Straw: Issue of national security

Government Wins Injunction over MI5 Revelations

The Home Secretary Jack Straw said the Government had taken the step in the interests of national security.

"I have no wish to prevent legitimate debate or criticism of the Security Service," he said.

"But Mr Shayler has had access to highly sensitive information which he has undertaken never to reveal," he insisted.

Shayler: Revealing MI5 secrets

"He has since claimed to have been very careful not to compromise on-going operations or the security of individuals," continued Mr Straw. "However, last week's articles in the Mail on Sunday themselves demonstrate that he is in no position to judge, because his disclosures have already caused serious harm."

But Jonathan Holborow, editor of the Mail on Sunday, said the Government action was "a disgrace".

"My plan now is to show in tomorrow's paper how a Government which is committed to freedom of information is prepared to use the Official Secrets Act to gag debate in an area of public interest," he said.

"This is a serious assault on the freedom of the press. The injunction has not been obtained to safeguard national security. It is to cover up the embarrassment of the MI5," said Mr Holborow.

Holborow: Ruling 'a disgrace'

Asked what the paper would do now, he said: "We may go to court again. This is something that the Mail on Sunday is not going to take lying down."

The case was considered by a High Court judge after concern that Mr Shayler had breached the Official Secrets Act by speaking publicly in last week's edition of the newspaper about his career with the service.

He told how for three years MI5 tapped the telephone of Minister without Portfolio Peter Mandelson and he revealed information about other files and operations said to involve Home Secretary Jack Straw and Guardian journalist Victoria Brittain.

Mr Straw insisted the move was not designed to prevent embarrassment to ministers or the service. He accepted that the Mail on Sunday had tried not to publish material which would harm the national interest.

"I commend them for that, but only the Government and the Security Service have the expertise and current knowledge to make such judgments," said Mr Straw.

"The Government has an overriding duty to protect people's lives and the interests of national security," he continued. "For that reason alone we have had to ask the Court for an injunction to achieve that objective."

The injunction restrains Mr Shayler from disclosing to the media any information obtained by him through his employment by the Security Service.