MPs attack spy chiefs - and warn them not to post on social media

The Intelligence and Security Committee has urged bosses not to be distracted by giving media interviews and posting online, as the parliamentary body delivered its annual report

Intelligence and Security Committee Chairman Julian Lewis (

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Spy chiefs were hit by furious MPs and peers today for missing key deadlines to provide evidence to Parliament.

The Intelligence and Security Committee, which oversees MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, has lambasted agency bosses for delays in responding to requests.

Publishing its latest 56-page annual report, it said: "The committee has been seriously hampered over the past year by the failure of the UK intelligence community to meet standard deadlines in the process. investigation of the ISC.

"In the committee's 2019-2021 annual report, we attributed this to their reduced resources during the pandemic and their need to focus on immediate threats to national security.

"However, this is no longer a credible explanation.

"This is a very serious problem, as it prevents the committee from effectively fulfilling its statutory oversight role."

Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, headquartered at Vauxhall Cross, South London (

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MPs and their peers pointed to a warning from the National Security Adviser who said "the intelligence community's license to operate depends on credible oversight".

The committee, which is also responsible for checks and balances on agencies such as Defense Intelligence, Joint Intelligence Organization, National Security Secretariat and Homeland Security Group, added: " If the SAI's oversight is hampered, then the SAI cannot provide any assurance to the public or to Parliament that the intelligence agencies are acting appropriately, and therefore deserve the license to operate that Parliament gives them. granted under their statutory powers.

"Despite numerous complaints, the situation has not improved and, on the contrary, has worsened.