Merlyn Rees on MI5 dirty tricks campaign

Title

Merlyn Rees on MI5 dirty tricks campaign

Genre

Interview

TX Date

10 May 1989

Year of production

1989

Play audio

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Duration

00:01:38

Description

Former Home Secretary, Merlyn Rees admits MI5 did wage a dirty tricks campaign against the last Labour government. New allegations of security service involvement in a plan to undermine the Wilson government are disclosed in a book out today, Who Framed Colin Wallace, by Paul Foot. It had to be rushed into print to avoid the new Official Secrets Act, which gets royal assent tomorrow. The book claims that army information officer Colin Wallace was framed on a charge of manslaughter, to stop him spilling the beans over an alleged plot by MI5 officers in Northern Ireland aimed at destabilising the Wilson government. Merlyn Rees, who was Northern Ireland Secretary at the time, says it is true. Male interviewer not identified.

Contributors

Merlyn Rees

Keywords

Books; Authors; Government; Harold Wilson; Northern Ireland; Conservative Party; State security; MI5; Colin Wallace; Paul Foot; Who Framed Colin Wallace

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