The former head of MI5 has backed calls for a report into alleged Russian interference in UK democracy to be published before the general election.
It comes after Number 10 signalled the report – which was compiled by parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) – had not yet been cleared.
It means it is unlikely to be released before Wednesday, when parliament dissolves ahead of the election on December 12.
Lord Evans of Weardale, who was MI5 director-general until 2013 said that ministers should be prepared to explain why they’re not ready to release it.
“In principle, I think it should be released,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“Part of the reason for having an Intelligence and Security Committee is that issues of public concern can be properly considered and the public can be informed through the publication of the reports once they have gone through the security process.
“If the government have a reason why this should not be published before the election, then I think they should make it very clear what that reason is.”
The ISC oversees the work of the agencies – MI5, MI6 and GCHQ – and in the course of its work has access to highly sensitive intelligence material.
Its reports are submitted to the government before publication to ensure no sensitive information is inadvertently made public.
“It seems to us that this report is germane because we do know – and I think it is widely accepted – that the Russians have sought to interfere in other countries’ democratic processes in the past,” he said on Saturday.
He also said the government’s checking process was normally completed within 10 working days, though government sources have insisted it usually takes six weeks.
In the House of Lords yesterday, peers also called on Boris Johnson to publish the report. Independent crossbencher Lord Anderson of Ipswich – a former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation – said the “unjustified delay” undermined the work of the ISC.
“It invites suspicion of the government and its motives,” he added.
But Lords deputy leader Lord Howe said the amount of time the report had been with the government was not unusual and insisted it was following the “standard process” before publication.