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WikiLeaks cables: how America spied on the Foreign Office

The United States ordered its diplomats to spy on Foreign Office ministers, asking them to gather gossip on their foibles and the strains in their professional relationships, leaked US cables show.

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Hillary Clinton’s office was keen for more information on the Foreign Office
Hillary Clinton's office was keen for more information on the Foreign Office Credit: Photo: BLOOMBERG

The disclosure casts a new light on the so-called “special relationship” between Britain and America, which has come under strain amid apparent indifference from the Obama administration towards Britain.

Leaked diplomatic cables show that within weeks of the appointment of Ivan Lewis as a junior foreign minister in 2009, US officials were

briefing the office of Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, about rumours that he was depressed and had a reputation as a bully

They also were desperate for more information on Mr Lewis’s relationship with David Miliband, the then foreign secretary, and other senior Foreign Office staff.

A cable said

Mrs Clinton’s office was keen for more information about “how Lewis works with Foreign Secretary Miliband and the FCO staff”

Just over two months later, the US embassy in London was reporting back with gossip on Mr Lewis, apparently in reply to a request from Washington.

A communiqué sent on Aug 12, 2009, reported that Mr Lewis was possibly prone to depression. It said: “Contacts who know him well report 'he’s very up one minute, very down the next’ and at least one FCO colleague has described Lewis as a 'bully’.”

The cable added that Mr Lewis “had been forced to apologize in 2007 to a female in his office who accused him of sexual harassment”. The remark is thought to refer to an episode when he apologised for sending suggestive text messages to an assistant who worked in his office in a different department.

The cable suggested the incident was leaked by Downing Street in 2008 to discredit Mr Lewis after he criticised Gordon Brown following a by-election defeat.

It continued: “Lewis reportedly remains a bit of a hound dog where women are concerned. He was married quite young - in his very early 20s - and has had marital troubles in the last few years.”

The cable also suggests that Mr Lewis had been appointed to the Foreign Office because of his Jewishness.

It said: “For Lewis it is a large part of his identity. “After his appointment to the Foreign office in June 2009, there was whispering among the UK Jewish community that Lewis was moved to the FCO to counter balance the pro-Palestinian view point of Foreign Secretary David Miliband, and that the UK’s Jewish community will seek to control Lewis’ agenda.”

The cable was warmly received by Washington, where officials in Mrs Clinton’s office said how much they “appreciate the excellent biographic reporting ... Regarding Lewis’ bullying, possible depression and scandals, as well as comments on the state of his marriage and how the Jewish community saw his appointment are particularly insightful”.

Last night a spokesman for Mr Lewis declined to comment.