MI5 spying on British citizens in the 60s ?

[Butterfly]

we all love to bash the soviets and petty dictatorships with their state police and surveillance policy, but it seems that Great Britain, and no doubt other western "democracies" were pursuing the same surveillance of their population based on ideology.

I find this article below a bit worrying during an era that was promoted as the pursuit of freedom and democratic changes by the different national political parties.

BBC News - MI5 suspected Bond screenwriter was communist agent

MI5 suspected Bond screenwriter was communist agent
Wolf Mankowitz Wolf Mankowitz was said to discuss Marxist theories with friends

The man who wrote the screenplay for a James Bond film was himself suspected of being a communist agent, newly released Security Service files show.

The MI5 file on Wolf Mankowitz, a "convinced Marxist," shows he was monitored for more than a decade.

Mr Mankowitz wrote the screenplay for the unofficial Bond film Casino Royale in 1967 and was also involved in the film Dr No.

The files are available at the National Archives in Kew.

Mr Mankowitz, who died in 1998, introduced film producers Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman to each other.

He was subsequently involved in writing the script for their first Bond film together, Dr No.

Born in London's East End, Mr Mankowitz attended Cambridge University where he joined the University's Socialist Society and met his wife Ann, a Communist Party member.

[sabang]

Of course they did. MI5 is the 'domestic security' agency.
Do you think it was any different in France?

[Butterfly]

^ no, I don't think it was different, but only if you weren't supporting Communism

we always had a strong communist party that were represented in multiple governments, including governments lead by DeGaulles

We recently found out that one "Interior Minister" in the 80s was actually a KGB plant.

[BobR]

Of course they did. MI5 is the 'domestic security' agency.
Do you think it was any different in France?

Better yet, do you think it is any different now? Back in the 60's we had rights, at least the illusion of them, we have nothing now.

[Norton]

Better yet, do you think it is any different now?

Since the beginning of time, every government has had an internal security force tasked with collection of "intelligence". Use of the information has, is and will be used to politically persecute those who oppose the policy or practices of existing powers that be.

In the 60s was communists and today terrorists. Nothing new or unique here.

[superman]

In the 60s was communists and today terrorists. Nothing new or unique here.__________________

Absolutely correct. Prime Minister Harold Wilson was constantly subjected to covert surveillance.

[Moonraker]

Spies, spying on people. Whooda thunk it!