Former Conservative adviser Oscar Reddrop has claimed Russia could be working with hard-left groups to help migrants exploit Britain’s asylum system.

Speaking to GB News, Mr Reddrop said Moscow is “highly skilled at destabilising Western nations”, warning that illegal immigration is now being used as a political weapon.

“I’m not surprised by this whatsoever,” he said. “They do it through intelligence gathering, they do it through online disinformation and one of the most destabilising issues in our politics right now is illegal immigration.”

He said Russia’s efforts were being amplified by “very hard-left organisations” who provide migrants with detailed advice on how to stay in Britain once they arrive.

“It’s not just information on how to get here,” he said.

“It’s information on how to game the asylum system so that you stay here.”

Mr Reddrop said the revelations highlight how complex tackling illegal immigration has become for the Government.

But he warned that unless ministers also take tougher “real-world deterrence” measures, such as reforms to the ECHR, the problem will persist.

“If the Government only focuses on smashing the gangs and doesn’t deal with what it can control as an autonomous nation, it’s not going to solve the problem,” he said.

“People are sick to the back teeth of hearing that phrase, it’s hollow. Smashing the gangs can only ever be one part of the solution.”

He added that if Russia and left-wing activist groups are involved in teaching migrants how to bypass the system, the UK must treat it as a serious national security threat.

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“This isn’t just about criminal gangs anymore,” Mr Reddrop said.

“It’s about international interference and we need a real deterrent in place.”

Russia’s foreign intelligence service has been directly linked to the criminal gangs smuggling migrants into Europe, according to Bulgaria’s interior minister.

Daniel Mitov said his Government had gathered evidence showing Russian spies were helping traffickers identify weaknesses in the EU’s external borders including Bulgaria’s frontier with Turkey.

He claimed Moscow’s agents were also advising migrants on how to exploit asylum systems in both the EU and the UK to avoid deportation.Speaking after the revelation, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warned that the findings exposed the growing threat from hostile states such as Russia.“It is clear that illegal migration into Europe and beyond is being driven not just by organised crime networks seeking to make a profit, but by hostile state actors seeking to destabilise Europe,” she said.Mr Mitov’s warning comes amid mounting concern across Europe that Russia is using migration as a tool to sow division and weaken Western Government.

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