Spymaster ‘led Sordid Life’ (Press, 20 April 1987)

In a shocking revelation published on 20 April 1987, the “Mail on Sunday” newspaper reported that Sir Maurice Oldfield, one of Britain’s most renowned spymasters and former head of the M. 1.6 counterespionage service, led a secret life marked by obsessive homosexual behaviour, including relationships with young boys and male prostitutes. The accusations were presented in extracts from Chapman Pincher's book “Traitors: The Labyrinth of Treason.” Sir Maurice, who was revered within British intelligence and reportedly favoured by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, is said to have maintained this double life between 1973 and 1978. The book indicates he frequented male prostitutes and individuals from the marginalised sectors of society, highlighting a troubling aspect of his life that posed various risks. Following these revelations, Labour MP Ted Leadbitter urged for an official inquiry into Sir Maurice’s activities. The report raises significant concerns for Britain’s intelligence community, which has periodically faced scandals related to espionage and sexual misconduct, including notable cases involving "moles" and defections tied to homosexuality. Sir Maurice was previously regarded as a figure of integrity within espionage circles until his death in 1981. Pincher, an established journalist with a track record of exposing scandals within the secret services, also suggested that Sir Maurice Oldfield served as an inspiration for John le Carre's fictional character, George Smiley, although le Carre has denied this connection. The book’s extracts reveal that Sir Maurice’s hidden life might have remained undiscovered if Thatcher had not appointed him to oversee security in Northern Ireland after assuming office in 1979. This decision led security personnel to uncover his secret activities. According to Pincher, there was clear risk associated with Sir Maurice's lifestyle, which could have resulted in coercive threats if his sexual preferences had been revealed during his tenure at M. 1.6. He posited that had his issues come to light while in active service, it is unlikely he could have retained his position due to concerns of potential blackmail stemming from his engagements in risky behaviour. Overall, these revelations about Sir Maurice Oldfield highlight unsettling contradictions within the British intelligence establishment, drawing attention to both his professional façade and the personal struggles he concealed during a turbulent time in British espionage history.

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