The UK government failed to investigate potential Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum, according to a long-awaited report into the Kremlin's influence in British politics and society.

The report by the Intelligence & Security Committee (ISC) suggests that ministers "had not seen orsought evidence of successful interference" in Brexit.

He said the ISC found it "astonishing" that the UK government didn't seek to "protect the referendum" by looking into potential Russian interference.

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"This situation is in stark contrast to the US handling of allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, where an intelligence community assessment was produced within two months of the vote, with an unclassified summary being made public."

"Even if the conclusion of any such assessment were that there was minimal interference, this would nonetheless represent a helpful reassurance to the public that the UK's democratic processes had remained relatively safe," it says.

The UK government rejected this call in its response to the report.

The UK government was led by David Cameron in the run-up to the referendum before he was replaced as UK prime minister by Theresa May.

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The UK government 'actively avoided' investigating Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum - Business Insider India