British Intelligence Bugging Claims Plunge Prime Minister Tony Blair into Crisis

Strategic Insights -

British Prime Minister Tony Blair is facing a post-Iraq war crisis after a former cabinet minister, Clare Short, claimed that British intelligence had bugged United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's office in New York. This revelation has added to concerns that the Official Secrets Act is in disarray and has sparked a debate about the legality of British intelligence operations. Short, who resigned as International Development Secretary in protest of the war, told BBC radio that she was "absolutely" sure that British spies had bugged private conversations in Annan's office, citing transcripts she had seen. The claim has been met with skepticism by Blair, who has refused to confirm or deny the allegations, insisting that British intelligence has broken no laws.

However, UN officials and experts have expressed concerns that if true, the bugging would represent a serious breach of several international conventions and laws. The British government has already come under scrutiny for its handling of the Official Secrets Act after the case against intelligence staffer Katherine Gun was dropped without explanation. Gun had leaked an email to the Observer newspaper that requested British help in a U.S. operation to spy on UN delegates.

Key Takeaways:

  • Clare Short, a former British cabinet minister, alleges that British intelligence bugged UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's office in New York, citing transcripts she had seen.
  • The claim has been met with skepticism by Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has refused to confirm or deny the allegations, insisting that British intelligence has broken no laws.
  • The British government has already come under scrutiny for its handling of the Official Secrets Act after the case against intelligence staffer Katherine Gun was dropped without explanation.
  • Gun had leaked an email to the Observer newspaper that requested British help in a U.S. operation to spy on UN delegates.
  • UN officials and experts have expressed concerns that if true, the bugging would represent a serious breach of several international conventions and laws.
  • Clare Short is equally liable to prosecution under the Official Secrets Act for revealing information about spying operations.
  • The U.N.'s offices are regularly swept for listening devices, but if Short's claims are true, the U.N. would have to upgrade its technical defenses.
  • This revelation has added to concerns that the Official Secrets Act is in disarray and has sparked a debate about the legality of British intelligence operations.

Statistics:

  • The Official Secrets Act has been dubbed "a complete shambles" by the opposition Conservative leader, Michael Howard.
  • There are 4,300 employees at GCHQ, the British intelligence agency with a unique intelligence-sharing relationship with America's National Security Agency and CIA.
  • Gun built up considerable American support, including from Daniel Ellsberg, the man who leaked the Vietnam War Pentagon Papers in 1971; actor Sean Penn; civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, and others.

Sources:

  • UPI, "British intelligence claims bugged U.N. chief's office", February 26 (no date)
  • BBC Radio, interview with Clare Short, February 26 (no date)
  • The Observer, "Gun revealed U.S. spy plan", March 9 (no date)
  • The Guardian, "U.S. told Britain to spy on UN", March 9 (no date)