'We shall do all we can to help': Thatcher's fight for Cold War spy revealed

Cold War documents released today show how Margaret Thatcher risked a diplomatic feud with Russia in an attempt to save the marriage of one of Britain’s most important spies. Oleg Gordievsky was a defector at the heart of the KGB who passed on significant secrets to MI6 and was credited with averting a potential nuclear confrontation, but he was forced to flee Russia after fearing his cover was blown in 1985. In an operation approved by the prime minister he was whisked across the border to Finland by two MI6 agents in the boot of their car, but there was no time to extract his family.

Please do not say that life has no meaning. There is always hope. And we shall do all we can to help you through these difficult days.

Margaret Thatcher, replying to Oleg Gordievsky

Archived documents show that, once in the UK, the Russian defector sent Mrs Thatcher a personal message explaining how he accepted the decision to get him out alone, but added: “I must, however, go on hoping that some way can be found to secure the release of my family as, without them, my life has no meaning.” In an uncharacteristically soft tone she responded: “Having children of my own, I know the kind of thoughts and feelings which are going through your mind each and every day.” Behind the scenes Mrs Thatcher threatened Moscow that if the family was not released there would be a mass expulsion of KGB agents in London. The deal was refused and Mrs Thatcher proceeded to expel 25 suspected KGB agents. Two days later 25 UK nationals were ordered to leave Russia. At the time It was feared the diplomatic spat would pull down the shutters on East West relations. Mr Gordievsky’s family were eventually allowed to leave in 1991.

He would have been executed if he had been caught (defecting). And the KGB wanted to punish him somehow, so they wouldn’t let his family leave.

Mr Gordievsky’s former boss at the KGB Mikhail Lyubimov speaking to Sky News

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