BBC: Dominic Cummings has said he was present when Boris Johnson was told of security concerns about his plan to award a peerage to Evgeny Lebedev.
The ex-adviser said he was "in the room" when the PM was told intelligence officials had "serious reservations" about giving the honour to the Russian-born businessman.
It follows reports the security services changed their advice after Mr Johnson intervened.
The PM has previously denied this.
Lord Lebedev, who owns the Evening Standard newspaper, has denied posing a "security risk" to the UK.
Last week, the Sunday Times reported that in March 2020, the House of Lords Appointments Commission - which vets peerage appointments - advised Mr Johnson against granting Mr Lebedev a seat in the House of Lords on security grounds.
The newspaper said the assessment was withdrawn after Mr Johnson - a long-time friend of Lord Lebedev - personally intervened.
Another source has confirmed to the BBC that concerns were raised by security services. With video » | BBC | Wednesday, March 16, 2022
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WIKIPEDIA: Evgeny Lebedev »
THE MOSCOW TIMES: Baron of Hampton and Siberia »
Extract:
“The senior Lebedev [Evgeny's father] was reportedly one of the figures investigated as part of the British Parliament’s intelligence committee report on alleged Kremlin interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum. The report concluded that British government and intelligence agencies failed to investigate reports of Russian interference.” | Source: The Moscow Times.
WIKIPEDIA: The Moscow Times.
