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more answers to FAQs (and more discussion of our objectives) in the Secrets and lies briefing document
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Frequently Asked Questions about David Shayler Why should I be interested in Shaylergate? David Shayler made his revelations in the public interest. He revealed ineptitude and malpractice within MI5 which costs you, the taxpayer millions of pounds every year. You have a right to know if your money is being spent inappropriately What is the Official Secrets Act? The Official Secrets Act is a draconian piece of legislation which prevents anyone working at MI5 from discussing matters as trivial as the canteen menu or the art on the walls. Didn't David have a lifelong duty of confidentiality once he'd signed the OSA? Both MI5 or MI6 are secretive and unaccountable. In a modern democracy, public servants have a moral duty to expose mismanagement and malpractice, especially when it puts at risk the lives of innocent people. Surely this duty overrides a mere contractual obligation? Surely there must be some form of protection for security secrets? Indeed. While everyone accepts there is a need for some form of legislation to protect secrets, the Intelligence Community continues to hide behind the Official Secrets Act to prevent stories of ineptitude and malpractice from becoming public knowledge. How are secrets protected in other countries? No other western liberal democracy has legislation as draconian as Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act. Yet they all manage to protect national security effectively enough. The USA has legislation designed to protect NOT prosecute whistleblowers who reveal information in the public interest. Why are the Labour government condemning David Shayler under the Official Secrets Act? The current Labour government voted AGAINST the Official Secrets Act when in opposition. Tony Blair (the Prime Minister), Jack Straw (the Home Secretary) and John Morris (the Attorney General, who is trying to prosecute David) both voted against the abolition of the public interest defence from the Official Secrets Act. This is clearly rank hypocrisy. So is MI5 the same as MI6? Only in so far as David Shayler’s allegations match those of former- MI6 officer Richard Tomlinson. Both have made independent criticisms of the Security Services but neither former officer has ever met. Yet their criticisms bear startling similarities. This should give any intelligent observer pause for thought. MI5 has claimed David Shayler was a loose cannon - is this true? David worked in three highly sensitive and demanding posts at MI5. Initially in countersubversion, where he had to read files on leading politicians, David was a founding member of MI5’s efforts against IRA terrorism; and Libya, including the Lockerbie investigation, where he was head of the section for over two years. In total David worked for over six years at MI5 and received performance related bonuses throughout his time there. He regularly received commendations from external contacts such as the Police Force. Wasn't David motivated by bitterness at being overlooked for promotion at MI5? No. From the answer to the previous question, it is evident that David was well rewarded and respected in the service. It was purely mismanagement and ineptitude which drove him both out of the service and, after long and careful consideration, into making his revelations public Is David Shayler only in it for the money, after all the newspapers say he was unemployed when he made his revelations? David left MI5 to take up a high-powered management consultancy post. He was NOT unemployed when he made his revelations last year. So why did he accept payment from the Mail on Sunday newspaper? David Shayler knew that he might have to go on the run for a considerable length of time and would be hounded by MI5 - which turned out to be the case - for making his disclosures. He accepted help with his living expenses. This affair has even been covered in the New York Times. Why has the British government been so heavy-handed on David? David’s solicitor John Wadham of the human rights group Liberty, entered into negotiations with the British government in November 1997. These continued for seven months until May. David believed that an agreed settlement would be reached as it would be the best solution for both parties. MI5 refused even to meet David to discuss the issues instead hiding behind their lawyers. They also consistently missed agreed deadlines until the whole process became farcical and David was compelled to end the process. An agreed settlement would surely still be in the interests of both parties, rather than the government risking a publicity circus around a court case. David claims MI6 tried and failed to assassinate Colonel Gadafy of Libya. Is this true? Yes. David became aware of the plot to assassinate Gadafy because because he had taken the trouble to build up unusually good relations with his opposite number in MI6 (PT16B). PT16B also briefed another officer in MI5 about the plot and David kept his line manager informed. Were innocent civilians killed during the Gadafy Assassination attempt? Yes. The British Government has denied an "officially sanctioned" attempt. One can conclude that an unnoficially sanctioned plot by MI6 went ahead, killing innocent bystanders |
