Nigel Farage demands serious apologies from arch Remainers as he waves Russia report

Nigel Farage has called for an apology over the Russia report (Image: PA)

NIGEL FARAGE has demanded "serious apologies" after the publication of a long-awaited report into Russian interference in UK politics.

Russia Report: Impact on Brexit 'difficult to prove' says Hosie

The Brexiteer hit out after a long-awaited probe into alleged Russian interference in British democracy said it would be "difficult - if not impossible" to assess whether any such attempts had been successful. Mr Farage tweeted: “So, no evidence of Russian interference in the referendum. Some serious apologies are due.

Advertisement

"Years of lies and smears from Remain politicians and much of our media. There is no evidence of Russian involvement with http://Leave.EU or me in the referendum.

"It was all a hoax — apologies are now required." 

Former Brexit Party MEP Robert Lowe also ordered Remainers to apologise, tweeting: “Wading through Remainer tears. Some serious apologies are due @Nigel_Farage!”

The report by MPs and peers described the Kremlin's role in the vote that could have split the UK as "the first post-Soviet interference in a Western democratic election".

The 18-month investigation by the Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) noted that there had been widespread allegations that Russia sought to influence voters in the 2016 Brexit referendum but ruled it would be "difficult - if not impossible" to assess whether any such attempts had been successful. 

Advertisement

Nigel Farage posted on Twitter (Image: TWITTER )

The ISC said it did not seek to assess the "impact" of Russia's bids to influence the 2016 Brexit vote.

The report said: "There have been widespread public allegations that Russia sought to influence the 2016 referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.

"The impact of any such attempts would be difficult - if not impossible - to assess, and we have not sought to do so.

"However, it is important to establish whether a hostile state took deliberate action with the aim of influencing a UK democratic process, irrespective of whether it was successful or not."

The release of the report comes days after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab claimed it was "almost certain" that Moscow had tried to interfere in the 2019 election.

READ MORE: UK sends EU dire ultimatum - before rivals share 'poignant moment

Invalid email Invalid email

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Russa deny they meddle in the Scottish and Brexit referendum (Image: GETTY)

Brexiteers mocked Remainers for their claims over Russia meddling on Twitter.

One said: “The only interference during the referendum was the opposition remoaners spreading lies/propaganda to influence the result, which beautifully back-fired.

Another said: “Nice one Nige. Now that COVID-19 appears to be easing the Lefty Remoaners are running out of things to whine about!”

Another posted: “Brilliant but I'm sure the deranged Remoaners will say it's all a cover up.”

A Twitter user added: “The remainers just dont get it: we wanted to leave and we voted to leave.”

DON'T MISS
Russia report claims Moscow ‘tried to meddle in Scot independence vote [INFO]
Russia 'meddled' in Scottish referendum to try and help SNP's bid [CLAIM]
Russia report: What's in the Russia report? THREE key points to watch [EXPLAINER]


The Russia report reportedly found Russia did not meddle in the Brexit referendum (Image: GETTY )

The Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee report will be published later today (Image: GETTY )

Meanwhile, the investigation found that Russia attempted to influence the Scottish independence referendum.

It said the intelligence agencies and ministers should have been aware of the risk of Russian interference as a result of "credible open source commentary suggesting that Russia undertook influence campaigns in relation to the Scottish independence referendum" in 2014.

The report said: "There has been credible open source commentary suggesting that Russia undertook influence campaigns in relation to the Scottish independence referendum in 2014." 

Russia's ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin dismissed the accusations in a BBC interview.

Brexit timeline revealed (Image: EXPRESS)

He said his country had no interest in interfering in British domestic politics.

"We do not interfere at all. We do not see any point in interference because for us, whether it will be the Conservative Party or Labour's party at the head of this country, we will try to settle relations and to establish better relations than now."

Asked about the alleged attempts to steal details of coronavirus research, Mr Kelin said: "I don't believe in this story at all, there is no sense in it."

The ISC report, prepared by the committee's members in the previous Parliament, was postponed by Boris Johnson's decision to call a general election and the need to re-establish the committee's membership.

Relations between the UK and Russia have been under severe strain since the Salisbury Novichok poisoning in 2018, which left former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in hospital and led to the death of Dawn Sturgess.

NEWS

POLITICS

ROYAL

SHOWBIZ & TV

SPORT

COMMENT

FINANCE

TRAVEL

LIFE & STYLE