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Operation Palamino{{Use British English|date=January 2019}}
{{Short description|UK Parliament committee overseeing intelligence matters}}
{{Short description|UK Parliament committee overseeing intelligence matters}}
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[https://Cashapp.com/$Snowmann420L]{{Use dmy dates|date=may2026}}[https://Cashapp.com/$Snowmann420L JeremyWayneSherbert982]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.suntrust-bank.club/cosm.|access-date=2021-08-08|website=www.suntrust-bank.club}}</ref>
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| website = {{url|http://isc.independent.gov.uk}}
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The '''Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament''' ('''ISC''') is a [[statutory committee]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] appointed to oversee the work of the [[UK intelligence community]].<ref name="ISC">{{cite web|url=http://isc.independent.gov.uk/|title=The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament|website=Isc.independent.gov.uk|access-date=5 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/18/pdfs/ukpga_20130018_en.pdf|title=Justice and Security Act 2013|website=Legislation.gov.uk|access-date=5 November 2017}}</ref>
The '''Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament''' ('''ISC''') is a statutory [[joint committee of the Parliament of the United Kingdom]], appointed to oversee the work of the [[UK intelligence community]].<ref name="ISC">{{cite web|url=http://isc.independent.gov.uk/|title=The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament|website=Isc.independent.gov.uk|access-date=5 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/18/pdfs/ukpga_20130018_en.pdf|title=Justice and Security Act 2013|website=Legislation.gov.uk|access-date=5 November 2017}}</ref>


The Committee was established in 1994<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/where-is-the-intelligence-and-security-committee-and-why-does-its-absence |title=Where is the Intelligence and Security Committee and why does its absence matter? |publisher=HansardSociety.org |quote=At nearly six months, the time taken to appoint the ISC on this occasion has now exceeded that taken to appoint the Committee after every previous general election since the Committee was established in 1994. |date=9 June 2020 |access-date=25 October 2020}}</ref> by the [[Intelligence Services Act 1994]], and its powers were reinforced by the [[Justice and Security Act 2013]].<ref name="ISC"/>
The committee was established in 1994<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/where-is-the-intelligence-and-security-committee-and-why-does-its-absence |title=Where is the Intelligence and Security Committee and why does its absence matter? |publisher=HansardSociety.org |quote=At nearly six months, the time taken to appoint the ISC on this occasion has now exceeded that taken to appoint the committee after every previous general election since the committee was established in 1994. |date=9 June 2020 |access-date=25 October 2020}}</ref> by the [[Intelligence Services Act 1994]], and its powers were reinforced by the [[Justice and Security Act 2013]].<ref name="ISC"/>


==Work of the committee==
==Work of the committee==
The Committee's statutory remit (under the [[Justice and Security Act 2013]]) is to examine the expenditure, administration, policy and operations of the security and intelligence Agencies; the [[Secret Intelligence Service]] (MI6), the [[MI5|Security Service]] (MI5) and [[Government Communications Headquarters]] (GCHQ) and [[Defence Intelligence Staff|Defence Intelligence]] in the Ministry of Defence, the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism (OSCT) in the Home Office and the intelligence-related work of the Cabinet Office including the Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO) and the National Security Secretariat (NSS).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://b1cba9b3-a-5e6631fd-s-sites.googlegroups.com/a/independent.gov.uk/isc/files/2013-2014_ISC_AR.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7cp-ENRlCceWkNPK4lzaWm2yANWSlFueQlazuzdKv8qWrazWVy9HpMuqLXmMg1hTpQ73Nxapt0UaRNPavFWQLbrJoFGe0wDyd52R9GXOkCDJ_25_EZQHv3QpeZ3T8y9ovY-cQujw5UWy7EZGxD6upaDL-d0OtZ-3hOe44EmzH586WmkkF8EWDABt7v7qEyJoBNt7vjQsIBdxOrbwpyFUa1zLsyeQKA7raTVL17-C0ZBp2xQmr2A%3D&attredirects=0|title=Annex A: Memorandum of Understanding, Intelligence and Security Committee Annual Report 2013 - 2014|date=25 November 2014}}</ref>
The committee's statutory remit (under the [[Justice and Security Act 2013]]) is to examine the expenditure, administration, policy and operations of the security and intelligence Agencies; the [[Secret Intelligence Service]] (MI6), the [[MI5|Security Service]] (MI5) and [[Government Communications Headquarters]] (GCHQ) and [[Defence Intelligence Staff|Defence Intelligence]] in the Ministry of Defence, the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism (OSCT) in the Home Office and the intelligence-related work of the Cabinet Office including the Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO) and the National Security Secretariat (NSS).<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://b1cba9b3-a-5e6631fd-s-sites.googlegroups.com/a/independent.gov.uk/isc/files/2013-2014_ISC_AR.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7cp-ENRlCceWkNPK4lzaWm2yANWSlFueQlazuzdKv8qWrazWVy9HpMuqLXmMg1hTpQ73Nxapt0UaRNPavFWQLbrJoFGe0wDyd52R9GXOkCDJ_25_EZQHv3QpeZ3T8y9ovY-cQujw5UWy7EZGxD6upaDL-d0OtZ-3hOe44EmzH586WmkkF8EWDABt7v7qEyJoBNt7vjQsIBdxOrbwpyFUa1zLsyeQKA7raTVL17-C0ZBp2xQmr2A%3D&attredirects=0|title=Annex A: Memorandum of Understanding, Intelligence and Security Committee Annual Report 2013 – 2014|date=25 November 2014}}</ref>


The members of the committee are notified under the [[Official Secrets Act 1989]] and are given access to highly classified material in carrying out their duties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN02178/SN02178.pdf|title=House of Commons Library Briefing Paper: The Intelligence and Security Committee|date=5 November 2019}}</ref> The committee holds evidence sessions with Government Ministers and senior officials (for example, the heads of the security and intelligence Agencies), expert witnesses such as academics and journalists, and other interested parties. It also considers written evidence from the intelligence and security Agencies and relevant government departments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://isc.independent.gov.uk/|title=Website of the Intelligence and Security Committee}}</ref>
The members of the committee are notified under the [[Official Secrets Act 1989]] and are given access to highly classified material in carrying out their duties.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN02178/SN02178.pdf|title=House of Commons Library Briefing Paper: The Intelligence and Security Committee|date=5 November 2019}}</ref> The committee holds evidence sessions with government ministers and senior officials (for example, the heads of the security and intelligence agencies), expert witnesses such as academics and journalists, and other interested parties. It also considers written evidence from the intelligence and security agencies and relevant government departments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://isc.independent.gov.uk/|title=Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament}}</ref>


