Thread by @MarkWatts_1

Day 9 of #spycops inquiry: three #spycops who infiltrated campaign against Vietnam war – “John Graham”, “Barry Morris” and “Margaret White”.

Plus statement to be read from Ernest Tate, of Vietnam Solidarity Campaign and an organiser of Vietnam war protest in London in 1968.

First up today, “HN329”, a #spycop in the Met Special Branch’s “Special Demonstration Squad” from 1968.

He used the cover name “John Graham”.

In his written statement, “John Graham” says that before he joined Met’s SDS he was in “C Squad” where he was “carrying out Communism related enquiries” and “engaging in covert work”.

When he joined the SDS, “John Graham” tells #spycops inquiry that he does not recall the name “SDS” being used.

“To me, the Unit was referred to as ‘The Hairies’ because a number of undercover officers grew their hair and beards.”

“John Graham” clarifies to #spycops inquiry that “C squad” also sat within Met’s Special Branch.

The difference between C Squad and SDS was that while working in the latter he used a cover identity.

At the SDS, his target was the Vietnam Solidarity Committee.

“John Graham” tells #spycops inquiry thats SDS had around 12 other members when he joined.

He explains that within Special Branch, A Squad dealt with administration, C Squad with communism and D Squad with naturalisation.

“John Graham” to #spycops inquiry: “Fifty years ago, because of the cold war, the Cuban missile crisis and the fear that there was going to be a world war, communism was of paramount interest and so there would have been reporting on anyone who might be a communist.”

Tariq Ali’s barrister, Rajiv Menon, clashes with Sir John Mitting, chairman of #spycops inquiry.

Menon wants to ask “John Graham” several qus, but Mitting allows only one topic.

Menon: “I cannot understand…”

Mitting: Ask about the one topic or, “You will be silenced.”

I only caught part of this extraordinary exchange between Sir John Mitting and Rajiv Menon at #spycops inquiry, as transcript flitted through.

Menon made application to ask “John Graham” further questions.

Mitting rather forcefully told Menon that he could not, bar one topic.

Rajiv Menon said that there was enough time for him to ask his further questions without disrupting today’s timetable of #spycops inquiry.

Sir John Mitting replied that this was not the point. He was worried about setting a precedent for further questions for future witnesses.

Rajiv Menon began to ask Sir John Mitting for the reasons for being disallowed to ask “John Graham” about all but one of the proposed topics, to which Mitting even more forcefully said that he had given his ruling.

Ask about your one topic, or “You will be silenced.”

The #spycops hearing has adjourned for lunch.

Or perhaps, for a bit of cooling off.

Statement of Ernest Tate, of Vietnam Solidarity Campaign, is being read out (and live streamed) at #spycops inquiry by his barrister, Nick Stanage:

Of course, because Ernest Tate’s statement is simply being read out to #spycops inquiry, it is deemed to be “safe” to live stream its reading.

Ernest Tate says in his statement that disclosures from #spycops inquiry show that he featured in 23 Special Branch reports by #spycops in 1968-9.

He thinks this is only a partial picture because it is evidence that Special Branch opened a file on him in 1966.

From the newly-available transcript, I can be more precise about the extraordinary clash between Rajiv Menon and Sir John Mitting at #spycops inquiry at the end of this morning’s session re possible further questions for “John Graham”, the first #spycop witness to be called...

Rajiv Menon, Tariq Ali’s barrister, applied to ask qus on seven topics that fell into three categories:

- topics not covered by qus already put by David Barr, counsel to #spycops inquiry;
- follow-ups to qus already put;
- responses by “John Graham” not in his statement.

Sir John Mitting, chairman of #spycops inquiry: “You have already submitted your suggested topics to Mr Barr, I think, have you not?”

Yes, said Rajiv Menon. “I complied with the protocol that you put in force.” He had submitted a list of topics that he wished to ask witness.

Rajiv Menon continued at #spycops inquiry: “I received, this morning, a reply from the inquiry…

“But a number of matters that I had hoped would be asked haven't been asked, and hence my oral application.”

Sir John Mitting: “What topics do you want to ask about?”

Rajiv Menon said that he wanted to ask about:

- motiviations of SDS, #spycops unit;
- selection of VSC;
- SDS methods;
- intelligence gleaned that helped prevent disorder at protest against Vietnam war;
- “Box 500” ie MI5;
- a specific #spycop document raised this morning.

Rajiv Menon added: “I notice that we have plenty of time…” and said that he could ask his questions without disrupting the day’s timetable for #spycops inquiry.

But Sir John Mitting was not having it…

Sir John Mitting: “That may be so, but I have to keep order in the proceedings.”

He needs to ensure not merely that this witness is “not troubled” by questions already covered at #spycops inquiry, he said, “but also that this does not set a precedent for future such requests.”

Sir John Mitting told Rajiv Menon at #spycops inquiry that he could ask only about the last of the proposed topics.

Rajiv Menon: “But, sir, I’ve highlighted-”

Mitting: “You may ask about that, but not other topics. That is my ruling.”

Rajiv Menon said to Sir John Mitting at #spycops inquiry: “Very well, sir. Can I make it clear that I cannot understand-”

Mitting: “No, you may not. I'm sorry. You may ask your questions, or you will be silenced.”

Menon: “Very well.”

Meanwhile, it turns out that #spycops inquiry is only reading out “summaries” of statements from two further #spycops today.

First, “Barry Morris” sometimes “Barry Morse”, but real name revealed as Barry Moss, and second, “Margaret White”.

Barry Moss, a later head of Special Branch, aka Barry Morris and Barry Morse says in statement read to inquiry that #spycops in SDS, unlike the rest of Special Branch, undercover officers would join target groups rather than simply attending and observing public meetings.

Only a summary of Barry Moss’s statement is read to inquiry.

“Margaret White”, whose real name is being kept secret, says in summary of statement read to inquiry that she was deployed into Vietnam Solidarity Group with another #spycop, the pair posing as girlfriend-boyfriend.

Nine #spycops were covertly deployed at a single anti-Vietnam war meeting of about 250 people in 1968, inquiry heard in second day of evidence.

Why so many? “There was nothing else on,” said one #spycop.

theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/n…