'Almost certain' Russians sought to interfere in 2019 UK election - Raab - BBC News

"Russian actors" almost certainly sought to interfere in the 2019 UK election through illicitly acquired documents, the government has said.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said any attempt to meddle in UK democracy was "completely unacceptable".

The documents - on UK-US trade discussions - emerged online and were used by Labour in the 2019 campaign.

A much-delayed report into allegations of wider Russian interference into UK democracy is due next week.

A Downing Street spokesman dismissed as "nonsense" suggestions that the timing of Mr Raab's statement was aimed at pre-empting the publication of the Russia report by the intelligence and security committee.

At the 2019 election, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the documents proved the Conservatives were planning to include the NHS in a future trade agreement - something denied by the government.

The government launched an inquiry into how the papers got into the public domain, with help from the National Cyber Security Centre.

'No evidence'

In a written statement, Mr Raab said that the documents were "illicitly acquired before the 2019 general election and disseminated online via the social media platform Reddit".

"When these gained no traction, further attempts were made to promote the illicitly acquired material online in the run up to the general election."

The foreign secretary goes on to say that there is "no evidence of a broad spectrum Russian campaign against the general election" but that "any attempt to interfere in our democratic processes is completely unacceptable".

A criminal investigation is underway about how the documents were acquired.

The forum website Reddit said the unredacted papers had been uploaded as "part of a campaign that has been reported as originating from Russia".

It suspended 61 accounts that showed a "pattern of coordination".

The leaked documents of UK-US trade negotiations became a key part of Labour's election message on the NHS.

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2020-07-16 12:56:15Z
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Brexit POLL: Blair wants 12 month delay to avoid no deal – do you agree? VOTE - Express

Tony Blair’s report has demanded Boris Johnson delay Brexit by 12 months to avoid a “disastrous no deal” because it is now “too late” to strike an agreement with Brussels. The study, commissioned by the Tony Blair Institute, says it would be a “grave mistake” for Britain not to agree a delay at the same time it faces a “deep recession” due to the coronavirus crisis.

Express.co.uk is now asking you do you agree with arch Remainer Mr Blair? Should Prime Minister Mr Johnson delay Brexit by a whole year?

The report, commissioned by ex-Labour premier Mr Blair and written by author Anton Spisak, said there is “a landing zone for a sensible compromise” between the UK and EU to agree on a deal.

It argued the “responsible” thing to do was agree on a “standstill” implementation period.

It writes: “It is only possible if both sides show a willingness to move away from principled stances and be realistic about what can be achieved by the end of this year. The alternative is a disastrous no deal.

“Such a standstill period wouldn’t be an automatic extension of the transition period, which the UK government has already rejected.

“Rather, it would be an actual implementation period – legally contained within the future treaty – allowing both sides to complete the technical negotiations, ratify the deal, and implement it, without rushing through a quick and poor agreement and risking far bigger ratification and legal problems down the line.

READ MORE: Brexit LIVE: Blair demands one year delay with MAJOR concessions to EU

The UK should agree on a “set of common objectives” with the EU to maintain an effective domestic anti-subsidy regime for state aid.

The report calls for both sides to agree on “upholding existing protections” in terms of environment and labour standards.

While it urges the UK and EU to agree on an “overarching institutional framework” for governance to “bridge the divide between the EU’s push for a single agreement and the UK’s wish for multiple separate deals”.

Mr Blair has long been an outspoken critic of Brexit since the UK voted to unshackle from the bloc in 2016.

The former Labour Prime Minister, who walked away from frontline politics more than 10 years ago, was a prominent figure of the People’s Vote campaign.

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2020-07-16 11:19:00Z
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Russia 'interference' report to be published - BBC News

A long-awaited report into alleged Russian interference in the 2017 general election and the 2016 Brexit vote is to be published next week.

The Intelligence and Security Committee voted unanimously for it to be released before Parliament's summer break.

The delay in publishing the report, which was completed last year, has led to speculation that it contains details embarrassing for the Conservatives.

But the government denies that political considerations were involved.

The report is thought to look at a wide range of Russian activity - from traditional espionage to subversion - but the greatest interest is in possible interference in the 2016 and 2017 votes.

Downing Street gave clearance for publication last autumn, but this was held up by December's general election and then a delay in setting up the committee,

The ISC, which meets behind closed doors, took evidence from independent experts and MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.

What's in the Russia report?

By Gordon Corera, security correspondent

Espionage, subversion and influence: that's what the Russia Report is all about. How far has Russia been carrying out such activities and has enough been done to stop them?

It is not just about the traditional spy-versus-spy intelligence-gathering to steal secrets, but also Russia's use of new techniques like cyber-espionage and social media campaigns to interfere in political life.

But it is also about Russian influence, especially though money, which critics argue has seeped into public life and compromised various institutions.

The information in the report came from the intelligence agencies but also from independent experts. Some of them are believed to have painted a stark picture of a long-term failure to deter Moscow, all the way back to the weak response to the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium in 2006.

How much detail is there and how damning is it? We are about to find out.

The decision by the nine-member ISC to bring out the report follows the election of Julian Lewis, a Tory MP since 1997, as its chairman on Wednesday.

He put himself forward for the role, apparently against the wishes of Downing Street, which had preferred Chris Grayling for the job.

