MI5 F Branch

F Branch was formerly the part of MI5 responsible for counter-subversion until 1988.
==History==
In its earliest incarnation, F Branch was responsible for preventive intelligence in the MI5 organisation of 1916.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.84.
A new F Division covering counter-subversion was established by Director General Sir David Petrie in 1941.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.236.
===Counter-subversion branch===
In Dick White's 1953 re-organisation, F Branch had responsibility for counter-subversion at home, while E Branch was responsible for counter-subversion in the British Empire and Commonwealth.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.327.
In 1972, F Branch director John Jones defined subversion as "activities threatening the safety or well-being of the State and intended to undermine of overthrow Parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means."Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.591.
Peter Wright describes a meeting of senior A Branch and MI5 F Branch officers to discuss the "far and wide left" early in Michael Hanley's tenure as head of MI5:
::The Prime Minister and Home Secretary had left him in no doubt that they wanted a major increase in effort on this target. He then handed over to a young and ambitious F Branch officer, David Ransome, who outlined the activities and structure of a host of left-wing splinter groups , like the Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP) and the Socialist Workers' Party (SWP).Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.360. 
Stephen Dorril states that Ranson was an F2 officer at the time of this meeting, which he places in 1972.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.8.
 
In 1976, Director General Michael Hanley established a separate FX branch to deal with Irish terrorism. Its director continued to report to the director of F Branch.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.647.
By the time former F Branch director John Jones became head of MI5 in 1981, it had become the premier branch of the service, largely at the expense of K Branch counter-espionage.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.5.
In 1988, the FX Branch was renamed G Branch.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.745. The rest of F Branch was incorporated into MI5 C Branch at around the same time.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.862.
==Targets==
===The Left===
====Labour====
F1A section was tasked in 1975 to launch an wide-ranging investigation of subversion in the Labour Party.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.660.
====Communist Party of Great Britain====
In April 1976, a threat assessment by F2 section argued that the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) was a major subversive threat in the trade union movement.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.656.
====Socialist Workers Party====
The International Socialists, which became the Socialist Workers Party in 1977, was one of the three main overt Trotskyist groups monitored by MI5 in the 1970s, according to Christopher Andrew.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.660.
====Workers Revolutionary Party====
The Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP) was one of the three main overt Trotskyist groups monitored in the 1970s, according to Christopher Andrew.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.660.
John's Lennon reportedly became an MI5 target after a mole reported his contacts with the party in the early 70s.John Harlow and Nicholas Rufford, How MI5 spied on Lennon; Focus, Sunday Times, 20 February 2000.
Stephen Dorril suggests that MI5 may have been involved in a raid on the WRP's 'Red House' in the mid-1970s, and in promoting a split in the party in 1985-86. Ken Livingstone claimed in March 1990 that a high-ranking agent in the leadership had fomented the split.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, pp.8-9.
====International Marxist Group====
The International Marxist Group was one of the three main overt Trotskyist groups monitored in the 1970s, according to Christopher Andrew.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.660.
====Militant Tendency====
The Militant Tendency operated a covert Trotskyist grouping in the Labour Party in the 1970s. By the late 1970s, MI5 believed it had identified 75 per cent of its membership through various methods, including agent penetration.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.660.
===Trade Unions===
====TGWU====
In October 1970, MI5 obtained a Home Office warrant against the general Secretary of the TGWU, Jack Jones, because of his contacts with the Russians. MI5 head Martin Furnival Jones noted that Jones was unlikely to be charged with espionage, but the operation "could be of great value in particular to the Department of Employment and to the Government generally in the field of industrial disputes.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.588.
====National Union of Mineworkers====
According to Christopher Andrew, MI5 was unable to provide the Government with a full intelligence picture during the 1972 miner's strike, because its remit only extended to figures such as the Communist Scottish NUM leader Mick McGahey.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.593.
On 14 November 1972, MI5 obtained a Home Office warrant against Arthur Scargill, "to help establish the extent of communist influence on present negotiations in the mining industry."Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.598.