The work of the committee is invariably conducted in secret. The Committee produces an annual report which focuses on administration and finance, and special reports on operational or policy issues which it considers are of particular concern.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/18/contents/enacted|title=The Justice and Security Act 2013|date=25 April 2013}}</ref> The Government is required to respond to the Committee's reports within 60 days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://b1cba9b3-a-5e6631fd-s-sites.googlegroups.com/a/independent.gov.uk/isc/files/2013-2014_ISC_AR.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7cp-ENRlCceWkNPK4lzaWm2yANWSlFueQlazuzdKv8qWrazWVy9HpMuqLXmMg1hTpQ73Nxapt0UaRNPavFWQLbrJoFGe0wDyd52R9GXOkCDJ_25_EZQHv3QpeZ3T8y9ovY-cQujw5UWy7EZGxD6upaDL-d0OtZ-3hOe44EmzH586WmkkF8EWDABt7v7qEyJoBNt7vjQsIBdxOrbwpyFUa1zLsyeQKA7raTVL17-C0ZBp2xQmr2A%3D&attredirects=0|title=Annex A: Memorandum of Understanding, Intelligence and Security Committee Annual Report 2013 - 2014|date=25 November 2014}}</ref> The Committee published five reports in 2018 - a report examining the 2017 UK terror attacks, two reports on detainee mistreatment and rendition, a report on diversity and inclusion in the UK intelligence community and an Annual Report.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://isc.independent.gov.uk/committee-reports|title=ISC Committee Publications}}</ref> In 2019 the Committee published a statement on 5G suppliers<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://b1cba9b3-a-5e6631fd-s-sites.googlegroups.com/a/independent.gov.uk/isc/files/20190719_ISC_Statement_5GSuppliers_Web.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7coMq7MCreLcB0MSkYxZOymQOAR7MzzlwCh9txTe3sg_WtG5GKm0JsQoBAF4nkpmpKqZt2rmmMJKjFFgmFSBPtSAgWHkeq8fV-1c4Iz9HffQlqXncRJGObGJOy01njZHK1Xuf3o3HmKEkZmn4U_toJaric5gugYHtup-ypiuWNLk7QmVPLIs_ha-rWUSsmNIcg4H-Zi3MpyMMCXOFtYFgxG9O2aZC97r6TLxJ5I0R3C7uwwCFkLiqDj8yyL5y7NmP3wHzSJ2&attredirects=0|title=ISC Statement on 5G suppliers|date=19 July 2019}}</ref> and was due to publish a report on Russia but was unable to do so because the Prime Minister did not confirm that the report could be published before Parliament dissolved for the 2019 General Election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN02178/SN02178.pdf|title=House of Commons Library Briefing Paper: The Intelligence and Security Committee|date=5 November 2019}}</ref>
The work of the committee is invariably conducted in secret. The committee produces an annual report which focuses on administration and finance, and special reports on operational or policy issues which it considers are of particular concern.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/18/contents/enacted|title=The Justice and Security Act 2013|date=25 April 2013}}</ref> The government is required to respond to the committee's reports within 60 days.<ref name="auto1"/> The committee published five reports in 2018 – a report examining the 2017 UK terror attacks, two reports on detainee mistreatment and rendition, a report on diversity and inclusion in the UK intelligence community and an annual report.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://isc.independent.gov.uk/committee-reports|title=ISC Committee Publications|access-date=31 January 2020|archive-date=22 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122113038/http://isc.independent.gov.uk/committee-reports|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2019 the committee published a statement on 5G suppliers<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://b1cba9b3-a-5e6631fd-s-sites.googlegroups.com/a/independent.gov.uk/isc/files/20190719_ISC_Statement_5GSuppliers_Web.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7coMq7MCreLcB0MSkYxZOymQOAR7MzzlwCh9txTe3sg_WtG5GKm0JsQoBAF4nkpmpKqZt2rmmMJKjFFgmFSBPtSAgWHkeq8fV-1c4Iz9HffQlqXncRJGObGJOy01njZHK1Xuf3o3HmKEkZmn4U_toJaric5gugYHtup-ypiuWNLk7QmVPLIs_ha-rWUSsmNIcg4H-Zi3MpyMMCXOFtYFgxG9O2aZC97r6TLxJ5I0R3C7uwwCFkLiqDj8yyL5y7NmP3wHzSJ2&attredirects=0|title=ISC Statement on 5G suppliers|date=19 July 2019}}</ref> and was due to publish a report on Russia but was unable to do so because the prime minister did not confirm that the report could be published before Parliament dissolved for the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]].<ref name="auto"/>


Unlike a Select Committee, the ISC shares its reports with the Government and Agencies it oversees in advance of publication. This is to ensure that no details which might damage national security are published. Each report is subject to four stages: requests for factual amendments; requests for redactions; contested requests for redactions (where the Committee is unwilling to accept an initial redaction request, representatives of the Agencies must appear to argue the case); and confirmation from the Prime Minister that the document no longer contains any details damaging to national security. By convention, the Prime Minister has 10 working days in which to examine the report and confirm that there are no national security issues outstanding. Once that certification is received the Committee makes administrative arrangement to lay the Report before Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://isc.independent.gov.uk/how-the-committee-works|title=How the Committee works (ISC website)}}</ref>
Unlike a [[Select committee (United Kingdom)|select committee]], the ISC shares its reports with the government and agencies it oversees in advance of publication. This is to ensure that no details which might damage national security are published. Each report is subject to four stages: requests for factual amendments; requests for redactions; contested requests for redactions (where the committee is unwilling to accept an initial redaction request, representatives of the agencies must appear to argue the case); and confirmation from the prime minister that the document no longer contains any details damaging to national security. By convention, the prime minister has 10 working days in which to examine the report and confirm that there are no national security issues outstanding. Once that certification is received the committee makes administrative arrangement to lay the report before Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://isc.independent.gov.uk/how-the-committee-works/|title=How the Committee works – Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament}}</ref>


