Overview

• Newly released National Archives files reveal that former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was 'shattered' by the revelations in 'Spycatcher', a memoir by ex-MI5 officer Peter Wright.
• The memoir, which made explosive claims about UK espionage operations, was initially banned in the UK but was published in Australia and the US after the UK government lost a high-profile court case.
• The government's attempts to suppress the book led to public acknowledgment of the Security Service (MI5) for the first time.
• Following the 'Spycatcher' scandal, the Security Service Act was introduced to bolster public confidence in the service, leading to the public acknowledgment of other intelligence services like MI6 and GCHQ.
• Despite the government's efforts to suppress the memoir, its publication led to increased scrutiny of MI5's activities and operations.