====Grunwick Dispute====
The Guardian's Richard Norton-Taylor reports:
::Elwell also targeted Harman's husband, Jack Dromey. He opened a file on him during the late 1970s after the Grunwick dispute, in which Dromey, now Labour party treasurer, played a leading part.Richard Norton-Taylor, ‘Charles Elwell: An MI5 officer during the cold war, he went on to target domestic 'subversives'’, The Guardian, 21 January 2008
===Peace Movement===
====Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament====
MI5 opened a temporary file on Bruce Kent as a "possible anarchist" in 1977, when he became chairman of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). This became a permanent file when he was elected secretary general in 1979.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.673.
F1A reported in April 1982 that CND was expanding so fast its leaders did not know how big it was.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.673.
In 1982, F Branch officer Cathy Massiter opened a temporary file on CND Chair Joan Ruddock. This was made a full Personal File (PF) in 1983.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.675.
Stephen Dorril reports that MI5 recognised Ruddock had no subversive affiliation:
::According to former MI5 officer Cathy Massiter, whose desk dealt with CND, the problem was solved when, by chance, Mrs Ruddock was interviewed by a Soviet journalist, who was a KGB officer. "Joan Ruddock didn't know that, but it provided the grounds for recording her as a "contact of a hostile intelligence service."Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.13.
Official MI5 historian Christopher Andrew, likewise recounts that a PF file was opened in 1983, "because of her meetings with Mikhail Bogdanov, whom Ruddock was doubtless unaware was a KGB officer."Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.676.
According to Stephen Dorril, another file was opened on CND member Cathy Ashton, who was labelled 'a communist sympathiser', because she shared a house with a party member.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.13.
===Other Groups===
====National Council for Civil Liberties====
According to Stephen Dorril, F Branch Officer Charles Elwell was responsible for the decision to open files on Patricia Hewitt and Harriet Harman, who were both officers of the National Council for Civil Liberties in the late 1970s and early 1980s.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.29.
====Anti-Apartheid Movement====
The Anti-Apartheid Movement was under MI5 scrutiny between 1983 and 1985, with information being passed on to the South African Embassy.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.35.
==Structure==
===Directors===
*Jack Curry 1941.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.236.
*Roger Hollis - headed the Branch as Assistant Director F (ADF) from October 1941.Chapman Pincher, Treachery: Betrayals, Blunders and Cover-Ups: Six Decades of espionage, Mainstream Publishing, 2012, p.102.
*Bill Magan
*Alex Kellar - 1960sMark Hollingsworth and Nick Fielding, Defending the Realm: Inside MI5 and the War on Terrorism, Andre Deutsch, 2003, p.136.
*Dick Thistlethwaite
*John Jones - 1972-1974Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.621.
*Dirk Hampden - c.1975Brian Crozier, Free Agent: The Unseen War 1941-1991, Harper Collins, 1993, p.114.
*David Ranson -c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.485.
===F1===
Responsible for investigating the Communist Party of Great Britain, according to Stephen Dorril.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.485.
*F1/O - Assistant Director in charge of monitoring the CPGB and other subversive organisations, i.e head of F1 section.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.591.
*Charles Elwell, served as F1/0 from April 1974 until his retirement in May 1979.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.669.
*Bill Ruckstan, section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.485.
====F1A====
At one point, probably in the 1950s, this was the designation for the "study group" which identified Communist Party members, a traditional training ground for new MI5 officers.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.334.
This section was tasked in 1975 to launch an wide-ranging investigation of subversion in the Labour Party.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.660.
*F1A/1 - noted in 1975 that work in this field was expanding to include the 'Ultra Left' where previously it had focused on Communists.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.660.
*F1A/9 - Wrote nine papers on Militant in the two years to January 1978.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.664.
====F1B====
A full-time desk on Irish security issues, with a particular focus on the North, was set up in F1B in the spring of 1969. By the autumn of that year, F1B consisted of a female assistant officer supported by the young Stella Rimington.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.604.
====F1C====
In the spring of 1969, an internal MI5 newsletter stated: "The total effort deployed by F. Branch in matters Irish was until recently confined to one part-time desk officer in F.1.C.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.602. At some point F1C replaced F2C as the designation of the 'study group' section which identified Communist Party members.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.334.
