* * * * * * * * * The Daily Telegraph Monday 19 December 2016 * * * 17 Letters to the Editor

Retired British soldiers face prosecution while IRA men go free I spied for Russia

SIR – Two former soldiers, members of accept this, the Government must give undoubtedly have a negative impact SIR – As a regular member of the the British Army, are to be prosecuted the same protection to the military on operations for many years to come. Cambridge “spy seminar” (report, over the killing of Joe McCann, an who served in Northern Ireland. Stephen Powne December 17), I do not believe that our Official IRA commander who was Robert Boorman London SW1 proceedings or funding have been shot dead in central Belfast in 1972. Cambridge influenced by the Russians. He was a Republican legend even SIR – The latest persecution of military The seminars take place under before his killing. Photographed amid SIR – Current investigations into and ex-military personnel must give the aegis of the history faculty of ESTABLISHED 1855 flames in Eliza Street, holding an M1 events in Northern Ireland, Iraq and comfort to this country’s adversaries, Cambridge University, and offer carbine rifle, McCann’s image during Afghanistan are unfair in the extreme. whether state or terrorist-based. balanced presentations from Russian the gun battle became one of the Service personnel put their lives on A combination of weak political and many other perspectives. I have earliest iconic images of the Troubles. the line at the behest of our politicians, leadership (terrified of casualties or listened to informative lectures by According to the US Irish Echo, who very rarely get their hands dirty. the International Criminal Court) former heads of the KGB and senior An unacceptable “by 1971, McCann was officer One has to ask why anyone would and rapacious human rights lawyers members of the CIA and the FBI. commanding the Official IRA’s third serve on the front line in the current funded by the British taxpayer I spied for the Russians on Britain’s battalion in Belfast, which covered climate when there is a real possibility means that no enemy of the United nuclear waste disposal facilities for assault on a free press the Markets area. In a gun battle in of investigation many years after the Kingdom need worry about Britain’s four years from the mid-Nineties Cromac Square on May 21 that year, event. Who would want to live with Armed Forces. They will either not – with a little help from MI6. Possibly McCann and his unit ambushed and that hanging over their head? be deployed or, if they are, will be the SVR – the rebranded KGB – could or the past three days on the freezing killed a British soldier, the first to die You cannot ask Servicemen to think looking over their shoulders in case have got the same information that I streets of Warsaw, thousands of people at the hands of the Officials.” twice before they pull the trigger they are prosecuted for shooting the gave it by knocking on the doors of have taken part in a series of protests in As part of the Northern Ireland when their lives are on the line. They Queen’s enemies . Whitehall, but it preferred a more peace process, Tony Blair’s deserve at the very least the full How long before we see clandestine approach. front of Poland’s parliament. Inside the representatives told 200 suspects that support of the Government. prosecutions of the Falkland campaign So what? Don’t we all want the F session hall, opposition MPs occupied they were unlikely to face prosecution There is a clamour in this country heroes on behalf of Argentine citizens? Russians to solve their nuclear waste the speaker’s podium for several hours unless new evidence came to light. for this wrong to be put right, yet it It makes me very concerned for the problems? and blocked a vote on the 2017 state budget. The The alleged terrorists would not face seems the Government is not listening. defence of this country. But my actions could easily be cause of these demonstrations are plans by the arrest because they had received The damage that is being done to our Harry Knowles interpreted by the Rightist media ruling Law and Justice party to restrict the access “comfort letters”. If the IRA agreed to Armed Services is immense and will Ulverston, Cumbria were I to give a presentation at the Cambridge Intelligence seminar. (I of reporters to the legislature. We accept letters was never asked to sign the Official In a country that threw off the Soviet yoke by post, fax and No trains? That’s £400 Secrets Act, though I was requested less than 30 years ago, freedom of the press is email only. Please not to identify my MI6 minders.) inextricably bound up with democracy. Control of include name, SIR – Many commuters renew an As one of the contributors to the the media is a certain sign of incipient autocracy. address, work and annual ticket on January 1. To travel first edition of the new Journal of After all, why would those in power want to home telephone from the south coast to a London office Intelligence and Terrorism Studies numbers. costs, say, £4,400 for the year. cited in your report, I do not believe constrain the press unless they are doing something This payment is credited to the that there is any Russian bias in its that they do not want the public to know? 111 Buckingham Government, which