The Big Breach - Index of

The Big Breach; From Top Secret to Maximum SecurityCompliments of http://www.192.comBut I was not finished. `And I suggest you do it properly, becauseyou've dismissed me illegally and I intend to take MI6 to an employmenttribunal.'Dimmock looked really appalled. After a moment for the implications tosink in, he replied, `We really hope you won't do that. It would causea lot of bad publicity for us. In any case, what would be the point?Even if you won, we wouldn't give you your job back. Nobody can tellthe Chief of MI6 what to do.'This last sentence of Dimmock's was perceptive, though he didn'trealise it himself. It was this belief, which he held in common withmany other senior officers in MI6, that was the reason behind thepatently unfair dismissal and the cause of the long disagreementbetween me and MI6 that was to follow. Dimmock genuinely believed thatMI6 was above the laws of the land. There were mechanisms such as thesubmissions process that conferred token accountability to the ForeignSecretary and the Prime Minister, but to the likes of Dimmock, thesewere just minor bureaucratic formalities that needed to be completed inorder to carry out important operations. Democratic oversight did notapply to something as trivial as employment law. In his eyes, MI6 hadno obligation to give any warning that my job was in jeopardy, or toprovide any reasons justifying my dismissal. He expected me to take thesacking on the chin, not complain, not demand any explanation, andmeekly accept their offer of help with a stiff upper lip. `We'll getyou a job in the City,' blustered Dimmock feebly as I stood up angrily.`Keep your feeble ambitions to yourself,' I shouted, storming out.Dimmock picked the wrong person to impose his arbitrary authority on.There was no way that I would let MI6 get away with such a casual abuseof power and I resolved then and there to fight them to the end. It wasnot just because I liked my job and had no interest in working in theCity. It was also a matter of principle. I knew that if I did not fightthem, they would do the same thing to somebody else, then somebodyelse.A few days later, personnel department allowed me back into the officefor an hour to make a final appeal to the Chief himself, DavidSpedding. Dimmock assured me that it would be an impartial appeal andthat Spedding had not been briefed about the background to my case. Butit was clear from the first words of the meeting that this was a lie.Spedding was already fully briefed, the decision was firmly cut anddried, and I had no chance at all of getting it overturned. Speddingdismissed me with a wave of the hand, adding, `I understand personneldepartment have already found you some interesting possibilities in theCity.'My perfunctory firing was a classic example of the type of behindclosed-doorsMI6 decision that happens regularly in the service due tothe ultimate lack of accountability of the Chief. As Dimmock hadpompously pointed out, the Chief answers to nobody. He never has tojustify a decision, no matter how crass or stupid, to a parliamentaryselect committee or to the Foreign Secretary or Prime Minister, and sohas no incentive to scrutinise recommendations that are passed up tohim. His non-existent upwards accountability means he needs only tocultivate the support of power-brokers below him. It is expedient topage- 143 - To purchase the original limited edition hardback version of this bookplease call 08000 192 192 or go to http://www.192.com