said publicly and has said to me privately there is absolutely nothing in the report that justified withholding it.”
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