Theresa May threatens to 'dismiss' anyone who leaks Government information
THERESA May will dismiss any ministers or civil servants who leak Government secrets – a leaked memo has revealed.
The warning, which will have angered many Whitehall insiders, was conveyed to senior officials in a note last week marked “Official – Sensitive” by Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood.
Days later its forecast of “exceptional action” following a “spate” of unauthorised briefings was revealed.
Some at Westminster blame Mrs May for insisting on saying so little about her Brexit plans, thus inviting leaks and speculation to feed the gap in information.
Another said the order will enrage those who think the Prime Minister’s own team has not been above “informal briefings” over the years.
They commented: “If there are sackings she might have to start pretty close to home.”
Sir Jeremy’s note told its recipients: “Leaking is corrosive and undermines trust and good government.
“Leaks are never acceptable but the regularity and cumulative impact of recent incidents mean we must now collectively take exceptional action.
Leaking is corrosive and undermines trust and good government
"The Prime Minister has directed that we urgently tighten security processes and improve our response to leaks.”
Calling on ministers and senior civil servants to “set the tone” he concluded: “Anyone found to have leaked sensitive information will be dismissed even where there is no compromise of national security.
"The Prime Minister will be writing in similar terms to ministers.”
Ministers and officials are also to be banned from using their own mobile phones for official business.
The order came after a string of claims about supposedly private meetings which fuelled speculation about splits at the highest levels of Government over the best way to approach Brexit.
Sir Jeremy said the antileak culture would “require all the energy and attention any cultural change demands”. Downing Street declined to comment on the leak.
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Meanwhile, a separate leaked memo ordered ministers to stop making jokes about Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson after irritation that people as high up as Mrs May were undermining his statesman credentials by playing on his jokey image.
The memo, which apparently originated from Foreign Office officials, also told MPs and officials to stop referring to him as “Boris” and to use “Foreign Secretary” instead.
Andrew Marr began his interview with Mr Johnson on BBC One yesterday by saying: “Welcome Mr Johnson – I have to call you Mr Johnson.”
He replied: “You can call me what everybody else does. “I saw that item. It is not being obeyed anywhere.”