Probably the most dismaying allegation floated from the Tomlinson is actually which he got read within this MI6 off a beneficial “federal paper editor” who was simply put because the an agent, together with acquired up to ?one hundred,000 from inside the covert money, utilized at the an overseas bank, through a bogus passport obligingly supplied by MI6 alone. It allege stop a color and you will cry, when the latest hapless Dominic Lawson, today editor of your own Week-end Telegraph, approved his assertion, or any other editors showed up lower than suspicious scrutiny.
Indeed, I do believe Tomlinson might have been wrongly reported. Anyone who has talked in order to him in more detail say that he does not have any first-hands knowledge, but quite simply know off things an associate obliquely said. Hearing the words “editor” and you will “national paper”, Tomlinson sprang into incorrect completion, after which come guessing. Spies are, after all, most such as for example reporters within methods – but quite simply faster reputable. Exactly what those who work in the new paper company know would be the fact you will find a big difference internationally ranging from “the newest editor” and you can “an editor”. Push keeps, particularly, studies editors, environment editors and you can defence publishers (maybe not, I ought to state, that i have research facing people people in this type of categories).
And you may an older copywriter at that top – just who you certainly will travelling, find anything, declaration straight back – might be off much more practical include in the firm out-of espionage than simply, state, the fresh new publisher of any federal newsprint.