Boris Johnson could give UK security services greater powers in light of damning Russia report

Boris Johnson and Vladimir Putin at the International Libya Conference in Germany, January 2020 (EPA)

Boris Johnson could give Britain’s security services extra powers in a bid to prevent foreign interference following a damning report on the potential threat posed by Russia.

The prime minister is understood to be considering moves to tighten counter-espionage laws in the wake of the findings of the Commons Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC).

Mr Johnson is expected to face criticism of his handling of the issue later today at the last Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) before parliament’s summer break.

The government is under increasing pressure to order an investigation into possible Russian meddling in the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Lord Ricketts, a former national security adviser, said it was a "serious failure" not to investigate Russian influence during the vote.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Even after the revelations of the massive Russian attack on the US Democratic Party, which came a month or two after the referendum, the government of the day didn't ask for a rapid assessment of whether there had been any similar effort to hack and leak documents and try to influence the referendum campaign, and I think that was a serious failure."

He also argued that the security services did not need "a lot of further powers". 

"By all means we can strengthen the powers of the intelligence agencies to fight espionage in the UK and foreign agents but I think the story of the ISC report is more about using the powers they already have and being alert and being prepared to have investigations into what's gone on rather than necessarily needing a lot of further powers."

Labour has accused ministers of a response that "on every level… does not appear to be equal to the threat" and called on the government to urgently set out how it plans to tackle the failings exposed by the report.

Ideas under consideration include a "register of foreign agents", like those in place in the US and Australia.

Under the American system, those who work for foreign governments have to register and file reports about their activities.

They can face sanctions if they fail to comply.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said work was “ongoing” on the potential new law, but conceded it would not be “the entire answer” to the problem.

He also said he rejected the idea that evidence of Russian interference in the Brexit vote “was not asked for but it was really there”.

On Sky News he said his "message to Russia" was "play by the international rule book and everybody can get on well".

In a highly critical report, the ISC accused the government of being slow to see the potential threat Russia posed to British democracy.

The committee also suggested there had been no real investigation into Russian action in the 2016 EU vote.

When asked about potential Russian meddling in the referendum MI5 provided just "six lines of text", MPs on the ISC said.

The government has rejected calls for a full investigation into whether or not Russia did attempt to influence the outcome of the Brexit vote, which led the UK to leave the EU.

The publication of the report, compiled by ISC members before last December’s general election, was published on Tuesday after months of delay.