‘Clear evidence of Russia meddling in UK elections’
THERE is “clear evidence” of direct Russian involvement in British elections, a Labour former minister has said.
Former Europe minister Chris Bryant, MP for the Rhondda, also warned that many believed some of the highest-level security decisions affecting the UK had now been compromised by Russian interference.
Fellow Labour former minister Ben Bradshaw has previously claimed it was “highly probable” Russia interfered in the EU referendum through cyber warfare, a claim the government says there is no evidence for.
Mr Bryant repeated these concerns as MPs considered new powers to tackle money laundering, which many have seen as a crackdown on corrupt money flowing into the UK from Russia and other countries.
He said: “There is now clear evidence of Russian direct, corrupt involvement in elections in France, in Germany, in the United States of America, and, I would argue, also in this country.
“Many believe that some of the highest-level decisions affecting security in the United Kingdom, in Germany, in France and in the United States of America are now compromised by Russian infiltration.”
Donald Trump has been dogged by allegations of links between his senior team and Russia.
Emmanuel Macron, the favourite to become the next French President, has also accused Russia and its state-owned media of using hacking and fake news to interfere with the French presidential race.
Both claims are rejected by the Kremlin.
Mr Bryant went on to criticise both British and US policy towards Russia in recent years.
He said: “My personal perception was that both David Cameron and President Obama were very reluctant to show a strong arm to Russia, because they thought by pressing the reset button, that was Obama’s view, somehow or other you would manage to get major concessions out of Putin.
“I have to say, that has simply not proved to be an effective strategy. In every single regard, Putin has simply taken those moments as a sign of weakness and proceeded to use force in greater degree.”