KIM PHILBY: THE MI6 DOUBLE AGENT WHO SPIED FOR RUSSIA

Fearing imprisonment, Philby fled to Moscow rather than cooperate further. Some believe British intelligence permitted him to escape, rather than deal with the public embarrassment of a trial. Philby lived on as a Soviet citizen and national hero until his death in 1988. Like Philby, Donald Maclean came from a prestigious family – his father was not only an MP but served as leader of the opposition. Despite his establishment background, Maclean was an open communist while at Cambridge in the early 30s. Even when he joined the Foreign Office, Maclean openly admitted he hadn’t ‘entirely shaken off’ his communist leanings.

February 6, 2023 | 4:49 am