Some more spying tales.

Britain’s first national security strategy document has largely been forgotten in Whitehall. Officials are carrying on in much the same way as they did before Britain’s security priorities were set out on paper. One explanation is given in an endnote to the document:

“The wider scope of issues to be addressed within this strategy is not to be taken as affecting the legally understood meaning of national security.”

This disclaimer was requested by the Secret Intelligence Service and Security Service, I’m told. Britain’s spies refused to have the legal basis by which they operate watered down by adding threats like flooding to the “legal definition” of national security.

Cynics among you may wonder why the government spent months on a national security strategy that was never permitted to officially redefine national security. But very little surprises when it comes to the NSS, which has always had the smack of a Whitehall farce. We are looking forward to the second instalment, which is supposed to be published in nine months time.