Boris Johnson has said that he decided “ages ago” not to release a parliamentary report into alleged Russian interference in British politics.
But the prime minister was loudly barracked by members of the audience at a BBC Question Time special as he defended his decision not to make the report public before the general election.
One audience member repeatedly shouted “It’s not true” as Mr Johnson claimed that it was not possible to publish the Intelligence and Security Committee report.
In an apparent attempt to argue that his critics on the issue were conspiracy theorists, the PM said: “This is complete Bermuda Triangle stuff”.
ISC chairman Dominic Grieve, who was expelled from the Conservatives by Mr Johnson over his opposition to a no-deal Brexit, has repeatedly said that there is no justification for the PM to delay the report, which is understood to have been cleared by security services for release.
Reports suggest that the investigation looked into alleged links between wealthy Russian nationals and the Conservative party and claims of interference in the 2016 EU referendum.
Mr Johnson said: “There is absolutely no evidence at all to show any influence into any British electoral event.
“And the reason I won't (publish) – or at least the reason I decided not to ages ago – is that I see no reason to interfere with the normal timetable just because there is an election going on.”
His questioner retorted: “That is not true. Dominic Grieve said it could have been released on 28 October.”
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