London (CNN) Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under fire over accusations from lawmakers that the UK government is intentionally delaying the release of a report into Russia's influence in British politics until after the upcoming election.

The failure of the Prime Minister to approve the publication of the report has sparked outrage from members of the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), which compiled the report, and opposition lawmakers who accused the government of a coverup.

The chair of the ISC, former attorney general and MP Dominic Grieve, raised the issue in an urgent question to the government in Parliament on Tuesday, demanding an explanation for "the refusal of the Prime Minister to give clearance to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament's report on Russia."

Grieve, who used to be member of the Conservative Party, told Parliament the report was completed in March, thoroughly reviewed by the country's intelligence agencies, and then sent to Johnson for "final confirmation" on October 17. He added that according to longstanding agreement, the Prime Minister would endeavor to respond within 10 days. Since the report is from the ISC, which has access to classified information, the release of the report must be personally signed off by Johnson.

Foreign office minister Christopher Pincher defended the government's position on Tuesday and offered no suggestion that the report would be signed off soon, telling Grieve that it was not unusual for reports such as this one to go through "an intensive security review before publication."

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