Britain’s deputy prime minister, OLIVER DOWDEN has warned that the country’s upcoming general election faces threats from hostile actors such as Russia seeking to influence the United Kingdom’s democratic process.

His comments came after the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that it had uncovered five Facebook pages spreading the same pro-Russian talking points.

Some of them encouraged support for the Reform UK party led by NIGEL FARAGE — a big challenger to the ruling Conservatives.

FARAGE, however, dismissed claims that Russian bots might interfere in the election as nonsense.

The country will go to the polls this Thursday.