Labour politicians handed secrets to Czech spies each month during Cold War with one given code name ‘Manchester’
- Stan Orme – code named Manchester – passed on information to foreign agents
- Mr Orme was one of a number of Labour MPs targeted by undercover operatives
- His handler, František Hrůza, came to UK in 1968, and pretended to be diplomat
Stan Orme – code named Manchester – passed on information to Czechoslovak agents who then reported to their bosses in Prague
Labour politicians met with communist spies and passed them information about Britain’s foreign policy during the Cold War, it has been revealed.
Stan Orme – code named Manchester – passed on information to Czechoslovak agents who then reported to their bosses in Prague, as reported by the Daily Telegraph.
Mr Orme, who went on to serve under James Callaghan, would meet with undercover agents every month, and was one of a number of Labour MPs targeted by foreign agents.
Intelligence files seen by the newspaper show that Mr Orme’s handler, called František Hrůza, came to London in 1968, and pretended to be a foreign diplomat.
Mr Hrůza also met with another Labour MP, Alf Lomas, who would later go on to be Labour’s leader in the European parliament and Barnett Stross, the Labour MP code-named Gustav.
Mr Hrůza would wine and dine Mr Orme, and ply him with gifts of cigars to give information on the Western European Union, a military alliance.
In another a meeting with Mr Lomas, Mr Hrůza detailed the £1.04 spent on having a drink with him.
He added that Mr Lomas was useful because he would discuss politics with him and also get information on other possible Labour collaborators.
Merylyn Rees, left, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Stanley Orme, centre, and Harold Wilson, arriving at Stormont Castle in 1974
Labour politicians Denis Healey and Michael Foot lead Shadow Cabinet members through the rain on an 11-mile sponsored walk over 10 Thames Bridges. With them are Joan Lestor, David Ennalls and Stanley Orme (right)
Other meetings reported back to Prague spymasters were also understood to have taken place with Sir Edward Brown, Tory MP for Bath (pictured)
Mr Orme later became disillusioned with the Czech communist party in September 1969.
He was listed in the confidential files as a high level collaborator, along with Raymond Mawby, a Tory cabinet minister.
Mr Mawby is understood to have given spies information about the treasury committee and also some plans of specific rooms at Parliament.
Other meetings reported back to Prague spymasters were also understood to have taken place with Sir Edward Brown, Tory MP for Bath, and Geraint Morgan, the Welsh Conservative MP.