New look

We've made some changes
to The Sunday Times

Navigation - link to other main sections from here

From The Times

May 20, 2008

Max Mosley, MI5 and liberty

Social pressures are eroding our freedom: what I get up to in my dungeon is my business

Matthew Syed

The security services can expect a full mailbag from S&M enthusiasts volunteering to be the victims of their next sting operation. This follows Sunday's extraordinary revelations that an MI5 officer's wife was one of the prostitutes involved in the infamous sado-masochistic orgy with Max Mosley, the beleaguered head of Formula One's governing body - and subsequent speculation (quickly denied) that the News of the World exposé had the official backing of the security services.

Despite the growing scale of innuendo and conspiracy theory that has materialised in cyberspace, many of us will feel inclined to believe the protestations of innocence emanating from MI5. What with Gordon Brown struggling to get his legislation for an extension to pre-charge detention through Parliament, spooks surely have better things to do with their limited time than loitering about outside a southwest London basement apartment hoping to catch a upper-middle-class gent with his pants around his ankles and a few bruises on his behind.

“We expect high standards of behaviour from all staff at all times, both professionally and privately,” an official said at the weekend, in reference to the MI5 officer who was forced to resign. “In any case where a member of staff is believed to have fallen below those standards, action will be taken.” We may assume that these standards are also applied to spouses, although the spokesman was not specific as to which of the prostitute's activities was objected to by the scions of morality in Millbank.

Was it spanking Mr Mosley's bottom or taking money for doing so? Reference was made to the susceptibility of the officer to blackmail, but we may wonder why this is relevant if he is not merely unashamed of his wife's proclivities but gets off on them.

What worries me is that the steadily expanding collateral damage of the Mosley affair might soon embrace the rest of us. I mean, if individuals are getting fired, or being forced to resign, for their private sexual preferences, and those of their wives, what does that portend for the rest of us when our predilections differ from those of the majority?

John Stuart Mill argued that the guiding principle of democratic society is that citizens should be free to make their own choices, unless and until such choices present a danger to other citizens - and he was not referring about the dangers posed by leather paddles and handcuffs. The freedom to engage in behaviour that meets the approval of the leader writers of the Daily Mail is no freedom at all.

This is why the looming decision on whether to sack Mr Mosley represents a more important barometer of our commitment to freedom than the success of otherwise of Mr Brown's attempts to extend pre-charge detention from 28 to 42 days. The latter is, at least in part, an argument about the balance between individual liberty and public safety; those of us who oppose the policy do so on practical as much as on ideological grounds. But the proposed sacking of Mr Mosley has nothing whatever to do with balance, proportionality or anything else. It is a naked (if you will forgive the phrase) attempt to punish a man because his private behaviour happens to disgust the rest of us.

The fact that you are unlikely to see Shami Chakrabarti popping up on Channel 4 News to defend Mr Mosley is precisely the reason why we should be so appalled by the mounting ramifications of the affair. Freedoms are never more vulnerable (or intolerance more insidious) than when nobody notices that they are under threat. Who in their right mind would want to defend a man whose father was a Nazi sympathiser and who gets his kicks from humiliating, and being humiliated by, leather-clad women?

This is precisely the kind of question that sluggish liberals asked themselves in the 1950s when the victims of mob injustice were not ageing sado-masochists but gays.

Prominent Jewish figures have argued that Mr Mosley should resign because his alleged re-enactment of concentration camp rituals was insulting. Call me pernickety, but how can someone be taken as insulting when his actions took place behind closed doors and were not intended to be seen by Jews or anyone else? Had Mr Mosley merely fantasised about his Nazi fetish, would that have been a resigning matter? Have we arrived in the dystopian environs of 1984, 24 years too late?

We must not delude ourselves that the maltreatment of Mr Mosley is of minor consequence because it does not involve the apparatus of the State. That kind of spurious reasoning is the last refuge of the bigots and the bullies. If the past few centuries of human history tells us anything, it is that public sentiment, not the law, determines the quality of life of those who dare to live a bit differently (or just look a bit different) to the majority. The working life of my father, an immigrant Pakistani, was made a misery by colleagues - but none of them, so far as I am aware, behaved criminally.

