Watson mocks Corbyn aide’s ‘deep state’ conspiracy theory

TOM WATSON has mocked one of Jeremy Corbyn’s closest advisers over his claims that the intelligence services could be trying to undermine the Labour leader, describing his claims as “a bit John le Carré”.

Taking a swipe at Andrew Murray, a part-time consultant to Mr Corbyn, Labour’s deputy leader said he should provide evidence to support his allegations “otherwise it’s just fake news”.

In the latest indication that Mr Watson’s relationship with the leader’s office is fast deteriorating, he said he did not know how Mr Murray reached his conclusion, but that it would “be helpful” if he could elaborate.

David Cornwell, who worked for the intelligence services in the Fifties and Sixties, became a leading spy novelist under the pen name John le Carré.

Mr Watson’s comments were echoed by Ben Wallace, the security minister, who said: “Sorry to pop the vanity of your own self-importance Andrew but our spooks don’t waste their time pumping out stories to The Mail on Sunday about someone no one has heard of. They are too busy trying to stop terrorism and Russian assassination attempts.”

Mr Murray had written in the New Statesman that the “deep state” could be “working to block the election of a Labour government”. The allegation followed reports that he had been banned from entering Ukraine on national security grounds and had experienced an 11-month delay in receiving his Houses of Parliament clearance.

Mr Murray questioned why news of the ban – imposed in June – had only emerged, in The Mail on Sunday last weekend. “Someone else is doing the hard work – possibly someone being paid by the taxpayer. I doubt if their job description is preventing the election of a Corbyn government, but who knows?”