adds on taxpayer articles, some of which I reviewed. Newspapers are simply a conduit of information to Palace Road, money to meet a pre-agreed fee that it The main purpose of this worthy the people. Our rulers may not like the way some in London then pays to Southern railway. and much-needed publication is to the media transmit what they say or comment upon SW1W 0DT Each time you are more than an correct misinformation – which in my what they do, but in a free country that is something hour late, or there are no trains, you view is the most urgent and laudable they just have to put up with. FAX can claim from Southern. If its office at view for any academic media outlet in 020 7931 2878 Ashby-de-la-Zouch passes your claim today’s confused and unstable world. For the Poles, freedom of the press matters (and it doesn’t seem very eager), you Rev Dr David L Gosling because it is the very essence of liberty in a country EMAIL can receive an 11th of what you paid in Cambridge where it has been snuffed out all too regularly dtletters@ advance for that week. throughout history. For the British, however, it is telegraph.co.uk If no trains run all year and you put taken for granted. We imagine ourselves to be a in a claim for every journey, then the Scott’s race to the Pole mature democracy in which the media can pretty FOLLOW Government will receive your £4,400 Telegraph Letters and you will be refunded £4,000 SIR – Alex Michaels (Letters, December much say what they want. This has never been on Twitter (as you cannot claim for commuting 16) was quite right to emphasise the entirely true, of course. The laws of libel constrain @LettersDesk on Saturdays). This will leave the scientific priorities of Captain Scott’s

reckless journalism and strict rules govern what can Government £400 up, though you PHOTO STOCK ALAMY 1910-13 expedition. Whether or not he be said and written about court cases. Moreover, never got to work the whole year. Engaged: a sheep shelters in the shell of a red telephone box on the Isle of Skye truly “called off the race”, however, is, criminal activity by journalists is rightly punished: Simon Dunton I believe, more of a grey area. the press is not above the Westham, East Sussex On learning of Amundsen’s plan to Planting Wi-Fi in a British country phone box use dog sledges, he called it a “serious When legislation is law and does not seek SIR – Unions have stated that this menace to ours”. When he reached the to be. wave of strikes is meant to “topple the SIR – One solution to the proposed no surprise to Britain’s farmers. Our South Pole on January 17 1912, only to introduced which But when legislation is Tories”. Edward Heath called a general reduction by a third of the existing member survey showed that 70 per find that Amundsen had got there a would serve to introduced which would election to answer the question “Who 45,000 phone boxes, due to non-use, cent of smartphone users have no month earlier, he wrote in his journal: undermine press serve to undermine runs Britain?” He got a bloody nose. would be to turn them into free access to 4G at all. Where there “Great God! This is an awful place and press freedom, then it I suspect that Theresa May would Wi-Fi hotspots. Especially in is coverage, farmers often report terrible enough for us to have laboured freedom, then it has fare rather better. rural areas, this would reduce the voice signal being lost. to it without the reward of priority.” to be opposed has to be opposed, not Roger Smith number of Wi-Fi black spots. The Government needs to This plaintive statement surely only by the press who Meppershall, Bedfordshire The infrastructure is there: an commit itself to providing superfast indicates disappointment that he are directly affected by iconic landmark, a power source broadband infrastructure for all had not reached the Pole first. it but by all who believe in this country’s liberties, SIR – Two words spring to mind when and a connection to an exchange farmers and rural communities Julian Salisbury rather than just paying lip service to them. considering the airport and airline that could be upgraded to 4G. and ensure that plans for 5G are Vice President, Many readers may not appreciate that just such strike over Christmas. Selfish and pigs. Adrian Pickering “rural-proofed”. The Captain Scott Society, Cardiff Louise Broughton Springwell Village, Co Durham Guy Smith a law is on the Statute Book. It is Section 40 of Bowness-on-Windermere, Westmorland Vice President, the Crime and Courts Act 2013, introduced as a SIR – Reports of digital deserts for National Farmers’ Union Online bank fraud response by Parliament to the phone-hacking mobile phone coverage come as Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire scandal and the subsequent Leveson inquiry into Prison riots SIR – I was glad to read that banks will the press. In essence, it means that newspapers that provide instant computer warnings continue to subscribe to an independent regulatory SIR – Prison governors and ministers to online customers that they may should read Jeffrey Archer’sPrison Unexpected Christmas visitors – not expected be transferring funds into a spurious system and refuse to recognise an officially Diaries. He described the problems of account. sanctioned body called Impress leave themselves overcrowding and he highlighted the SIR – In the run-up to Christmas, SIR – For Christmas circular It is disappointing that it will take exposed to severe financial penalties. If they are use of drugs and mobile phones. we are constantly being urged to newsletters (report, December 18), until 2018 to introduce the system. The sued, they would have to pay their own costs and Barbara Whitehouse stock up on extra food and drink for we give a “prize” to the best in the technology is not new, so the delay those of the complainant – even if they win the case. Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire “unexpected visitors”. following categories: Most Miserable; must be caused by the need to build a Most newspaper organisations, including the Where are these people? I have Most Smug; Most Badly Written; database of scammers. never seen them. Most News About People We Have Only this week, I received a warning Telegraph, have declined to join Impress precisely First to swear Are they exempt from stocking up Never Heard Of. by a school bursar alerting parents to a because it is a state-approved body. The great their own larders, because they are Of course, the one we send out is scam email asking for school fees to be majority have signed up instead to the Independent SIR – Since most senior civil servants paying unexpected visits to others and always scintillating… paid into a new (scammer’s) account. Press Standards Organisation (Ipso), which has seem wedded to the European Union, eating them out of house and home? Janet McNeill This came one day after 700 of us had powers to require newspapers to carry apologies they should be the first to take a new Rosemary Aldridge Upper Basildon, Berkshire received the bill for next term’s fees. or corrections and fine those that show excessive oath of allegiance to British values. Poynton, Cheshire Angus Ward Rev Philip Foster SIR – Last Christmas we received Wantage, Oxfordshire carelessness. Hemingford Abbots, Huntingdonshire SIR – Is the tradition of groups of an unsigned Christmas card from Section 40 has yet to be triggered, because the door-to-door carol singers consigned somebody who commented: “Hope Government was waiting for various legal actions SIR – Stop this banging on about to nostalgia? you are well. Still taking the tablets.” Heel, Trump, heel! to finish and for Impress to be recognised as the British values. It’s so un-British. The sound nowadays in the This year another unsigned card official regulator, both of which have happened. Incidentally, the UK driving licence evenings leading up to Christmas in the same handwriting has arrived SIR – The best thing by far to come There is now every card would look more dignified and, seems to consist only of the rattle of with the comment: “Have had to out of this year’s turmoil is that it expectation that dare I say, more British with a simple the Ocado or Tesco delivery vans. give up golf.” Presumably the tablets has given us two splendid new dogs’ It will inevitably royal coat of arms, rather than the flag. Not a carol singer in sight. stopped working. names – Brexit and Trump. Parliament will be John Barstow Linda Bos Wendy Strathdee Penny Adie stay the hand of asked to reaffirm this Pulborough, West Sussex Midhurst, West Sussex Burnham, Buckinghamshire South Molton, Devon newspapers that law and bring into play might want to the draconian penalties that go with it. A further investigate consultation is currently suspicious goings-on taking place, but this has The easiest way to read Corbyn’s bid for power the feel of marking time. Our politicians need to consider what they are doing before they proceed with a pernicious attempt to blackmail newspapers to join a regulator CHARLES MOORE Sean Hoyle, president of the RMT supporters. The first – mainly over our way of life: you might almost NOTEBOOK rail union, has explicitly declared that 60 years old – are those who wish to call them British values. Must we that is bankrolled by Max Mosley, who has waged the purpose is to “bring down this rejoin him on the barricades of their repudiate them? war on the press ever since the now-defunct News bloody working-class-hating Tory youth. The second – mainly under I see no virtue in vain oaths. Those of the World ran an exposé of his taste for orgies. government”. This is useful for the 30 years old – are those who know who hold public office should be loyal The intention of the measure, in other words, is to rest of us to know. nothing about what he really thinks. to the head of state in whose name stop newspapers prying into the lives of wealthy But if Mr Corbyn’s convictions give They believe that, in a world of spin, they serve and the lawful institutions and powerful people such as Mr Mosley. Supporters ust occasionally, politics really him a sense of purpose, they also mean he is a breath of fresh air. In fact, his of her government. There doesn’t of the Royal Charter that underpins the regulatory J is simple. I believe there is a that his political opponents can read is the stalest air to waft to the top of seem to be much more to say. simple, overarching explanation him like a book, though admittedly politics since Michael Foot became system claim that it operates in the public interest. for everything Jeremy Corbyn wishes not the sort of book one would want Labour leader