National Security Council Leak Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

National Security Council Leak

Lord Robathan Excerpts
Thursday 2nd May 2019

(5 years, 6 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Lord Young of Cookham
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I have great respect for the noble Lord, but I did not detect a question in what he said, just some comments. Personally, I deplore all leaks, NSC and Cabinet. Colleagues should be free to express their views frankly around the Cabinet table and, once they leave the Cabinet table, should keep quiet. I hope that what happened will re-establish more discipline and collective responsibility for decisions, and that people will respect the confidentiality of what happens in Cabinet.

Lord Robathan Portrait Lord Robathan (Con)
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I entirely agree with my noble friend and deprecate all leaks. This was absolutely a sacking offence, whoever did it, and it appears that it was Mr Williamson. However, does the Minister also agree that, notwithstanding the outrage of others, this is not a threat to national security? A conversation was leaked that should not have been, but there is no threat to national security. To bring the Official Secrets Act into it is a complete confection.

Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Lord Young of Cookham
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What is serious is the forum from which the leak emanated. The contributions of individual members of the NSC were also leaked, and both of those are very serious offences.