Ex-spy chief opinion

EU security bodies “of little consequence” to Britain – ex-spy chief backs Brexit

European security bodies bear “little consequence” to British security, a former head of the UK’s foreign spy agency MI6 has said, adding his support to the pro-Brexit campaign.

Writing in current affairs magazine Prospect, Sir Richard Dearlove suggests that leaving the 28-nation bloc would not be as damaging to Britain’s security as the “Remain” campaign suggests. He argues that European intelligence institutions like Club de Berne, are “generally speaking little more than forums for the exchange of analysis and views.”

“With the exception of Europol, these bodies have no operational capacity and with 28 members of vastly varying levels of professionalism in intelligence and security, the convoy must accommodate the slowest and leakiest of the ships of state.”