We are all of us at perfect liberty to shun, ridicule, berate, exclude or spurn fellow citizens, and a jolly good thing, too: nothing would be more atrocious than legally enforced tolerance. But if we are serious in our belief that individual liberty must be protected against incursions by the State, we must also accept identical responsibilities arising in our private relationships, whether we are hanging out with blacks, Jews, gays, Muslims, drop-outs or middle-class sado-masochists.

Sacking a person who is doing a good job because you disapprove of what he does in the privacy of his own dungeon is the first step on the road to serfdom.

If MI5 doesn't know what its own agents are doing, then how can they justify infringing our rights to "protect us from al Qaeda"? It was a honey trap and everyone who doesnt start bleating about george orwells novel will just accept it. I hope it was for something more than a mosley/mclaren tiff

masopher, London, UK

A brilliant article! How many out there can honestly say they would be happy with the world seeing their most private moments? Would your employer still want you? Would it be fair for him to force your resignation because of your preferances?

Wynter, Solihull, UK

An excellent article. When most people talk about tolerance, they think in terms of things they don't really mind. But true tolerance encompasses that which is repugnant to us (in my case Mosley's nazi fantasies). Nowadays more than ever, we need to exercise our tolerance in defence of our liberty

L. Jones, Bracknell, Berks.

I do not suggest that Mosley’s indulgences should be illegal but merely that I do not want someone of his predilections representing my interests on the international stage. The MI5 chap resigned because his wife’s job was incompatible with his. Mosley’s indulgence of his desire to humiliate women demands the same sacrifice.

Deek Smith, Brighton, UK

What people do in their own bedrooms should be their own consern as long as everyone involved agree on what goes on in there. If a person can´t do his job proporly, sack him, otherwise, leave it be and let the man have fun the way he wants to.

Carina, Uppsala, Sweden

The point is that his actions did not remain behind doors and we cannot pretend that they didn't happen. This has nothing to do with privacy laws at all. On a more personal note, I have not met one person involved in S&M who I thought was well balanced whatever their exterior.

Bee, London,

Who cares who runs F1, it is a boring procession. Only the crashes at the first corner and pit stops have any influence on the result. ITV have dropped it, Sky don't want it. It's mystery why teams pay millions just to make up the numbers in this non event and even bigger mystery why BBC want it.

bert, coventry,

A well writen article, communicates precisely what is wrong. My you write many more such enlightening articles

Ian Caseley, Bristol, UK

A camera on every corner and one on every bus
One on every lamp post just to spy on us

And a nightingale sang in Berkely Sq.

He can dress up in a Burka for all I care.

Frederick, London, UK

Wonderful article - I applaud your fine writing and clear thinking.

Mark Sturdy, London,

A collapse in Christian standards of behaviour leads to a breakdown in society ,stand back and watch Babylon fall,

John tate, newcastle, Tyne/wear

Max was born into controversy: His parents had a certain Adolf Hitler as guest of honour at their wedding and General Franco was an erstwhile acquaintance. From all accounts he was a quite a wild child and he shows no signs of resinding that allegation. Ex NOTW Editor is his PR Man...coincidence?

JOHN WILSON, KILMARNOCK, scotland

thousands years ago someone said: everything is politics. and it remains so. it has to do with power struggles (how appropriate!) inside the multi million industry of F1.

how about Harry the potencial king?

how is the MI5 getting involved in these things?

jose, st helier, jersey

Pretty soon we'll have telescreens in every bedroom making sure we only do it missionary style.

Consenting adults + in private = mind your own business.

Seamus Smith, Durham,

I sense some self-righteousness combined with a bit of pre-"Extrordinary Meeting" jitters here. Even after a vigorous effort by some to "push" this story on the websites, Mr. Mosley will likely win the June 3 vote. It's also likely those behind this "sting" will soon be exposed & held accountable.