in 1980. There can’t be many Anglican It doesn’t; it operates in the interests of a few and to to do. He wants to refight all the to give anyone for Christmas. We At present, thank goodness, ‘ bishops on whose memorial the detriment of the many. battles that the Labour Left lost in the know, for example, that he will always these two groups do not add up to a the public regularly leave flowers. Moreover, it exposes publications that had Eighties. The only question is whether, support any enemy of Britain or the majority, but they could grow if other Archbishop Thomas Becket of nothing to do with phone hacking and have little this time, he can win them. West in general. Hence his recent things – the economy, for instance Canterbury is almost the only one interest in celebrity tittle-tattle to exactly the same His first aim, as Labour leader, was appointment of an ex-IRA worker to – go wrong. who springs to mind. that extremists could take over the his team, his grief at the death of Fidel Another, however, is George Bell, punitive regime, with claimants facing no risk if grass-roots of the Labour Party and Castro, and his otherwise inexplicable I doubt whether the latest Bishop of Chichester during the they take newspapers to court or to arbitration. This undermine moderate MPs. He has tendresse for sexist Islamist militants. ‘ suggestion by the communities war. He is remembered as the chief will inevitably stay the hand of newspapers that largely succeeded. His second was to Hence his longing for any form of secretary, Sajid Javid, will reduce outside supporter of German Christian might want to investigate suspicious goings-on in, reforge the trade union movement inquiry – the latest would have been their number. Mr Javid says he is resistance to Hitler, who condemned for instance, their local council. How is that in the as the spearhead of the Left and into the Battle of Orgreave – which “drawn to” the recommendation by the blanket bombing of German cities. public interest? the party’s main source of financial might somehow put the hated Tories Dame Louise Casey, the Government’s His admirers frequently leave tributes. support. This, too, has happened. The in the dock. community cohesion “tsar”, that Last year, nearly 50 years after his Supposedly, these laws will achieve an equality unions’ share of party funding has Hence, right now, his support for “fundamental British values” should death, Bell was accused of child sexual of arms between allegedly wealthy newspapers and risen to 79 per cent (compared with Putin’s Russia, despite Putin’s fascistic be included in a new oath for all abuse. This column has argued that people who feel they have been harshly treated. 59 per cent under Gordon Brown). The nationalism. For all his oft-expressed holders of public office. the process that found against him was Yet they completely disregard the parlous financial current rash of mainly public-service horror of killing civilians, Mr Corbyn I have no idea what “fundamental flawed. Now there is an inquiry into circumstances faced by the print industry and strikes, led by those on Southern has not yet condemned the Russian British values” are. How do they how his own Church condemned him. especially by local newspapers, which will simply trains, is not “wildcat”, but planned. bombings in Syria. Only imperialist differ from, say, fundamental Danish In the meantime, the present The trade union movement used aggressors bomb civilians, says his values? Where does the “British” bit Dean of Chichester has taken it upon stop following leads that run the risk of litigation. It to have a supposedly unbeatable ideology, formed roughly 40 years come in? himself to order the removal of all is a charter for miscreants to evade accountability. combination known as the Triple ago. Then he thought the Soviet Union “I’m talking about belief in potted plants placed beside Bishop No country that calls itself a democracy should Alliance. Thanks to the incompetence was a force for good. He thinks Putin equality,” Mr Javid goes on. No Bell’s memorial in his cathedral. seek to impose crippling costs on its press because of Mr Corbyn’s old friend Arthur is a continuation of that force by other doubt most of us believe in equality If you’re passing Chichester it refuses to submit to state regulation. This Scargill, Mrs Thatcher defeated the means (he may well be correct), and in some respects – equality before Cathedral this Christmas and you legislation needs to be repealed because it is miners’ union in 1985. That left only a so he blindly supports him. the law, for instance. But we live drop in and decorate the wronged Double Alliance. But those two – the If I am right about Mr Corbyn’s under a hereditary monarchy, with man’s shrine with a sprig of holly, an unacceptable assault on free speech. This is unreformed railway unions and the completely predictable ideology, it an established Church, and the right to commemorate unjust suffering, something the Poles instinctively understand. mighty Unite – are doing their worst to follows that it should be possible to to inherit wealth. All of these defy a higher authority than even a dean We need to show that we do, too. make Mr Corbyn prime minister. stop him. He has two groups of serious equality, yet are cherished parts of will surely forgive you.