Former M15 agent hails Jack Straw as Big Brother
December 1 2000

David Shaylor, former M15 officer turned whistle blower, presented a Golden “Big Brother” life achievement award for invasion of privacy, to the Home Secretary Jack Straw.

Mr Shaylor (34) feels the Labour Government has persecuted him because of his allegations/revalations of M16 funding an assassination attempt. He said “I would like to meet Jack straw and make my case to him because as of yet the government has never taken evidence off me and I think it is impossible to condemn a man without taking his evidence in the first place”.

His allegations that two MI6 officers, known as PT16B and PT16, paid over £100,000 to one of a group of Libyan plotters in 1995 involved in an attack on Libyan leader Colonel Gadafy. Earlier this year the Government issued a court order demanding the Guardian and Observer newspapers hand over all documents, notes and e-mails relating to Shayler.

The arrival of the former secret service agent caused a stir in the Home office as security guards grappled with video journalists from Undercurrents productions in an attempt to stop them filming. A request by Mr. Shaylor for the Home Secretary to personally accept his award was passed to Mr. Straw’s office.

Mr. Shaylor displayed his frustration at the Labour Government by stating-
“I have been persecuted by the state, spent three and half months in prison in France, and been forced into three years in exile, and now I am looking at serving a prison sentence for breaking the Official Secrets Act.”

The campaign group behind the awards, Privacy International, have presented the annual awards of a golden head with a boot stamping on it, to government officials, corporations and individuals who have done the most to invade personal privacy.

A representative from The Home Office finally accepted the award on Mr. Straw’s behalf.

END
Notes to editors
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