The Spy Who The Spy Who Outran the KGB | Before Gordievsky, and the Secret War Inside Britain - with Author Tim Tate | 4
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Dec 16, 2025 Investigative journalist Tim Tate joins host Charlie Higson, shedding light on Soviet infiltration into Britain's institutions long before Oleg Gordievsky. Tate discusses the vulnerabilities of post-war Britain and how it became a backdoor for Soviet access to NATO. He also highlights the influence of spies on Cold War policy, especially the roles of Cambridge recruits like Anthony Blunt, and the tensions within MI5 and MI6 that hampered counterintelligence. The conversation reveals surprising truths about espionage and its impact on international relations.
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Soviet Spying Started Early And Broad
- The Soviet Union spied on all Western countries to protect its revolution and learn their intentions.
- Tim Tate explains Moscow began active intelligence work in the 1920s and expanded across Europe and the US.
Decline Made Britain An Intelligence Target
- Britain's postwar decline and ambitions left it vulnerable to infiltration.
- Tim Tate calls it a perfect storm of pretension, lack of funds, and strategic exposure in Germany.
Ex-Nazis Shaped Early Cold War Policy
- Former Nazi intelligence officers heavily shaped early Cold War policy on both sides.
- Tim Tate finds this reliance deeply disturbing and influential in 1945–46 geopolitics.
