British prime minister orders crackdown on unauthorized leaks
British Prime Minister Theresa May has secretly ordered a clampdown on unauthorized leaks by ministers and civil servants, a leaked document shows.
May warned that culprits would face immediate dismissal even if no threat is posed to national security, according to a memorandum leaked to the British news media on Sunday.
She asked security chiefs to seize mobile phone and email records of people suspected of disclosing government splits or secrets which are of acute sensitivity.
In a note leaked by enraged insiders, who called the crackdown “quasi totalitarian,” Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood informed senior officials of May’s order to tighten security in Whitehall.
The note, dated November 28 and marked Official-Sensitive, Jeremy referred to a “spate of leaks and unauthorized briefings” that surfaced in the press on Brexit, the US elections and the annual Autumn Statement.
“The Prime Minister has directed that we urgently tighten security processes and improve our response to leaks. She has instructed that we begin this work immediately and expects to see rapid and visible improvement,” he wrote.
“Anyone found to have leaked sensitive information will be dismissed even where there is no compromise of national security. The Prime Minister will be writing in similar terms to ministers.”
The note contains information about clashes between pro-Brexit ministers like Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Trade Secretary Liam Fox and Chancellor Philip Hammond as well as tensions between Hammond and May.
In his note, Heywood said it was essential to “ensure staff are available for interview and tough disciplinary measures” when a culprit is caught leaking sensitive information.
“I have already strengthened the controls for sensitive Cabinet Committee papers. This will require all the energy and attention any cultural change demands.”
May has vowed to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal process for starting Brexit, by March next year.
She has been under immense pressure by her critics, who say she has no precise plan to start the Brexit negotiations.
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