Alex Younger, the current head of the British secret intelligence service, MI6, has said that he “experiences delight when the small group of people, embodying the best of modern Britain” (MI6 agents and staff) “penetrate our enemies and disrupt their plans”; and talks of his “sheer satisfaction at putting one over on those who mean us harm” (Blue plaque commemorates C, swordstick and monocle user and first head of MI6, 31 March). As we now know that Britain’s secret intelligence services regularly spied on and kept files on a number of Labour MPs, including ministers, could we please have a clear, public definition of their work, how they conduct it, who authorises it and what the boundaries (if any) are?
Anna Ford
London
