British spy chief says Russia is spreading lies to undermine the West

Director General of MI5 Andrew Parker delivers a speech in central London, on the security threat facing Britain October 17, 2017. [File, Reuters]

Britain’s MI5 spy chief accused Russia on Monday on attempting to subvert Western democracies by sowing disinformation and spreading lies.

In the first public speech outside Britain by a serving head of MI5, Andrew Parker said Britain did not want to escalate tensions with Moscow but that a series of recent aggressive and pernicious actions directed by the Kremlin were unacceptable.