Concise Summary:
A new exhibition at the National Archives in London will unveil previously secret MI5 files detailing the surveillance of Kim Philby, a British double agent who worked for both the Soviet Union and the UK. The “watchers” followed Philby’s movements throughout London in 1951, observing his interactions and activities while attempting to gather evidence that would either confirm or deny suspicions about his treachery. These documents shed light on the intense efforts of MI5 to uncover Philby’s true allegiance during the Cold War, particularly focusing on how he managed to evade detection despite being a high-ranking officer with access to sensitive information. The exhibition will also feature transcripts of Philby’s interrogations and other historical documents related to the case, offering valuable insights into one of the most complex periods of British espionage.
Key Points:
- Here are five key points extracted from the provided text:.
-
- A new exhibition at the National Archives in London will showcase MI5’s operation to expose Kim Philby, a British double agent who was also an Observer reporter.
-
- Secret surveillance documents reveal how MI5 closely monitored Philby’s movements in London during.
-
- The “watchers” who trailed and bugged Philby described his behavior as seeming “natural,” despite being a known double agent.
-
- The newly released documents raise questions about whether the British establishment intentionally protected Philby, or simply tried to avoid a public scandal.
-
- The exhibition will feature transcripts of Philby’s interrogations and other materials related to the case, offering insight into one of the most shady periods in British espionage during the Cold War.
Archive Links:
12ft: https://12ft.io/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/22/mi5-surveillance-british-spy-kim-philby-made-public
archive.org: ‘A clever agent’: notes from ‘watchers’ of spy Kim Philby made public for first time | Kim Philby | The Guardian
archive.is: https://archive.is/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/22/mi5-surveillance-british-spy-kim-philby-made-public
archive.ph: https://archive.ph/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/22/mi5-surveillance-british-spy-kim-philby-made-public
archive.today: https://archive.today/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/22/mi5-surveillance-british-spy-kim-philby-made-public
Original Link: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/22/mi5-surveillance-british-spy-kim-philby-made-public
User Message: ‘A clever agent’: notes from ‘watchers’ of spy Kim Philby made public for first time | Kim Philby | The Guardian
For more on bypassing paywalls, see the post on bypassing methods