The Telegraph has published materials based on a secret report by former senior MI6 officer Christopher Steele. The document, titled Project Fish and prepared in October 2022, contains an analysis of Russian intelligence materials concerning key figures in British politics.
According to the report, Russian special services collected dossiers on British politicians for many years, assessing them as potential targets for influence or sources of information. Steele, who previously headed the Russia desk at MI6 and is known for the Steele dossier of 2016–2017, cites sources with access to SVR files.
The report pays special attention to several politicians. Surveillance of Boris Johnson began as early as his student years. In Russian materials, he was described as an attractive but unreliable politician, unbound by strict principles or ideological loyalty.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage elicited mixed assessments. Some Russian analysts viewed engagement with him as promising, while others considered it a risky bet.
Former key adviser to Johnson Dominic Cummings, according to the dossier, aroused suspicions among Russian special services regarding possible ties to British intelligence.
Lord Peter Mandelson appears in the report as a privileged contact, whom the Russian side considered a convenient channel for influencing British politics for approximately 30 years.
The document also mentions former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The report does not contain accusations against the politicians of cooperating with the Kremlin or transmitting confidential information. It concerns exclusively external surveillance, the compilation of psychological profiles, and strategic assessments.