The three Labour members and one SNP member supported Mr Lewis, who was then immediately expelled from the Conservative Parliamentary Party.

But in a statement, Mr Lewis, MP for New Forest East, said the 2013 Justice and Security Act had "explicitly removed the right of the prime minister to choose the ISC chairman and gave it to the committee members".

He added: "It was only yesterday afternoon [Thursday] that I received a text asking me to confirm that I would be voting for the prime minister's preferred candidate for the ISC chair.

"I did not reply as I considered it an improper request. At no earlier stage did I give any undertaking to vote for any particular candidate."

Mr Lewis also said the government had denied wanting to "parachute" a preferred candidate in to the chair, adding:"It is therefore strange to have the whip removed for failing to vote for the government's preferred candidate."

But House of Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg accused him of of "playing ducks and drakes with the Labour Party" and said that was why he had had the Conservative whip withdrawn.

However, Conservative MP Peter Bone said Mr Lewis was "exceptionally well-qualified" to become chairman and "would do and excellent job", while some in Downing Street had had a "huge hissy-fit".

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2020-07-16 10:35:38Z
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Black Lives Matter sculpture removed by Bristol council - Guardian News

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Black Lives Matter sculpture removed by Bristol council  Guardian NewsView Full coverage on Google News
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2020-07-16 10:03:18Z
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Russia 'interference' report to be published - BBC News

A long-awaited report into alleged Russian interference in the 2017 election and the 2016 Brexit vote is to be published next week.

The Intelligence and Security Committee voted unanimously for it to be released before Parliament's summer break.

The delay in publishing the report, completed last year, has led to speculation that it contains details embarrassing for the Conservatives.

But the government denies that political considerations were involved.

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2020-07-16 09:48:14Z
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BLM sculpture of Jen Reid that replaced toppled Edward Colston statue is removed - The Sun

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1. BLM sculpture of Jen Reid that replaced toppled Edward Colston statue is removed  The Sun
2. Jen Reid: Bristol Black Lives Matter statue removed  BBC News
3. Marc Quinn’s Bristol statue is a vainglorious stunt  Telegraph.co.uk
4. A mob of tweeting progressives is killing off the free press  Telegraph.co.uk
5. Jen Reid: Black Lives Matter statue to go from Colston plinth  BBC News
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2020-07-16 08:43:30Z
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BBC's Maitlis shuts down Ian Blackford as SNP 'stacks up grievances' with independence bid - Express

The SNP's Ian Blackford hit out at Prime Minister Boris Johnson for having a "hostile agenda" against devolution in the Commons yesterday. Mr Blackford criticised the Government's proposals to bring forward legislation for state aid laws to remain a reserved power of the Westminster Government after Brexit, despite SNP calls for it to be devolved. The BBC Newsnight host said: "You know, Ian, that a lot of people will say this is all part of a grievance accountancy, that you are stacking them up to advance your cause for independence because the more unhappy the people of Scotland feel, the more likely they are to vote for you."

Speaking on the show, Mr Blackford responded: "I can give you an assurance that is not the case.

"It is about genuine anger about the powers the Parliament has to legislate on devolved areas which has now been interefered with.

"That is not acceptable. That's not respect from Westminster.

"I understand that we would accept that there would have to be framework agreements. We will work constructively I assure you that."

READ MORE: Brexit LIVE: Sturgeon to be handed post-Brexit trade powers

Ms Mailtis added: "That is your voice. You are the voice for the SNP in Westminster. You get around the table and use your voice for this."

It comes as extra powers are being promised for Holyrood, Cardiff Bay and Stormont under the UK Government's plans for dealing with Brexit.

Measures that were previously regulated by the European Union will return to the UK at the end of the year when the transition period expires.

Responsibilities in 160 policy areas - including animal welfare, public procurement rules and environmental regulations - will now go to one or more of the devolved administrations.

The way the Government is handling the return of powers from Brussels has already provoked a row with Nicola Sturgeon's administration in Scotland after it was revealed that Whitehall will assume control of the state aid regime.

The proposed changes - set out in a white paper being published on Thursday for a four-week consultation - will see Northern Ireland receive responsibility in 157 of the 160 areas, Scotland in 111 and Wales in 70.

As this could lead to different regulatory regimes in the UK the Government has drawn up plans for the "internal market" to ensure seamless trade between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

At the heart of the plans are the principles of mutual recognition - so regulations in one part of the UK are recognised in all the other nations - and non-discrimination, providing a "level playing field" for companies across the UK.

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The plans were compared by officials to the systems governing trade between the states and territories of Australia and the cantons in Switzerland.

Officials said that without these actions a Welsh lamb producer could end up unable to sell their meat in Scotland, or Scotch Whisky producers could lose access to supply from English barley farmers.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: "Without these necessary reforms, the way we trade goods and services between the home nations could be seriously impacted, harming the way we do business within our own borders."

The UK Government highlighted the importance of the measures to jobs and livelihoods - Scottish sales of produce to the rest of the UK are worth £52.1 billion a year and account for 60 percent of exports, 50 percent of Northern Ireland's sales are to Great Britain and 75 percent of Welsh exports are to the other parts of the UK.

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2020-07-16 08:23:00Z
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