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PUTIN'S GLARE

Russian strongman is using KGB-style tactics to try and ‘dig up dirt on British politicians such as Boris Johnson’

A former minister has said he believes Vladamir Putin's government is gathering information on prominent figures

SENIOR British politicians such as Boris Johnson are being targeted the Kremlin for potentially compromising details about their private lives which could be used against them, it has been claimed.

Chris Bryant, who was European minister in the last Labour government, said he had been the victim of such tactics himself and was "absolutely certain" Vladamir Putin's government would be gathering information on prominent government figures.

 A former government minister has claimed Vladamir Putin's government may potentially be gathering comprimising information about senior British politicians
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A former government minister has claimed Vladamir Putin's government may potentially be gathering comprimising information about senior British politiciansCredit: Getty Images
 Chris Bryant, who was European minister in the last Labour government, said Foreign Secretary could be one of those targeted by Russia
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Chris Bryant, who was European minister in the last Labour government, said Foreign Secretary could be one of those targeted by RussiaCredit: PA:Press Association

As well as Mr Johnson, who is the Foreign Secretary, Mr Bryant said other ministers likely to be in the Russian's sights are Sir Alan Duncan, who as the Russia brief at the Foreign Office, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and Brexit Secretary David Davis.

His claims follow the leak of a report by former MI6 officer Christopher Steele which revealed the Russians had compiled a file of compromising material on Donald Trump, who angrily dismissed the allegations as "fake news".

Mr Bryant told The Observer: "Any minister who goes into the Foreign Office and has responsibility for Russia, they (Moscow) will be, in any shape of form, trying to put together information about them.

"I am absolutely certain that Boris Johnson, Liam Fox, Alan Duncan, who has the Russia brief, and David Davis will have absolutely been looked at.

"All these people the Russians will be following very, very closely. They will have created a file and they'll be attempting to watch everything they do."

 Another likely target is Sir Alan Duncan, pictured, who as the Russia brief at the Foreign Office
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Another likely target is Sir Alan Duncan, pictured, who as the Russia brief at the Foreign OfficeCredit: PA:Press Association
 International Trade Secretary Liam Fox was another minister named as a possible target
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International Trade Secretary Liam Fox was another minister named as a possible targetCredit: Getty Images
 As he is in charge of Brexit, David Davis, who is Brexit Secretary, could also be of interest to the Russians
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As he is in charge of Brexit, David Davis, who is Brexit Secretary, could also be of interest to the RussiansCredit: Alamy

Mr Bryant said technological advances made it far easier for intelligence agencies to gather personal information.

He said: "You can do a lot of the work by long distance now, you physically have to be close to somebody to be able to track them, using their mobile phones and so on."

Mr Bryant, a long-standing critic of Putin's human rights record, said he had been the victim of a homophobic campaign orchestrated by the embassy in London after he became chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on Russia.

He added: "When I was chair of the all-party Russia group the embassy helped organise to have me removed.

"I heard back from various other Conservative MPs who are friends of mine, saying that the problem is Putin hates you and they want rid of you."



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