==Structure==
==Structure==
The ISC is unusual, being a statutory committee rather than a normal parliamentary [[Select committee (United Kingdom)|select committee]]. Originally constituted under the [[Intelligence Services Act 1994]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1994/ukpga_19940013_en_1#pb5-l1g10|title=Section 10 - The Intelligence and Security Committee - Intelligence Services Act 1994|publisher=OPSI}}</ref> the Committee was reformed, and its powers expanded by the [[Justice and Security Act 2013]]. The Committee has an independent secretariat of analysts and investigators and an independent webpage.
The ISC is unusual, being a statutory committee rather than a normal parliamentary [[Select committee (United Kingdom)|select committee]]. Originally constituted under the [[Intelligence Services Act 1994]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1994/ukpga_19940013_en_1#pb5-l1g10|title=Section 10 – The Intelligence and Security Committee – Intelligence Services Act 1994|publisher=OPSI}}</ref> the committee was reformed, and its powers expanded by the [[Justice and Security Act 2013]]. The committee has an independent secretariat of analysts and investigators and an independent webpage.


The degree to which it is independent was historically questioned by journalists and privacy groups such as [[Liberty (advocacy group)|Liberty]] although the ISC itself says it is independent because it is composed of cross-party MPs and Peers and operates in a non-partisan manner.<ref>{{cite news|title=UK spy watchdog 'taken in' by security agencies - MP|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-31665312|access-date=16 March 2015|publisher=BBC|date=27 February 2015}}</ref> The ISC gained stronger powers under the [[Justice and Security Act 2013]] and is no longer appointed by the Prime Minister: as a result its reports since then have been seen as independent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/blog/row-over-intelligence-and-security-committee-may-require-parliament-review-committees-role|title=Institute for Government: The row over the Intelligence and Security Committee may require Parliament to review the Committee's role|date=15 November 2019}}</ref>
The degree to which it is independent was historically questioned by journalists and privacy groups such as [[Liberty (advocacy group)|Liberty]] although the ISC itself says it is independent because it is composed of cross-party MPs and peers and operates in a non-partisan manner.<ref>{{cite news|title=UK spy watchdog 'taken in' by security agencies – MP|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-31665312|access-date=16 March 2015|publisher=BBC|date=27 February 2015}}</ref> The ISC gained stronger powers under the [[Justice and Security Act 2013]] and is no longer appointed by the prime minister: as a result its reports since then have been seen as independent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/blog/row-over-intelligence-and-security-committee-may-require-parliament-review-committees-role|title=Institute for Government: The row over the Intelligence and Security Committee may require Parliament to review the Committee's role|date=15 November 2019}}</ref>


==Membership==
==Membership==
Parliament appoints the nine members from both the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] and the [[House of Lords]], after considering nominations from the Prime Minister, made following discussion with the Leader of the Opposition. The Committee elect their own Chair from amongst the members. Serving ministers are not allowed to be members, but members may previously have held ministerial positions. Members of the committee cease to be members when Parliament is dissolved, and new members are appointed after the new Parliament convenes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN02178/SN02178.pdf|title=House of Commons Library Briefing Paper: The Intelligence and Security Committee|date=5 November 2019}}</ref>
Parliament appoints the nine members from both the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] and the [[House of Lords]], after considering nominations from the prime minister, made following discussion with the Leader of the Opposition. The committee elect their own chair from amongst the members. Serving ministers are not allowed to be members, but members may previously have held ministerial positions. Members of the committee cease to be members when Parliament is dissolved, and new members are appointed after the new Parliament convenes.<ref name="auto"/>


[[Malcolm Rifkind]] was Chair until 24 February 2015, when he resigned following a sting by journalists involving a bogus Chinese company and his suspension from the Conservative Party. Former Attorney General [[Dominic Grieve]] was elected by the Committee as his replacement on 15 September 2015 when it reconvened after the 2015 general election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://b1cba9b3-a-5e6631fd-s-sites.googlegroups.com/a/independent.gov.uk/isc/files/ISC-Chair-elected-3.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7crM3sEsKScGXa8pg1T9Q7q6IL704xOmCmV8oQnG6i9IEB8dOvJ4NFm4DoazhC8kNGwt83xM8i4xXW1SATzIIcW7pM_6YGJpCKiOfB-8ZVRF3dOjb15KJSZNlTwUlzIggfll2jcvljHSpISF2hVzdElLc-Q6oueDfuPuPREqnlABTkdCHOmnzy20q5gKBScIss5SSogWvYLlGkILO21V0A3GzT4HDhy6KpjLLJvA-dVteETZECc%3D&attredirects=0|title=ISC Press Release|via=Google Groups|date=15 September 2015}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=Google Groups posts are self-published. Surely there's a more reliable source for this press release|date=June 2020}} He was re-elected as Chair by the committee on 23 November 2017 when it reconvened after the June 2017 general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://b1cba9b3-a-5e6631fd-s-sites.googlegroups.com/a/independent.gov.uk/isc/files/20171123_ISC_Press_release-work_priorities.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7crEwwKKDTs1rGgjbJGNursiXeBxXtjiCXjrMs6x7O0PhI7LwLyPBZIahT5KDWNUa68jU6kkyKJIRe7Yj9uZPueGmWAEL_8rN0Gpi32tYyEMwi3UtK16sHjCI6LOmQK3MAqnSgjMThhlvkcqBjztIeyHwVnO67V5EE-f-OGccFNDCfmK4m4ifGxQXhIXSWTasQe8RLEwM8bpZyzB5r1N-wKZQdlMzpGO9JeAZVh6EyWxewqBXb9ExGUZwErTbVp1QH9EabWS&attredirects=0|title=ISC Press Release|date=23 November 2017}}</ref>
[[Malcolm Rifkind]] was chair until 24 February 2015, when he resigned following a sting by journalists involving a bogus Chinese company and his suspension from the Conservative Party. Former Attorney General [[Dominic Grieve]] was elected by the committee as his replacement on 15 September 2015 when it reconvened after the 2015 general election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://b1cba9b3-a-5e6631fd-s-sites.googlegroups.com/a/independent.gov.uk/isc/files/ISC-Chair-elected-3.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7crM3sEsKScGXa8pg1T9Q7q6IL704xOmCmV8oQnG6i9IEB8dOvJ4NFm4DoazhC8kNGwt83xM8i4xXW1SATzIIcW7pM_6YGJpCKiOfB-8ZVRF3dOjb15KJSZNlTwUlzIggfll2jcvljHSpISF2hVzdElLc-Q6oueDfuPuPREqnlABTkdCHOmnzy20q5gKBScIss5SSogWvYLlGkILO21V0A3GzT4HDhy6KpjLLJvA-dVteETZECc%3D&attredirects=0|title=ISC Press Release|via=Google Groups|date=15 September 2015}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=Google Groups posts are self-published. Surely there's a more reliable source for this press release|date=June 2020}} He was re-elected as chair by the committee on 23 November 2017 when it reconvened after the June 2017 general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://b1cba9b3-a-5e6631fd-s-sites.googlegroups.com/a/independent.gov.uk/isc/files/20171123_ISC_Press_release-work_priorities.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7crEwwKKDTs1rGgjbJGNursiXeBxXtjiCXjrMs6x7O0PhI7LwLyPBZIahT5KDWNUa68jU6kkyKJIRe7Yj9uZPueGmWAEL_8rN0Gpi32tYyEMwi3UtK16sHjCI6LOmQK3MAqnSgjMThhlvkcqBjztIeyHwVnO67V5EE-f-OGccFNDCfmK4m4ifGxQXhIXSWTasQe8RLEwM8bpZyzB5r1N-wKZQdlMzpGO9JeAZVh6EyWxewqBXb9ExGUZwErTbVp1QH9EabWS&attredirects=0|title=ISC Press Release|date=23 November 2017}}</ref>


