New laws to enable expulsion of Russian spies need to be ‘urgently speeded up’

Opposition says UK lagging behind other nations in tackling interference

New laws to make it easier to expel Russian spies and other foreign agents need to be urgently speeded up in light of the Ukraine crisis, opposition parties said on Wednesday, with the UK lagging behind other nations in tackling interference.

Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tory chair of the foreign affairs committee called on the government to bring forward measures to force foreign agents to sign a register, which was promised in last year's Queen's speech as part of a new counter state threats bill.