More cash ... Gordon Brown
By GEORGE PASCOE-WATSON
Political Editor
January 17, 2007
MI6 is to get a huge cash boost from Gordon Brown to lead the fight in crushing Muslim extremists.
The Chancellor has been convinced by Secret Intelligence Service head “C” that they are in the forefront of the battle against al-Qaeda.
Mr Brown will give Britain’s James Bonds a major cash increase when he publishes their annual budgets in the spring.
A senior Whitehall source said: “The Chancellor has been persuaded that this money is vital.
“MI6 are in the lead in the war on terror. Military spending is crucial, but only intelligence will do the trick. There will be a new security settlement with that in mind.”
Security chiefs have held several meetings with Treasury officials in recent months.
More funds ... MI6 Headquarters in London
They have also drawn up a league table of countries where al-Qaeda terrorism is rife or that are important in the fight against extremism.
Pakistan is in a “champions league” of its own. The “premier league” includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran and Syria.
Extremist ... Bin Laden
There are fears British-born extremists plan to go to Nigeria to start radicalising Muslims there.
The Chancellor flew to India last night for a fact-finding mission — and was warned Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda plan to move there too.
For the first time, Britain’s Kurdish, Somali and Eritrean communities are becoming involved with terrorism.
The budget for MI5, MI6, Special Branch and the GCHQ spy centre at Cheltenham is just £1.6billion — less than the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
Mr Brown is now convinced he should open the Treasury purse and flood the security services with cash.
All are having problems hiring enough Muslims. But now MI6 is ready to use its extra funds for a recruitment and training drive.
Mr Brown will also inject cash into Special Branch and MI5, but MI6 will take the lion’s share.
It is likely he will order a change to the way all the security services are funded. The Department for International Development is in line for large increases to fund moderate schools in countries like Pakistan.
Ministers are horrified at the way religious schools in Britain and abroad are becoming hotbeds for fanatics preaching anti-Western hate.
thesun.co.uk