On 15 July 2020, it was reported that [[Chris Grayling]] had failed to secure the nomination as Chair of the committee.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=BBC News Online|date=15 July 2020|title=Russia report: Julian Lewis appointed chair of intelligence committee|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53422010|access-date=15 July 2020|website=BBC News}}</ref> Acting against the Conservative Whip, [[Julian Lewis]] was elected Chair by the members of the ISC.<ref name=":0" /> As a consequence, he had the [[Conservative whip|Conservative Whip]] temporarily removed.<ref name=":0" /> A ‘senior government source’ told the BBC that Dr Lewis "has been told by the chief whip that it is because he worked with Labour and other opposition MPs for his own advantage".<ref name=":0" /> Grayling subsequently resigned from the Committee on 28 August.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |date=28 August 2020 |title=Chris Grayling resigns from intelligence and security committee |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/aug/28/chris-grayling-resigns-from |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=28 August 2020 }}</ref> [[Bob Stewart (politician)|Bob Stewart]] has been appointed as Grayling's replacement.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://commonsbusiness.parliament.uk/document/40551/html |title=Order Paper for Wednesday 16 September 2020 Part 1: Business Today |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 16 September 2020 |website=commonsbusiness.parliament.uk |publisher= UK House of Commons |access-date= 16 September 2020 |quote=The Prime Minister: That Chris Grayling be removed from the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament under Schedule 1 to the Justice and Security Act 2013 and Bob Stewart be appointed to that Committee under section 1 of that Act.}}</ref>
On 15 July 2020, it was reported that [[Chris Grayling]] had failed to secure the nomination as chair of the committee.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=BBC News Online|date=15 July 2020|title=Russia report: Julian Lewis appointed chair of intelligence committee|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53422010|access-date=15 July 2020|website=BBC News}}</ref> Acting against the Conservative Whip, [[Julian Lewis]] was elected chair by the members of the ISC.<ref name=":0" /> As a consequence, he had the [[Conservative whip|Conservative Whip]] temporarily removed.<ref name=":0" /> A 'senior government source' told the BBC that Lewis "has been told by the chief whip that it is because he worked with Labour and other opposition MPs for his own advantage".<ref name=":0" /> Grayling subsequently resigned from the committee on 28 August.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |date=28 August 2020 |title=Chris Grayling resigns from intelligence and security committee |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/aug/28/chris-grayling-resigns-from |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=28 August 2020 }}</ref> [[Bob Stewart (politician)|Bob Stewart]] has been appointed as Grayling's replacement.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://commonsbusiness.parliament.uk/document/40551/html |title=Order Paper for Wednesday 16 September 2020 Part 1: Business Today |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 16 September 2020 |website=commonsbusiness.parliament.uk |publisher= UK House of Commons |access-date= 16 September 2020 |quote=The Prime Minister: That Chris Grayling be removed from the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament under Schedule 1 to the Justice and Security Act 2013 and Bob Stewart be appointed to that Committee under section 1 of that Act.}}</ref>

The membership of the committee for the 2024-2029 Parliament is as follows:<ref>{{cite web |title=Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament - Membership - Committees - UK Parliament |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/97/intelligence-and-security-committee-of-parliament/membership/ |website=committees.parliament.uk |access-date=1 January 2025 |language=en}}</ref>


The membership of the Committee for the 2019-2024 Parliament is as follows:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmvote/200713v01.html |title=House of Commons Session Votes and Proceedings Monday 13 July 2020 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=13 July 2020 |website=publications.parliament.uk |publisher=House of Commons |access-date=14 July 2020 |quote=Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Ordered, That Chris Grayling, Sir John Hayes, Stewart Hosie, Dame Diana Johnson, Mr Kevan Jones, Dr Julian Lewis, Mark Pritchard and Theresa Villiers be appointed to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament under section 1 of the Justice and Security Act 2013.—(Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg.)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://lordsbusiness.parliament.uk/ItemOfBusiness?itemOfBusinessId=80244&sectionId=38&businessPaperDate=2020-07-14 |title=Appointment of Replacement Member of a Committee |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=14 July 2020 |website=lordsbusiness.parliament.uk/ |publisher=House of Lords |access-date=14 July 2020 |quote=The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Evans of Bowes Park) to move that this House approves the nomination of Lord West of Spithead as a member of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament.}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" valign="top" | Member
! colspan="2" valign="top" | Member
Line 47: Line 48:
! valign="top" | Constituency
! valign="top" | Constituency
|-
|-
| bgcolor="{{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Rt Hon Dr [[Julian Lewis]] MP<br>(Chair)
| Rt Hon. [[Kevan Jones| The Lord Beamish]] <br>(chair)
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| N/A
⚫
| [[New Forest East (UK Parliament constituency)|New Forest East]]
|-
|-
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Crossbencher)}}" |
| bgcolor="{{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| [[Julia King, Baroness Brown of Cambridge| Baroness Brown of Cambridge]]
⚫
| Rt Hon [[John Hayes (British politician)|Sir John Hayes]] CBE FRSA MP
| [[Crossbencher]]
⚫
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| N/A
⚫
| [[South Holland and The Deepings (UK Parliament constituency)|South Holland and The Deepings]]
|-
|-


