MP calls for 'truth and reconciliation' after spy scandal

Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards called for a "truth and reconcilation" commission to expose the scale of spying on political parties and innocent campaigners.

Home Office minister Damian Green stoked up the scandal still further today by refusing to deny that his department knew about undercover police stealing the identities of dead children.

Carmarthen MP Mr Edwards spoke out following Morning Star revelations about the huge stash of secret files held under lock and key at MI5 following years of stasi-style spying on political activists.

Mr Edwards tabled a parliamentary question to Home Secretary Theresa May asking how many MI5 files on Welsh patriots are being held by the security services or at the Kew National Archives.

He recalled a "shocking" admission by a Home Office minister in 2011 that political parties could be subject to undercover police operations, even those elected to the House of Commons.

Mr Edwards demanded that the government must come clean "about the degree to which the security services have been used to undermine legitimate political activity.

"There is increasingly a need for a truth and reconciliation process, similar to those in other states where there have been similar revelations," he said.

Allegations that undercover police had sexual relationships with their targets and stole the identities of dead children are being investigated by the police themselves.

Derbyshire Chief Constable Mick Creedon has this week taken charge of the investigation, which is overseen by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Eleven women and one man are seeking court damages for emotional trauma.

Policing Minister Mr Green said today that it was "unlikely" that the Home Office would have "been made aware" of the practice of undercover police officers creating aliases based on the details of dead children.

The minister also said it would be "inappropriate" to consider setting up a public inquiry.