Scottish nationalists monitored by MI5 amid fears over France links

Edinburgh: So, it turns out MI5 has been keeping an eye on Scottish nationalists. This info came out in a bunch of documents released by The National Archives. They show that back in the late ’60s, MI5 was worried about possible connections between these groups and the French government.

The head of MI5 at the time, Martin Furnival Jones, mentioned in a briefing that they were hopeful their surveillance would catch any French interference. They were particularly focused on Scotland and Wales, but it seems they didn’t find any solid links.

Interestingly, the only French connections they found were with a separatist group in Brittany, which was linked to the Celtic Youth Congress. This group aimed to promote cooperation among Celtic nations, but it looks like their influence in Scotland was pretty limited.

There was also a mention of a Welsh nationalist leader claiming ties to Quebec separatists, but MI5 thought he was just exaggerating for attention. Overall, the documents show that while there was concern, the actual connections were pretty weak.

These documents are just a small part of a larger release that includes a lot of historical reports and personal files. Some of the more famous spies from the Cambridge Five are also discussed in these papers.

There’s even going to be an exhibition at the National Archives this spring, showcasing some of these documents. It’s the first time MI5 has worked with them on something like this, which is pretty cool. But don’t expect to see the files on Scottish and Welsh nationalists there.

Sir Ken McCallum, the current MI5 director, expressed excitement about sharing their history, while a historian from The National Archives noted how fascinating these files are, almost like a spy novel. It’s a unique peek into the world of espionage and the people who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.