Spy story

Hero spy who founded Bletchley Park codebreaking unit with his own money and warned government against dangers of Hitler is 'too white' for a blue plaque

One of the most influential spymasters in British history has been turned down for a blue plaque – sparking claims he was deemed ‘too white and too male’ for the honour.

Admiral Sir Hugh Sinclair, the second head of MI6, founded the wartime Bletchley Park codebreaking HQ with his own money and set up the unit that became the Special Operations Executive, responsible for a devastating campaign of sabotage in German-occupied Europe.

But English Heritage ruled that he was not ‘historically significant’ enough to be recognised with a blue plaque at his official London residence in Queen Anne’s Gate, which was linked by a secret tunnel to MI6 headquarters.