Short fights backlash in wake of spy claims

Published on Saturday 28 February 2004 00:00

CLARE SHORT was battling against a Labour backlash today over her claims British agents bugged United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in the run-up to the Iraq war.

Labour loyalists accused her of pursuing her own political agenda.

And Home Secretary David Blunkett refused to rule out an investigation into her apparent breach of the Official Secrets Act, while also casting doubt on her claims.

In defiance of her critics, she penned a full front-page article in a national newspaper. In it she restates her claims and takes on her critics, dismissing as "laughable" Tony Blair’s accusation she had jeopardised national security.

There was also mounting pressure on the Prime Minister today to reveal if the former International Development Secretary’s claims were true after fresh revelations of spying.

The phones of former UN chief weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Richard Butler were tapped while they were on missions abroad, it was claimed.

Yesterday Ms Short’s one-time deputy at the Department for International Development, George Foulkes, joined the attack. "This is the latest outburst from Clare," he said. "There has been a pattern, since she ceased being a minister, of constant attacks on the Labour Government and particularly on Tony Blair. She has got a clear political agenda."

Ex-Scotland Secretary Helen Liddell said Ms Short’s claims were "completely unsubstantiated", adding: "I think a period of silence from Clare might be appreciated."

Meanwhile, the Government is set to face fresh demands in court for the disclosure of the legal advice its senior lawyers gave to justify the war in Iraq.

Following the collapse of the case against former GCHQ worker Katharine Gun, lawyers for anti-war protesters are demanding access to the advice.

Ms Gun's lawyers had asked to see the Attorney General's advice to support her argument that the war was illegal.

Environmental group Greenpeace is to demand sight of the advice in court so it can defend 14 of its activists facing charges from an anti-war protest last year.