Labour MP denies allegations he was 'Czech spy'
2 min read
A Labour MP has fiercely denied allegations he was involved with Czechoslovakian security services during the 1960s.
One of the party's most senior politicians, Geoffrey Robinson, said claims he passed confidential information to communist agents during the height of the Cold War were a "lie".
According to leaked intelligence documents seen by the Mail on Sunday, it is alleged that Mr Robinson passed 87 pieces of intelligence about the UK's nuclear deterrent to a Czeckoslovakian spymaster in the years before he became an MP.
The documents allegedly claim Mr Robinson described himself as a "Leninist" and that he was one of Czechoslovakia's "most productive sources" in the UK between 1966 and 1969.
The paper adds the information handed over by Mr Robinson during 51 meetings with a Czecholslovakian handler included leaked Nato briefing documents, and details about the UK's polaris missile programme.
The Labour grandee, who has been the MP for Coventry North West since 1976, was forced to resign as a minister in Tony Blair's government after he provided former-Cabinet minister Peter Mandelson with an undeclared loan to purchase a house.
The files, which are currently held in a Czech government archive, claim Mr Robinson acknowledged that he was "involved in espionage" and that he would face prison if caught.
But in a statement issued via his lawyers, Mr Robinson said: "At no time did he ever pass confidential government documents or information to any foreign agent and he did not have access to such material.
"The allegations made by the Czech authorities 50 yeas ago are a lie."
Last year, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also dismissed allegations that he had been a collaborator with the communist Czech regime, describing the claims as "absurd and hallucinogenic".
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