BBC faces spy story threat

THE Attorney General is taking the BBC to court to stop it identifying a British spy working overseas.

Suella Braverman launched the High Court battle on Wednesday and is hopeful that judges will grant her an injunction to stop the BBC from broadcasting its planned item. The Corporation says it will fight the case, arguing the story is ‘overwhelmingly in the public interest’.

The battle between the BBC and the Government comes after The Mail on Sunday revealed that Culture Secretary

Nadine Dorries would freeze the Corporation’s licence fee for two years, costing it up to £2 billion.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the BBC story involves British intelligence activities overseas and it is believed to relate to a serving MI6 officer.

Sources say the Government will argue that identifying the spy will ‘put people’s lives at risk’ and compromise national security. An insider told the newspaper: ‘These people are doing very, very difficult jobs in incredible circumstances. They are risking their lives. This is not James Bond – these are real people.’

A BBC spokesman said: ‘We would not pursue any story unless it was felt it was overwhelmingly in the public interest to do so.’ A spokesman for the Attorney General said: ‘It would be inappropriate to comment further while proceedings are ongoing.’