This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8289962.stm

The article has changed 36 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
MI5 'struggled' with Soviet spies MI5 'struggled' with Soviet spies
(11 minutes later)
British intelligence could barely cope with the number of Soviet spies in the UK during the Cold War, according to an official history of MI5.British intelligence could barely cope with the number of Soviet spies in the UK during the Cold War, according to an official history of MI5.
The book found that MI5 did not get to grips with Soviet espionage in Britain until the early 1970s.The book found that MI5 did not get to grips with Soviet espionage in Britain until the early 1970s.
The history was written by Professor Christopher Andrew, who insisted he was given complete access to MI5's files.The history was written by Professor Christopher Andrew, who insisted he was given complete access to MI5's files.
The Defence Of The Realm also reveals numerous attempts by politicians to use MI5 for their own ends.The Defence Of The Realm also reveals numerous attempts by politicians to use MI5 for their own ends.
Prof Andrew said it was not until 1971, when 100 Soviet diplomats were expelled from Britain, that MI5 contained KGB and Soviet bloc intelligence activities in the UK.Prof Andrew said it was not until 1971, when 100 Soviet diplomats were expelled from Britain, that MI5 contained KGB and Soviet bloc intelligence activities in the UK.
WreckersWreckers
He was given access to all 400,000 files created by MI5 since it was founded in 1909. But the agency did limit what he could publish.He was given access to all 400,000 files created by MI5 since it was founded in 1909. But the agency did limit what he could publish.
Prof Andrew said documents also showed MI5 was under pressure from Margaret Thatcher to help her in industrial disputes, such as the miners' strike.Prof Andrew said documents also showed MI5 was under pressure from Margaret Thatcher to help her in industrial disputes, such as the miners' strike.
The first-ever history of any of the world's major intelligence agencies in which an outside historian has been given access to just about all of the files Christopher Andrew Book tells of M15's secret pastThe first-ever history of any of the world's major intelligence agencies in which an outside historian has been given access to just about all of the files Christopher Andrew Book tells of M15's secret past
According to the book, the prime minister wanted agents to identify all union "wreckers" who were stirring up industrial action.According to the book, the prime minister wanted agents to identify all union "wreckers" who were stirring up industrial action.
Mrs Thatcher's demand was resisted because they were not genuine subversives, Prof Andrew said.Mrs Thatcher's demand was resisted because they were not genuine subversives, Prof Andrew said.
The authorised history reveals the Ministry of Defence pressed for information it could use against peace groups like CND, which were being monitored in the 1980s.The authorised history reveals the Ministry of Defence pressed for information it could use against peace groups like CND, which were being monitored in the 1980s.
Thousands of files were opened on left-wing activists during the Cold War.Thousands of files were opened on left-wing activists during the Cold War.
The book also details MI5's failure over many years to break the Cambridge spy ring that worked for the Soviet Union.The book also details MI5's failure over many years to break the Cambridge spy ring that worked for the Soviet Union.
MI5 did not realise until 1982 that John Cairncross was the fifth member of the ring, even though he had confessed to being a spy in 1964.MI5 did not realise until 1982 that John Cairncross was the fifth member of the ring, even though he had confessed to being a spy in 1964.
The book has been published to mark the agency's 100th anniversary.The book has been published to mark the agency's 100th anniversary.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
Other revelations include:Other revelations include:
• MI5 infiltrated the Communist Party of Great Britain in the 1950s, using hidden microphones and covert methods to gain membership records.• MI5 infiltrated the Communist Party of Great Britain in the 1950s, using hidden microphones and covert methods to gain membership records.
• A number of union leaders and MPs worked for Soviet bloc intelligence agencies; and• A number of union leaders and MPs worked for Soviet bloc intelligence agencies; and
• Politicians urged MI5 to spy on industrial and political opponents on many occasions.• Politicians urged MI5 to spy on industrial and political opponents on many occasions.
MI5's former director general Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller has spoken to the BBC about her recent time in charge and the impact of the 7 July suicide bomb attacks in London in 2005.MI5's former director general Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller has spoken to the BBC about her recent time in charge and the impact of the 7 July suicide bomb attacks in London in 2005.
She said she feared at the time the service would not be able to cope and worried that suspected terrorists could try to bomb the capital on a regular basis.She said she feared at the time the service would not be able to cope and worried that suspected terrorists could try to bomb the capital on a regular basis.
"My recollection of 7/7 was a feeling of 'It's happened', what we half expected would, what we had prepared for, what we had trained for, so it was a bad day for everybody," she said."My recollection of 7/7 was a feeling of 'It's happened', what we half expected would, what we had prepared for, what we had trained for, so it was a bad day for everybody," she said.
FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World ServiceFROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service
"But the service started immediately doing all the things that it knew it had to do. In the early days we did not know it was a suicide bombing until the forensics began to come through."But the service started immediately doing all the things that it knew it had to do. In the early days we did not know it was a suicide bombing until the forensics began to come through.
"So at the beginning we were trying to support the police in possibly finding the team who had done it, who for all we knew, at that stage were still alive and capable of mounting another attack.""So at the beginning we were trying to support the police in possibly finding the team who had done it, who for all we knew, at that stage were still alive and capable of mounting another attack."
Prof Andrew said he was grateful to MI5 for allowing him access to the files.Prof Andrew said he was grateful to MI5 for allowing him access to the files.
He said: "This is the first, thanks to MI5. The first-ever history of any of the world's major intelligence agencies in which an outside historian has been given access to just about all of the files and been as able to come up to the present day."He said: "This is the first, thanks to MI5. The first-ever history of any of the world's major intelligence agencies in which an outside historian has been given access to just about all of the files and been as able to come up to the present day."
He told Radio 4's Today programme: "If you do not allow your history to be written, there's not just a blank where the history should be, there's disinformation, there's conspiracy theory."He told Radio 4's Today programme: "If you do not allow your history to be written, there's not just a blank where the history should be, there's disinformation, there's conspiracy theory."