The Observer view on Russian interference in British democracy | Observer editorial

Boris Johnson must not suppress the truth of the full extent of Putin's meddling

Evidence that Russia and its menacing president, Vladimir Putin, are actively attempting to undermine Britain's democracy, politics and security continues to pile up. While shocking in themselves, the latest revelations merely confirm a long-established pattern of covert malfeasance, meddling and subversion. The question now is: what will the government do about it?

There will be widespread disgust, for example, at last week's disclosure that Russian state-sponsored hackers attempted to steal confidential data from British, US and Canadian researchers working on a coronavirus vaccine. James Brokenshire, the security minister, said Moscow's behaviour was completely unacceptable". Yes, Mr Brokenshire, it is. So?