===F2===
Responsible during the early 1980s for investigating trade unions and the production of Box 500 reports, according to Stephen Dorril.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.485.Responsible for investigating the Communist Party, according to Nick Fielding and Mark Hollingsworth. This may reflect a confusion with F1.Mark Hollingsworth and Nick Fielding, Defending the Realm: Inside MI5 and the War on Terrorism, Andre Deutsch, 2003, p.34.
According to Stephen Dorril, F2 worked closely with the Civil Contingencies Unit during strikes.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.7.
*Roger Hollis Section head c. 1941,Chapman Pincher, Treachery: Betrayals, Blunders and Cover-Ups: Six Decades of espionage, Mainstream Publishing, 2012, p.100. c. 1943Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.281.
*Charles Elwell - Section head according to Hollingsworth and Fielding, who may have confused F2 with F1.Mark Hollingsworth and Nick Fielding, Defending the Realm: Inside MI5 and the War on Terrorism, Andre Deutsch, 2003, p.34.
*John Deverell held F2 designation, presumably section head, C.October 1979.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.660.
*Stella Rimington, section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.485.
*David Ranson - Officer, c. 1972.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.8.
====F2A====
Responsible for monitoring the CPGB.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.274.
*David Clarke-c.1943Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.278.
====F2C====
Engaged in studies of the Communist Party, which were often used as training for new officers.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.561. At some point it replaced F1A as the section designation for this activity. It was itself replaced by F1C.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.334.
*Hugh Shillito c.1942.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.277.
====F2N====
Trade UnionsStephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
====F2R====
The media, education, Members of Parliament.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
*F2R/1 - Responsibilities c. 1984 included monitoring subversion in the peace movement.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.674.
===F3===
Terrorism, excluding Irish Terrorism.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
*Patrick Walker, section head, 1980.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.690.
*Alan Fernyhough, section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
===F4===
Counter-subversion agent-running, according to Christopher Andrew.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.498. Trade unions and Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB).Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
*Maxwell Knight section head to c.1956.
*Simon France, section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
*John Bingham section head after c.1956.
*David Cornwell 1958-60
*D. Stilbury c.1976.Steve Dorril, 'Spooks', Lobster No. 26, p.8.
*Julia Pirie - Agent in the CPGB 1960s-70s.Julia Pirie, The Telegraph, 28 October 2008.
===F5===
Irish terrorism, (loyalist).Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
*John Deverell c.1980.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.195.
*Patrick Walker - section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486. C.1983.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.699.
===FX=== 
In the early 1980s, according to Stephen Dorril, FX controlled F4 and F6. Focussed on long-term infiltration of agents and informers.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
*Tony Crassweller, FX head, circa 1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
===F6===
Trotskyist and radical organisations.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
*Jim Clayphan, section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
===F7===
Investigated Trotskyist, anarchist, feminist, pacifist, black power, nationalist and other radical groups. Also fascists.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
Among the organisations infiltrated by F7 were the Workers Revolutionary Party and the Socialist Workers Party.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.8.
*Ray Whitby, section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
===F8===
Served as London headquarters for MI5's Belfast station after the winding up of the Irish Joint Section in 1984.Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.700.
*G/02 (De Silva report cipher) - Head of the agent-running section, probably F8, February 1987.Sir Desmond de Silva, Volume 1 - Chapter 6: The recruitment of Brian Nelson, Pat Finucane Review, 12 December 2012.
===Other F Branch officers===
*D. Griffiths c.1941Chapman Pincher, Treachery: Betrayals, Blunders and Cover-Ups: Six Decades of espionage, Mainstream Publishing, 2012, p.136.
*Cathy MassiterChristopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.558.
*David ShaylerMark Hollingsworth and Nick Fielding, Defending the Realm: Inside MI5 and the War on Terrorism, Andre Deutsch, 2003, p.35.
*Annie MachonMark Hollingsworth and Nick Fielding, Defending the Realm: Inside MI5 and the War on Terrorism, Andre Deutsch, 2003, p.101.
*Ronald Symonds
==External Resources==
===Books===
*Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994.
*Mark Hollingsworth and Nick Fielding, Defending the Realm: Inside MI5 and the War on Terrorism, Andre Deutsch, 2003.
*Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009.
===Articles===
*MI5 brings back officer who led 'smear campaign', The Guardian, 8 May 1987.
==Notes==
Category:SpooksCategory:MI5Category:Anti-CND campaign