A short qualification in respect to my last post. I’ve had a couple of emails reminding me there are at least three excellent contributions to the current RUSI journal. I stand corrected.
I wonder what officials in the intelligence agencies, and Whitehall think about being called a soft touch?
Here’s the Cabinet Office response (from the BBC)
The government firmly rejects the claim that the United Kingdom is a fragmented society said a Cabinet Office spokesman. “The safety and security of our citizens is the government’s main priority, and the government rejects any suggestion that Britain is a soft touch for terrorists.
“Some of the recommendations made by Rusi have already been introduced by the prime minister. For instance a new National Security Committee is already established with a brief which includes international security, defence, counter-terrorism and community cohesion issues.”
The spokesman said some of the report’s other claims “do not stand up to scrutiny”. And he added: “The government firmly rejects the claim that the United Kingdom is a fragmented society.”
It’s worth noting that RUSI’s announcement was not covered by the BBC’s security correspondent Gordon Corera who instead covered the news that the Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) could lose up to 121 members of staff as the MoD looks to stream line the department.
