UK government may talk tough on Russia but report highlights failure to act on Moscow aggression

Tuesday's Russia report outlines the role of Russian media and online bots in Britain’s political debate - but we knew all that. 

It describes the influence of Russian money and influence, including through London lawyers and accountants, but we knew that too. 

It highlights the fact there’s criticism of the social media companies and the laws relating to espionage - but again, that’s a familiar assessment.  

The 55-page report is a fascinating read.

But those who searched it looking to find out whether Moscow’s intelligence agencies had successfully interfered in important political events like the Brexit referendum, might have been disappointed.

Identifying that would be extremely difficult anyway.

Instead the report reaches a more damning and immediate conclusion: the government wasn’t really looking closely enough.

Did the UK fail to take the threat from Russia seriously enough?

Basically, to find a problem you need to take a look in the first place.

During a time when the threat from Islamic State and far-right terrorists has grown, British intelligence agencies have increased their focus on Russian influence.

Yet the issue is still seen as a "hot potato”, the report concludes. 

And ultimately, that is the government's fault rather that the spy agencies’, according to the committee. Last week the government talked tough on Russia after its cyber security chief warned that Moscow had tried to hack efforts by universities and pharmaceutical companies to find a Covid-19 vaccine.

Theresa May’s government spoke in similar terms following the Salisbury poisonings.

We all know the long list of Russia’s aggressions in the UK, in Crimea and elsewhere. But this week's analysis suggests the government’s actions have yet to catch up with their words.