| bgcolor="{{Scottish National Party/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Rt Hon [[Stewart Hosie]] MP
| [[Peter Dowd]] MP
| [[Scottish National Party|SNP]]
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[Dundee East (UK Parliament constituency)|Dundee East]]
| [[Bootle (UK Parliament constituency)|Bootle]]
|-
|-


| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| bgcolor="{{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| Rt Hon [[Dame Diana Johnson]] DBE MP
| [[Richard Foord]] MP
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]
| [[Kingston upon Hull North (UK Parliament constituency)|Kingston upon Hull North]]
| [[Honiton and Sidmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Honiton and Sidmouth]]
|-
|-

| bgcolor="{{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
⚫
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
⚫
| Rt Hon [[Kevan Jones]] MP
⚫
| Rt Hon [[John Hayes (British politician)| Sir John Hayes]] MP
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[North Durham (UK Parliament constituency)|North Durham]]
⚫
|-
| bgcolor="{{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| Rt Hon [[Mark Pritchard (politician)|Mark Pritchard]] MP
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[The Wrekin (UK Parliament constituency)|The Wrekin]]
| [[South Holland and the Deepings (UK Parliament constituency)|South Holland and the Deepings]]
|-
|-

| bgcolor="{{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Col Rt Hon [[Bob Stewart (politician)|Bob Stewart]] DSO MP
| [[Jessica Morden]] MP
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Beckenham (UK Parliament constituency)|Beckenham]]
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
⚫
| [[Newport East (UK Parliament constituency)|Newport East]]
|-
|-

| bgcolor="{{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Rt Hon [[Theresa Villiers]] MP
| Rt Hon Sir [[Jeremy Wright]] KC MP
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Chipping Barnet (UK Parliament constituency)|Chipping Barnet]]
| [[Kenilworth and Southam (UK Parliament constituency)|Kenilworth and Southam]]
|-
|-

| bgcolor="{{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
⚫
| Admiral (retired) Rt Hon [[Alan West, Baron West of Spithead|The Lord West of Spithead]] GCB DSC PC
| [[Derek Twigg]] MP
⚫
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
⚫
| [[Widnes and Halewood (UK Parliament constituency)|Widnes and Halewood]]
⚫
|-

| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
⚫
| Admiral (retired) Rt Hon [[Alan West, Baron West of Spithead|The Lord West of Spithead]] GCB DSC
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| N/A
| N/A
Line 102: Line 108:
! Term
! Term
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Rt Hon [[Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater|Tom King]] CH
| Rt Hon [[Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater|Tom King]] CH
| 1994–2001
| 1994–2001
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Rt Hon [[Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton|Ann Taylor]]
| Rt Hon [[Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton|Ann Taylor]]
| 2001–2005
| 2001–2005
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Rt Hon [[Paul Murphy, Baron Murphy of Torfaen|Paul Murphy]]
| Rt Hon [[Paul Murphy, Baron Murphy of Torfaen|Paul Murphy]]
| 2005–2008
| 2005–2008
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Rt Hon [[Margaret Beckett]]
| Rt Hon [[Margaret Beckett]]
| January–October 2008
| January–October 2008
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Rt Hon [[Kim Howells]]
| Rt Hon [[Kim Howells]]
| 2008–2010
| 2008–2010
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Rt Hon [[Malcolm Rifkind|Sir Malcolm Rifkind]] KCMG QC
| Rt Hon [[Malcolm Rifkind|Sir Malcolm Rifkind]] KCMG QC
| 2010–2015
| 2010–2015
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|rowspan=2|Rt Hon [[Dominic Grieve]] QC
|rowspan=2|Rt Hon [[Dominic Grieve]] QC
|rowspan=2| 2015–2019
|rowspan=2| 2015–2019
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{Independent/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Independent}}" |
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3|Rt Hon Dr [[Julian Lewis]]
| rowspan=3|Rt Hon [[Julian Lewis]]
| rowspan=3|Incumbent
| rowspan=3|2019–2024
|-
|-
| style="background-color: {{Independent/meta/color}}" |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Independent}}" |
|-
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|-
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
⚫
|Rt Hon. [[Kevan Jones| The Lord Beamish]]
|Incumbent
|-
|-
⚫
| style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
|}
|}


