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Intelligence Committee's brutal swipe at Boris Johnson for ignoring Russian cash fears
The Committee savaged the Prime Minister for ignoring their repeated calls to ensure the UK is 'no longer a safe haven for the oligarchy and their enablers'
...
The Committee sent the Prime Minister a copy of the Russia report along with a detailed classified annex more than two years ago highlighting the need to disrupt "illicit financial activity".
...
At the time, the committee said the Government was "slow to recognise the existence of the threat" of Russian meddling and influence.
...
"As the Intelligence and Security Committee made very clear in its 'Russia' report, the UK has been welcoming Russian money for many years with few questions - if any - being asked about the provenance of this considerable wealth.
"When we sent our report, together with a detailed classified annex, to the Prime Minister over two years ago, we highlighted then that there was an urgent need for the UK Government to disrupt this illicit financial activity, and questioned the efficacy of the measures which were in place.
"It is hoped now that this new legislation is at least the first step toward giving the authorities - and in particular the National Crime Agency which leads this effort - the necessary clout and greater powers to ensure the UK is no longer a safe haven for the oligarchy and their enablers."
...
It says the scheme allowed a route for dirty money to be "recycled" in "what has been referred to as the London 'laundromat'.
And it's not just money that was laundered.
It says the money was invested in building influence across the UK establishment - including "PR firms, charities, political interests, academia and cultural institutions" - all of whom were "willing beneficiaries of Russian money."
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-intelligence-committees-brutal-swipe-26475989
...
The Committee sent the Prime Minister a copy of the Russia report along with a detailed classified annex more than two years ago highlighting the need to disrupt "illicit financial activity".
...
At the time, the committee said the Government was "slow to recognise the existence of the threat" of Russian meddling and influence.
...
"As the Intelligence and Security Committee made very clear in its 'Russia' report, the UK has been welcoming Russian money for many years with few questions - if any - being asked about the provenance of this considerable wealth.
"When we sent our report, together with a detailed classified annex, to the Prime Minister over two years ago, we highlighted then that there was an urgent need for the UK Government to disrupt this illicit financial activity, and questioned the efficacy of the measures which were in place.
"It is hoped now that this new legislation is at least the first step toward giving the authorities - and in particular the National Crime Agency which leads this effort - the necessary clout and greater powers to ensure the UK is no longer a safe haven for the oligarchy and their enablers."
...
It says the scheme allowed a route for dirty money to be "recycled" in "what has been referred to as the London 'laundromat'.
And it's not just money that was laundered.
It says the money was invested in building influence across the UK establishment - including "PR firms, charities, political interests, academia and cultural institutions" - all of whom were "willing beneficiaries of Russian money."
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-intelligence-committees-brutal-swipe-26475989
I can't be the only person who's incandescent every time I see Johnson on TV braying about how Russia and these horrible oligarchs have to be hemmed in, knowing that he's partied, accepted favours from, and been in league with a number of them for years, and quite likely still is, as goodness knows what kompromat they have on him.
Now the shit's hit the fan in spectacular fashion, he can't be allowed to wriggle out of this corrupt mess he's been party to for far too long.
He's already sold the country down the river and indirectly and directly consigned too many to misery and death. When will enough be enough?