APPG hosts launch of Russian interference report

On the 8th September, APPG Chair Alex Sobel MP, and APPG member Lord Wallace, joined Sergei Cristo for the launch of Mr Cristo’s report “The Russian Lesson: Building Deterrence against Foreign Political Interference”.

At this well-attended public event in the House of Commons, contributors to the report, the Rt Hon Dominic Grieve, Dr Susan Hawley, and Marina Litvinenko set out their respective views and experiences of how the Russian state actively interfered and interferes in UK politics.

The report identified four ways in which Britain failed to respond to Russian interference.

Firstly, a failure of judgement by the UK government in not recognising the threat presented by the Russian state.

Secondly, a failure of the intelligence and security services to detect, prioritise, understand and disrupt the threat.

Thirdly, a failure to deter.

And finally, a failure to regulate and enforce.

In comments after the speakers’ presentations, Lord Wallace and others expressed the hope that the Representation of the People Bill and the democracy task and finish group may still be able to strengthen the UK’s defences against ongoing threats from the Russian government.