Maverick minister will not see top secret f iles
NORMAN Baker, the new Home Office Minister who believes MI5 covered up the murder of Dr David Kelly, will not be granted access to classified documents on counter-terrorism issues.
The Home Office told spy chiefs the Liberal Democrat conspiracy theorist will not learn their secrets, security sources said.
Whitehall officials say ministers are given security clearance on a ‘need to know basis’ and Mr Baker’s brief, dubbed ‘drugs and drunks’, will mean he is frozen out of security issues.
Home Secretary Theresa May was said to be ‘spitting tacks’ over Mr Baker’s appointment in Monday’s reshuffle.
Yesterday he made clear he will try to force through more ‘liberal’ drugs policy than predecessor Jeremy Browne – which could include pressing for the decriminalisation of cannabis.
The maverick minister wrote a book in 2007 claiming weapons inspector Dr Kelly was murdered by an Iraqi hit squad, while the security services hushed it up.
He has also claimed the death of former foreign secretary Robin Cook was suspicious.
Insiders stressed that only the Home Secretary sees top secret files and authorises surveillance missions. In her absence, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers would step in.
Mr Baker yesterday insisted that he has ‘closed the door’ on his obsession with Dr Kelly. He said: ‘The work was published in 2007. I then closed the door and moved on to other things.’
But he admitted submitting Freedom of Information requests about Dr Kelly as recently as 2010. Mr Baker added: ‘I entirely respect the work of MI5 and the security services.’
Stephen Glover – Page 14