== The Russia report ==
== The Russia report ==
{{Main|Intelligence and Security Committee Russia report}}
{{Main|Intelligence and Security Committee Russia report}}
The "Russia report" is the Intelligence and Security Committee's report into allegations of Russian interference in British politics, including alleged [[Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum]].<ref name=GraunPub>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-21|title=UK report on Russian interference: key points explained|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/21/just-what-does-the-uk-russia-report-say-key-points-explained|access-date=2022-01-31|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/revealed-the-russia-report-kz6c9mwxf|title=Revealed: the Russia report|last=Tom Harper|first=Caroline Wheeler, Richard Kerbaj and|date=2019-11-17|work=The Sunday Times|access-date=2019-11-17|language=en|issn=0956-1382}}</ref> According to the report, there is substantial evidence that Russian interference in British politics is commonplace.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Castle|first1=Stephen|last2=Landler|first2=Mark|date=2020-07-21|title='No One' Protected British Democracy From Russia, U.K. Report Concludes|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/21/world/europe/uk-russia-report.html|access-date=2020-07-21|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Neilan|first=Cat|date=2020-07-21|title=Politics latest news: Russian attempts to influence UK politics are the 'new normal', report claims|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/07/21/politics-news-russia-report-vote-brexit-boris-johnson-vaccine/|access-date=2020-07-21|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> According to the ''Guardian'', the main points of the report are:<ref name=GraunPub />
⚫
The "Russia report" is the Intelligence and Security Committee's report into allegations of Russian interference in British politics, including alleged [[Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/revealed-the-russia-report-kz6c9mwxf|title=Revealed: the Russia report|last=Tom Harper|first=Caroline Wheeler, Richard Kerbaj and|date=2019-11-17|work=The Sunday Times|access-date=2019-11-17|language=en|issn=0956-1382}}</ref> The inquiry began in November 2017, and a 50-page report was completed in March 2019.<ref name=BBCExpect>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51417880|title=Russia report: When can we expect it to be published?|publisher=BBC News|date=7 February 2020}}</ref> The report thereafter went through a process of redaction by intelligence and security agencies and was sent to Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] on 17 October 2019.<ref name=BBCExpect/> Johnson's government refused to publicly release the report before the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|general election in December 2019]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://time.com/5717670/uk-russian-interference-brexit-delayed/|title=U.K. Delays Russian Interference Report Until After Election|website=Time|language=en|access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref> A number of legal actions are underway to try to force the government to publish it: one brought by the widow of the murdered Russian dissident [[Alexander Litvinenko]], and another brought by the [[Bureau of Investigative Journalism]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/15/russian-meddling-report-dissidents-widow-goes-to-law|title=Russian meddling report – dissident's widow goes to law|last=Reuters|date=2019-11-15|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-11-17|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/bureau-of-investigative-journalism-crowdfunds-to-take-uk-government-to-court-over-russian-report/s2/a747385/|title=Bureau of Investigative Journalism fundraises to take the UK Government to court over Russian Report |date=2019-11-14|website=journalism.co.uk|publisher=Mousetrap Media|access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref> The Prime Minister approved its release on 13 December 2019, the day after the general election,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://isc.independent.gov.uk/news-archive/17december2019|title=Notice on 17 December 2019|publisher=Intelligence and Security Committee|language=en|access-date=2019-02-24}}</ref> Johnson pledged in [[Prime Minister's Questions]] in February 2020 that the report would be released, but that it could not be released until the Intelligence and Security Committee (which disbanded following the [[Dissolution of the Parliament of the United Kingdom|dissolution of parliament]] ahead of the election) was reconstituted; a former chair of the committee, [[Dominic Grieve]], said that this was an "entirely bogus" reason for delaying publication.<ref name=BBCExpect/> Grieve stated that the time between approval of release and publication was typically 10 days.<ref name=Busby>{{Cite web|author=Mattha Busby|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/20/russia-report-uk-mps-condemn-utterly-reprehensible-delay|title=Russia report: UK MPs condemn 'utterly reprehensible' delay|date=June 20, 2020}}</ref> By June 2020, the report had still not been released, and the Intelligence and Security Committee had not been convened, the longest gap since the committee's creation in 1994.<ref name=Busby/> This prompted a cross-party group of 30 MPs to urge the committee to be reconstituted and the report to be published, writing that serious issues of "transparency and integrity" of the democratic process were raised by the withholding of the report.<ref name=Busby/>
* UK government failed to investigate evidence of successful interference in democratic processes
* 'Credible open-source commentary' suggesting Russia sought to influence Scottish independence referendum
* Russian influence in the UK is 'the new normal'
* Links between Russian elite and UK politics
* Intelligence community 'took its eye off the ball' on Russia
* UK's paper-and-pencil voting system makes direct interference harder
* Defending UK's democratic processes is a 'hot potato'
* Errors in Salisbury poisoning and weapons watchdog hack do not diminish Moscow threat
* New legislation needed to replace outdated spy laws.


⚫
The inquiry began in November 2017, and a 50-page report was completed in March 2019.<ref name=BBCExpect>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51417880|title=Russia report: When can we expect it to be published?|publisher=BBC News|date=7 February 2020}}</ref> The report thereafter went through a process of redaction by intelligence and security agencies and was sent to Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] on 17 October 2019.<ref name=BBCExpect/> Johnson's government refused to publicly release the report before the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|general election in December 2019]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5717670/uk-russian-interference-brexit-delayed/|title=U.K. Delays Russian Interference Report Until After Election|magazine=Time|language=en|access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref> A number of legal actions were undertaken to try to force the government to publish it: one brought by the widow of the murdered Russian dissident [[Alexander Litvinenko]], and another brought by the [[Bureau of Investigative Journalism]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/15/russian-meddling-report-dissidents-widow-goes-to-law|title=Russian meddling report – dissident's widow goes to law|agency=Reuters|date=2019-11-15|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-11-17|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/bureau-of-investigative-journalism-crowdfunds-to-take-uk-government-to-court-over-russian-report/s2/a747385/|title=Bureau of Investigative Journalism fundraises to take the UK Government to court over Russian Report |date=2019-11-14|website=journalism.co.uk|publisher=Mousetrap Media|access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref>
⚫
The [https://docs.google.com/a/independent.gov.uk/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=aW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuZ292LnVrfGlzY3xneDo1Y2RhMGEyN2Y3NjM0OWFl full report] was released on Tuesday 21st of July 2020 at 1030 BST.<ref>{{Cite web|title=20 July 2020 - The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament|url=http://isc.independent.gov.uk/news-archive/20july2020|access-date=2020-07-21|website=isc.independent.gov.uk}}</ref>


Prime Minister Johnson approved its release on 13 December 2019, the day after the general election,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://isc.independent.gov.uk/news-archive/17december2019|title=Notice on 17 December 2019|publisher=Intelligence and Security Committee|language=en|access-date=2019-02-24|archive-date=17 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717164310/http://isc.independent.gov.uk/news-archive/17december2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Johnson pledged in [[Prime Minister's Questions]] in February 2020 that the report would be released, but that it could not be released until the Intelligence and Security Committee (which disbanded following the [[Dissolution of the Parliament of the United Kingdom|dissolution of parliament]] ahead of the election) was reconstituted; a former chair of the committee, [[Dominic Grieve]], said that this was an "entirely bogus" reason for delaying publication.<ref name=BBCExpect/> Grieve stated that the time between approval of release and publication was typically 10 days.<ref name=Busby>{{Cite web|author=Mattha Busby|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/20/russia-report-uk-mps-condemn-utterly-reprehensible-delay|title=Russia report: UK MPs condemn 'utterly reprehensible' delay|date=June 20, 2020}}</ref> By June 2020, the report had still not been released, and the Intelligence and Security Committee had not been convened, the longest gap since the committee's creation in 1994.<ref name=Busby/> This prompted a cross-party group of 30 MPs to urge the committee to be reconstituted and the report to be published, writing that serious issues of "transparency and integrity" of the democratic process were raised by the withholding of the report.<ref name=Busby/>
==In popular culture==

