The UK is one of Russia's top Western intelligence targets, an influential UK parliamentary panel has concluded in a report released on Tuesday.
The House of Commons Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), which has oversight over the country's intelligence services, concluded in a long-awaited report on feared Russian influence in British affairs that “immediate action" is needed to assist the country's intelligence services tackle the “very capable adversary" in the form of Russia.
“It appears that Russia considers the UK one of its top Western intelligence targets… This is likely to be related to the UK's close relationship with the US, and the fact that the UK is seen as central to the Western anti-Russian lobby,” notes the 50-page report.
“The way forward lies with taking action with our allies; a continuing international consensus is needed against Russian aggressive action. The West is strongest when it acts collectively and that is the way in which we can best attach a cost to [Russian President] Putin's actions,” it adds.