It has been the belief for 40 years since the creation of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association by Ken McGinley that the Ministry of Defence spied on the group and potentially infiltrated it many times. it has never been proven, until today.
But who was the spy in the camp?
Researchers have found a file in the National Archives that is dedicated to the activities of the NTV Group.
Extracts from a memo from Alan Baker dated 16th July 1991. A Minister requested that they 'Spike Mr McGinley's Guns.'
Norcross (Home of Veterans UK) had information regarding McGinley.
Mr Dickson who described himself as the West Yorkshire representative, wrote to participants in his area advising them not to co-operate.
How did they get this information? A member of the BNTVA was the husband of a member of staff in Mrs Roger's support unit at Norcross and was passing all information to them.
The UK Government had an informant who was passing on all documentation sent out by the BNTVA and providing inside information on the association, but they were still worried.
Just how worried? In a memo dated 15th July 1991, DRO Nelson was extremely worried:
Bomb Hoaxes? The Real Thing?
The Prime Minister at the time was also concerned with the NRPB Report and a substantial amendment to an earlier draft in response to Terence Higgins MP.
At the time, the BNTVA was supported by the RBL, especially the Thornton Cleveleys branch.
The UK Government describes the RBL Officers involved as 'Activists'.
On the 16th of August, the UK Government involved itself in the Royal British Legions decision stating "It is very sad that RBL is involving itself in this irresponsible campaign." PSL intends to make our views known to RBL when he meets them next in October.
The Department of Social Security intervened in this support in August 1991, writing to the Pensions Secretary of the RBL, agreed by Mr Lowe PS/PSL:
The letter was sent from the Department of Social Security:
Following this letter, the RBL wrote to the Thornton Cleveleys Branch:
And then disassociated themselves from the BNTVA campaign:
The BNTVA planned a publicity stunt to hand in hundreds of claim forms. The MoD was aware of it from inside information:
The informant must have known the number of forms that had been received. Even the local RBL Officials were providing the MoD with information (from a memo dated 24 July 1991):
This officer is later identified as Mr Wyke, a local officer of the RBL:
A meeting was held internally in Room 8101A (Mr Sheppards office) to discuss the delivery of the forms by Chris Rowlands of the BNTVA:
Ministers involved were sent a memo containing the letter from Mr McGinley and an anonymous note from a member who is not impressed with the Association's actions:
Describing ex-servicemen as 'cronies' is incredibly disrespectful.
In 1991, the Secretary of State for Defence was Tom King, now Lord King who sits in the House of Lords.
Contained within this public file is every piece of correspondence sent out regarding the campaign, each time the UK Government was forewarned of all activities using a network of spies and informants.
The MOD even gave the DHSS a 'line to take' when attending the Annual British Legion Conference:
The MoD influenced the DHSS to ensure they 'towed the line', even asking for feedback on the event.
Conclusion
When we met the Veterans' Minister Johnny Mercer, he told me that he did not believe in the conspiracy theories regarding the Nuclear Veterans and the UK Government infiltrating them and spying on them. He has always stated that if we have evidence to provide him with it, so we have sent him a copy of this evidence and a link to this blog asking for an urgent explanation as to why the UK Government would infiltrate NTV Organisations, use the husband of an employee to pass on important information and would use the Department for Social Security to put pressure on the Royal British Legion to disassociate themselves from the Nuclear Test Veterans and their campaign. A copy has also been sent to Ben Wallace MP. This is in no way a Political campaign, it is for truth and justice. These two individuals just happen to be the Ministers in charge today.
Mr McGinley caused a stir in government, but he was never a terrorist, he wasn't going to blow up locations, he wanted truth and justice as have many thousands of Nuclear Veterans and their families. From the documents we have obtained, which are still available in the National Archives, it is very apparent that the UK Government was prepared to go to any lengths to stop the Nuclear Test Veterans from succeeding using their own employees, husbands of employees and RBL Officers as spies and informants.
We look forward to the reply from Mr Mercer and Mr Wallace and an apology for the way the Nuclear Test Veterans and the campaigners have been treated, they did their duty, unfortunately successive governments have failed them. Mr Mercer wanted evidence of Government interference and how far they were prepared to go, well here it is.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised Honesty and Transparency during his time in office. These documents show that since 1991 the MoD has covered up and lied to Ministers about their involvement with the NTV Groups over many years. It is bad enough to be ordered to watch a nuclear explosion but to then be betrayed by your own government, it is shocking.
We have deliberately not published the file reference so that it is not removed by the MoD and is free to anyone who wants to see it in the National Archives. The AB and ES files are already restricted from public view, we do not want this information restricted from the public.
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