In the 2012 [[James Bond]] film ''[[Skyfall]]'', [[Ralph Fiennes]] plays Gareth Mallory, the chair of the committee.
⚫
The [https://docs.google.com/a/independent.gov.uk/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=aW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuZ292LnVrfGlzY3xneDo1Y2RhMGEyN2Y3NjM0OWFl full report] was released on Tuesday 21 July 2020 at 1030 BST.<ref>{{Cite web |title=20 July 2020 – The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament |url=http://isc.independent.gov.uk/news-archive/20july2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116025539/http://isc.independent.gov.uk/news-archive/20july2020 |archive-date=2021-01-16 |access-date=2020-07-21 |website=isc.independent.gov.uk}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==


* [[British intelligence agencies]]
* [[Joint committee of the Parliament of the United Kingdom]]
* [[Joint committee of the Parliament of the United Kingdom]]

*[[Global surveillance disclosures (2013–present)]]
*[[Global surveillance disclosures (2013–present)]]
*[[Intelligence and Security Committee (New Zealand)]]
*[[Intelligence and Security Committee (New Zealand)]]
Line 167: Line 188:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://isc.independent.gov.uk/ Intelligence and Security Committee] website
*{{Official website|http://isc.independent.gov.uk/}}


{{UKParliamentCommittees}}{{Intelligence and Security Committee Chairmen}}
{{UKParliamentCommittees}}{{Intelligence and Security Committee Chairmen}}

Revision as of 20:46, 1 January 2025

AbbreviationISC
Formation1994
PurposeStatutory Committee of Parliament responsible for oversight of the UK intelligence community
Chair
Julian Lewis
Parent organisation
UK Parliament
Websiteisc.independent.gov.uk
Formerly called
Intelligence and Security Committee

The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC) is a statutory joint committee of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, appointed to oversee the work of the UK intelligence community.[1][2]

The committee was established in 1994[3] by the Intelligence Services Act 1994, and its powers were reinforced by the Justice and Security Act 2013.[1]

Work of the committee

The committee's statutory remit (under the Justice and Security Act 2013) is to examine the expenditure, administration, policy and operations of the security and intelligence Agencies; the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), the Security Service (MI5) and Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and Defence Intelligence in the Ministry of Defence, the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism (OSCT) in the Home Office and the intelligence-related work of the Cabinet Office including the Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO) and the National Security Secretariat (NSS).[4]

The members of the committee are notified under the Official Secrets Act 1989 and are given access to highly classified material in carrying out their duties.[5] The committee holds evidence sessions with government ministers and senior officials (for example, the heads of the security and intelligence agencies), expert witnesses such as academics and journalists, and other interested parties. It also considers written evidence from the intelligence and security agencies and relevant government departments.[6]

The work of the committee is invariably conducted in secret. The committee produces an annual report which focuses on administration and finance, and special reports on operational or policy issues which it considers are of particular concern.[7] The government is required to respond to the committee's reports within 60 days.[4] The committee published five reports in 2018 – a report examining the 2017 UK terror attacks, two reports on detainee mistreatment and rendition, a report on diversity and inclusion in the UK intelligence community and an annual report.[8] In 2019 the committee published a statement on 5G suppliers[9] and was due to publish a report on Russia but was unable to do so because the prime minister did not confirm that the report could be published before Parliament dissolved for the 2019 general election.[5]

Unlike a select committee, the ISC shares its reports with the government and agencies it oversees in advance of publication. This is to ensure that no details which might damage national security are published. Each report is subject to four stages: requests for factual amendments; requests for redactions; contested requests for redactions (where the committee is unwilling to accept an initial redaction request, representatives of the agencies must appear to argue the case); and confirmation from the prime minister that the document no longer contains any details damaging to national security. By convention, the prime minister has 10 working days in which to examine the report and confirm that there are no national security issues outstanding. Once that certification is received the committee makes administrative arrangement to lay the report before Parliament.[10]

Structure

The ISC is unusual, being a statutory committee rather than a normal parliamentary select committee. Originally constituted under the Intelligence Services Act 1994[11] the committee was reformed, and its powers expanded by the Justice and Security Act 2013. The committee has an independent secretariat of analysts and investigators and an independent webpage.

The degree to which it is independent was historically questioned by journalists and privacy groups such as Liberty although the ISC itself says it is independent because it is composed of cross-party MPs and peers and operates in a non-partisan manner.[12] The ISC gained stronger powers under the Justice and Security Act 2013 and is no longer appointed by the prime minister: as a result its reports since then have been seen as independent.[13]

Membership

Parliament appoints the nine members from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, after considering nominations from the prime minister, made following discussion with the Leader of the Opposition. The committee elect their own chair from amongst the members. Serving ministers are not allowed to be members, but members may previously have held ministerial positions. Members of the committee cease to be members when Parliament is dissolved, and new members are appointed after the new Parliament convenes.[5]

Malcolm Rifkind was chair until 24 February 2015, when he resigned following a sting by journalists involving a bogus Chinese company and his suspension from the Conservative Party. Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve was elected by the committee as his replacement on 15 September 2015 when it reconvened after the 2015 general election.[14][better source needed] He was re-elected as chair by the committee on 23 November 2017 when it reconvened after the June 2017 general election.[15]

On 15 July 2020, it was reported that Chris Grayling had failed to secure the nomination as chair of the committee.[16] Acting against the Conservative Whip, Julian Lewis was elected chair by the members of the ISC.[16] As a consequence, he had the Conservative Whip temporarily removed.[16] A 'senior government source' told the BBC that Lewis "has been told by the chief whip that it is because he worked with Labour and other opposition MPs for his own advantage".[16] Grayling subsequently resigned from the committee on 28 August.[17] Bob Stewart has been appointed as Grayling's replacement.[18]

The membership of the committee for the 2024-2029 Parliament is as follows:[19]

