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MI5 letter unearthed by Cabinet Office in child abuse inquiry MI5 letter unearthed by Cabinet Office in child abuse inquiry
(about 1 hour later)
A Cabinet Office search has unearthed a letter from MI5 about historical child sexual abuse claims which said the risk of "political embarrassment" was "greater than the security danger". An MI5 letter warning of the risk of "political embarrassment" from child sexual abuse claims has been found.
The material was not disclosed to an official review of Home Office files carried out last year. A 1986 note - by then head of MI5, Sir Anthony Duff - followed warnings an MP had a "penchant for small boys".
This found that there was no evidence of records being removed or destroyed. The newly uncovered material, found in a search by the Cabinet Office, was not disclosed to a 2014 Home Office review.
The review's authors said the material did not alter their findings but it was "unhelpful" for public confidence. Its author, the NSPCC's Peter Wanless, said the new documents showed the risk to children was "not considered at all" but did not alter his findings.
One of the report's authors, NSPCC head Peter Wanless, said of the newly discovered documents, that the risk to children was "not considered at all". The review - written by Mr Wanless and Richard Whittam QC and published in November - examined how the Home Office dealt with files alleging child abuse between 1979 and 1999.
It concluded that there was no evidence of records being deliberately removed or destroyed.
But Mr Wanless said the discovery of the new material by the Cabinet Office was "unhelpful" for public confidence.
'Miscellaneous papers''Miscellaneous papers'
Both he and Richard Whittam QC had examined how the Home Office dealt with files alleging child abuse from 1979 to 1999.
Police are also examining the newly emerged material.Police are also examining the newly emerged material.
Many of the new files found were in a set of previously uncatalogued records called "Cabinet Secretary miscellaneous papers".Many of the new files found were in a set of previously uncatalogued records called "Cabinet Secretary miscellaneous papers".
It included documents about three MPs - former home secretary Leon Brittan, Sir Peter Morrison and Sir William van Straubenzee - although the contents of those papers is not known.It included documents about three MPs - former home secretary Leon Brittan, Sir Peter Morrison and Sir William van Straubenzee - although the contents of those papers is not known.
The MI5 letter, written in 1986 by its then boss Sir Antony Duff, followed an inquiry into a MP alleged to have a "penchant for small boys". The MI5 letter, written in 1986 by its then boss Sir Antony Duff to the then Cabinet Secretary Sir Robert Armstrong, followed an inquiry into an MP alleged to have a "penchant for small boys".
The letter concluded that the MP's denial was accepted and Sir Anthony wrote that "the risk of political embarrassment to the government is rather greater than the security danger".The letter concluded that the MP's denial was accepted and Sir Anthony wrote that "the risk of political embarrassment to the government is rather greater than the security danger".
Other newly disclosed documents make reference to the Kincora boys' home in Northern Ireland, which was at the centre of a child abuse scandal between the 1950s and the 1980s.Other newly disclosed documents make reference to the Kincora boys' home in Northern Ireland, which was at the centre of a child abuse scandal between the 1950s and the 1980s.