3 FEBRUARY 2001, Page 26

Tomlinson is wrong

From Mr Julian Manyon Sir: Even in faraway Moscow, where the circumstances surrounding the publication of Richard Tomlinson's book about MI6 (The Big Breach) grow ever murkier, the eruptions resulting from his 'Smallbrow' allegations have been audible. May I make it clear that in writing with, I hope, due scepticism about Tomlinson's account ('Tinker, tailor, soldier, failure', 27 January), I was in no way endorsing any of the assertions he makes about the individuals he identifies. In the case of the distinguished editor of the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Dominic Lawson, I naturally accept his assurance that the claims Tomlinson makes about his involvement with MI6 are without foundation. Tomlinson himself has now admitted in an interview with Russian television that there may be a number of 'little mistakes' in his book. One hopes that his reporting while he was in the service was of a higher standard, or was that the problem?

Julian Manyon

Moscow