Why the Thatcher Government Attempted to Suppress the Memoir of a Former Spy: 1986 Cabinet Office Files
Recently released Cabinet Office files from the National Archives have revealed secret information about the British government’s legal efforts in Australia to stop the publication of Peter Wright’s book, Spycatcher.
The documents show that the British government, led by Baroness Margaret Thatcher, was very concerned and sought an injunction from Australia’s attorney general in 1986 to prevent the release of Spycatcher by 71-year-old Peter Wright, who was believed to still be bound by the Official Secrets Act.
Spycatcher contained various claims, including allegations by Mr. Wright that he had uncovered Sir Roger Hollis, the director general of MI5 from 1956 to 1965, as a Soviet agent. This claim was also discussed in Chapman Pincher’s book, “Their Trade is Treachery,” eight years after Sir Roger’s death, in 1981.
Baroness Thatcher addressed the issue in the House of Commons, stating that although an investigation into Sir Roger’s post-retirement activities did not conclusively prove his innocence, it is often difficult to prove innocence.
Mr. Wright further accused MI6 of attempting to assassinate Egypt’s President Gamal Abdel Nasser during the Suez crisis, and claimed that both MI5 and the CIA collaborated to undermine Harold Wilson when he was Prime Minister.
An internal memo revealed how Australian officials were willing to favor Britain by submitting an affidavit to a New South Wales court indicating that Spycatcher’s publication was against Australia’s national interest.
Other documents discussed various angles of the Spycatcher case, including the Australian government’s stance, Baroness Thatcher’s concerns about exposing the government to difficult questions, and discussions about reaching a potential settlement or taking the case to court. The legal battle continued until 1987 when the Australian Supreme Court ruled in Mr. Wright’s favor, allowing him to publish the book, and the Law Lords in London later ruled that the publication ban in the UK was no longer necessary due to the book’s release in Australia.
Mr. Wright passed away in 1995, having made millions from book sales, and his co-author, Paul Greengrass, went on to become a successful film director. The article ends with a link to the MI5 website, which refutes the claims made against Sir Roger Hollis in the book.