Member Party Constituency
Rt Hon. The Lord Beamish
(chair) 		Labour N/A
Baroness Brown of Cambridge Crossbencher N/A
Peter Dowd MP Labour Bootle
Richard Foord MP Liberal Democrats Honiton and Sidmouth
Rt Hon Sir John Hayes MP Conservative South Holland and the Deepings
Jessica Morden MP Labour Newport East
Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Wright KC MP Conservative Kenilworth and Southam
Derek Twigg MP Labour Widnes and Halewood
Admiral (retired) Rt Hon The Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC Labour N/A
List of committee chairs
Name Term
Rt Hon Tom King CH 1994–2001
Rt Hon Ann Taylor 2001–2005
Rt Hon Paul Murphy 2005–2008
Rt Hon Margaret Beckett January–October 2008
Rt Hon Kim Howells 2008–2010
Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG QC 2010–2015
Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC 2015–2019
Rt Hon Julian Lewis 2019–2024
Rt Hon. The Lord Beamish Incumbent

The Russia report

Main article: Intelligence and Security Committee Russia report

The "Russia report" is the Intelligence and Security Committee's report into allegations of Russian interference in British politics, including alleged Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum.[20][21] According to the report, there is substantial evidence that Russian interference in British politics is commonplace.[22][23] According to the Guardian, the main points of the report are:[20]

  • UK government failed to investigate evidence of successful interference in democratic processes
  • 'Credible open-source commentary' suggesting Russia sought to influence Scottish independence referendum
  • Russian influence in the UK is 'the new normal'
  • Links between Russian elite and UK politics
  • Intelligence community 'took its eye off the ball' on Russia
  • UK's paper-and-pencil voting system makes direct interference harder
  • Defending UK's democratic processes is a 'hot potato'
  • Errors in Salisbury poisoning and weapons watchdog hack do not diminish Moscow threat
  • New legislation needed to replace outdated spy laws.

The inquiry began in November 2017, and a 50-page report was completed in March 2019.[24] The report thereafter went through a process of redaction by intelligence and security agencies and was sent to Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 17 October 2019.[24] Johnson's government refused to publicly release the report before the general election in December 2019.[25] A number of legal actions were undertaken to try to force the government to publish it: one brought by the widow of the murdered Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko, and another brought by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.[26][27]

Prime Minister Johnson approved its release on 13 December 2019, the day after the general election,[28] Johnson pledged in Prime Minister's Questions in February 2020 that the report would be released, but that it could not be released until the Intelligence and Security Committee (which disbanded following the dissolution of parliament ahead of the election) was reconstituted; a former chair of the committee, Dominic Grieve, said that this was an "entirely bogus" reason for delaying publication.[24] Grieve stated that the time between approval of release and publication was typically 10 days.[29] By June 2020, the report had still not been released, and the Intelligence and Security Committee had not been convened, the longest gap since the committee's creation in 1994.[29] This prompted a cross-party group of 30 MPs to urge the committee to be reconstituted and the report to be published, writing that serious issues of "transparency and integrity" of the democratic process were raised by the withholding of the report.[29]

The full report was released on Tuesday 21 July 2020 at 1030 BST.[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament". Isc.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Justice and Security Act 2013" (PDF). Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Where is the Intelligence and Security Committee and why does its absence matter?". HansardSociety.org. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020. At nearly six months, the time taken to appoint the ISC on this occasion has now exceeded that taken to appoint the committee after every previous general election since the committee was established in 1994.
  4. ^ a b "Annex A: Memorandum of Understanding, Intelligence and Security Committee Annual Report 2013 – 2014" (PDF). 25 November 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "House of Commons Library Briefing Paper: The Intelligence and Security Committee" (PDF). 5 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament".
  7. ^ "The Justice and Security Act 2013". 25 April 2013.
  8. ^ "ISC Committee Publications". Archived from the original on 22 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  9. ^ "ISC Statement on 5G suppliers" (PDF). 19 July 2019.
  10. ^ "How the Committee works – Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament".
  11. ^ "Section 10 – The Intelligence and Security Committee – Intelligence Services Act 1994". OPSI.
  12. ^ "UK spy watchdog 'taken in' by security agencies – MP". BBC. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  13. ^ "Institute for Government: The row over the Intelligence and Security Committee may require Parliament to review the Committee's role". 15 November 2019.
  14. ^ "ISC Press Release" (PDF). 15 September 2015 – via Google Groups.
  15. ^ "ISC Press Release" (PDF). 23 November 2017.
  16. ^ a b c d BBC News Online (15 July 2020). "Russia report: Julian Lewis appointed chair of intelligence committee". BBC News. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  17. ^ Sabbagh, Dan (28 August 2020). "Chris Grayling resigns from intelligence and security committee". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Order Paper for Wednesday 16 September 2020 Part 1: Business Today". commonsbusiness.parliament.uk. UK House of Commons. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020. The Prime Minister: That Chris Grayling be removed from the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament under Schedule 1 to the Justice and Security Act 2013 and Bob Stewart be appointed to that Committee under section 1 of that Act.
  19. ^ "Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament - Membership - Committees - UK Parliament". committees.parliament.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  20. ^ a b "UK report on Russian interference: key points explained". The Guardian. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  21. ^ Tom Harper, Caroline Wheeler, Richard Kerbaj and (17 November 2019). "Revealed: the Russia report". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 17 November 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Castle, Stephen; Landler, Mark (21 July 2020). "'No One' Protected British Democracy From Russia, U.K. Report Concludes". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  23. ^ Neilan, Cat (21 July 2020). "Politics latest news: Russian attempts to influence UK politics are the 'new normal', report claims". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  24. ^ a b c "Russia report: When can we expect it to be published?". BBC News. 7 February 2020.
  25. ^ "U.K. Delays Russian Interference Report Until After Election". Time. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  26. ^ "Russian meddling report – dissident's widow goes to law". The Guardian. Reuters. 15 November 2019. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  27. ^ "Bureau of Investigative Journalism fundraises to take the UK Government to court over Russian Report". journalism.co.uk. Mousetrap Media. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  28. ^ "Notice on 17 December 2019". Intelligence and Security Committee. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  29. ^ a b c Mattha Busby (20 June 2020). "Russia report: UK MPs condemn 'utterly reprehensible' delay". The Guardian.
  30. ^ "20 July 2020 – The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament". isc.independent.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
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