A Danger To The National Interest

17th February 2007

A Parallel State

There is a state within a state in the United Kingdom, a small but untouchable domain that appears to be subject to a different set of laws.

... The state is BAE, Britain’s biggest arms company. It seems, among other advantages, to be able to run its own secret service.

... In 2003, the Sunday Times revealed that BAE had carried out a “widespread spying operation” on its critics. “Bank accounts were accessed, computer files downloaded and private correspondence with members of parliament and ministers secretly copied and passed on.”

... both the Attorney General and the Prime Minister would make such a show of squashing the [Saudi corruption] investigation. They seemed to go out of their way to demonstrate to BAE’s clients that they would do whatever it took to protect the new order, even if it meant exposing themselves to allegations of collusion.

... At what point does the government conclude that this company has got out of control? That it presents a danger to national interests, to the reputation of the prime minister, to the privacy and civil liberties of its opponents? Why does it appear to be above the law? For how much longer will it be permitted to run what looks like a parallel secret service?

Extracts from : A Parallel State | George Monbiot