Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Shayler to come in from cold and face music

Maurice McLeod
Wednesday 17 May 2000 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Renegade spy, David Shayler, plans to return to Britain before Christmas, he told the BBC this morning.

Shayler has been living in France after he revealed alleged wrong-doing in the British secret service.

He faces charges of breaking the Official Secrets Act after he claimed that two MI6 officers were involved in a plot to assassinate Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi.

He called for a number of senior figures including the Prime Minister Tony Blair, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, Home Secretary Jack Straw and the heads of MI6 and MI5 to be interviewed by Special Branch in connection with the matter.

Speaking on Radio 4's Today Programme, he said that he was coming back to Britain for "personal reasons" and that he was prepared to stand trial and clear his name.

"I think I can win any court case," he said.

Shayler spent four months in a Paris jail in 1998 while the British Government tried to have him extradited to face charges, but the case was thrown out by a French court, leading the Attorney General to begin civil proceedings for damages in the High Court.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in