Kimberly, Tampa/St. Petersburg,

Max is NOT "doing a good job"!? His actions broke the UK's laws and the FIA's statute, bringing the latter into disrepute. He won't honourably resign despite the condemnation of F1 teams, clubs, sponsors & the leaders of most countries hosting GPs. He's unable to perform his duties and must go now!

Tony , LONDON, UK

Max's taste for S&M explains his appalling, relentless pursuit of Mclaren in the 2007 F1 'Spygate' affair. His behaviour evidenced a man who delighted in tormenting and publically humiliating his 'enemy' Ron Denis (Mclaren's CEO). Such a man is unfit for office and an abuser of power. Go now, Max!

Tony , London, UK

all well and good in academic discussion, but the fact is that this happened in the real world and the rules are...different.

Max is a risk taker, has been all his life. He is a public figure who participates in risky behavior and got caught. He played and lost, game over.

bill, boulder, usa

Don't forget that Mosley who has strenuously enforced the "bring the sport into disrepute" argument in the first place. He has used it against team owners and drivers. Whether or not his video should have been public, it was and now he has to abide by his own rules - for the good of the sport.

bill, boulder, usa

The moral issue in Mosley's case is whether or not those whose livelihoods are at risk from a kangaroo court of dubious legality which "fines' people $100,000,000 for offences of morality are entitled to know that the man who presides over it is a practising sadist who hires prostitutes to thrash.

Douglas, London, England - U.K.

How do you know Shami isn't into group cosplay?

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan

If the reported facts are reasonably accurate: What are the chances that the MI5 officer was actively involved in equipping his wife for the clandestine filming? And if he was, what are the chances that the filming equipment used was owned by MI5 (aka the British taxpayer)?

Alan , Toronto, Canada

You're right. Mosley's, and his family's (sorry, father's!) behaviour might not be what I (an African) find seemly, but I don't see what his actions behind dungeon doors have to do with me. His private 'affairs' should be none of my or anyone else's business. Very well-written article.

A, Accra, Ghana

For a society that prides itself on how well it respects women, I just have to laugh. The West are such hipocrits. Oh, and as we see in Austria, it SHOULD matter what people do in their dungeons, as pornography has become more violent towards women in ways that are destroying our culture.

Krista, London, UK

What's this....Freedom, liberty, resisting the intrusions of the State, referring to John Stuart Mill....

Hey Matthew, guess you won't be standing as a labour party candidate again in the foreseeable future?!

C Osborne, Tadworth, UK

While Max's private activities were distasteful, it was all quite civilized as Max and the ladies had a nice cup of tea afterwards. Having Mi5 or any intelligence agency involved in a set up or blackmail of a prominent person is extremely disturbing. Who was behind all this?

Franc , Ocean Ridge , USA, FL

This article muddles facts and values. If our sexual preferences are weird this means that we too are a bit weird and therefore unfitted for posts carrying responsibility for other people. So far no one has forced Mosley to resign; but his betrayal of his wife fetters her freedom apart from his own.

Phili Panter, Mirano, Italy

This was just a bit of harmless slap and tickle at a private address carried out by consenting adults. I don't see what the problem is. If he was Hitlers son it would have no bearing on this matter and yet again there is an anti-semitic agenda being dreamt up from nowhere

John , Newcastle, UK

To each his own.

Louise, Liverpool,

There really isn't an issue of exploitation here. Most S&M pros (domme and sub) are enthusiasts who enjoy doing it in their private lives too. No-one should be punished for their sexual preferences, provided it's all between consenting adults. This clearly was.

Mark, Newcastle, UK

Mosely's crime was getting caught. None of us are perfect but have to accept the consequences of being caught off-side whilst in a high profile job. It's a simple choice for all of us.

Ex pat India

Simon Diplock, Panjim, India

Spot on. Thank you very much for being the first writer to articulate so clearly the situation.

JO J, Prague, Czech Republic

"nothing would be more atrocious than legally enforced tolerance."
Have you not heard of :-
The race relations act and all the other legislation that has been passed on sexuality, gender, disabilility and equal rights that legally ( and rightly) enforce tolerance.

Terry , Whitchurch,

Government staff dealing in sensitive areas of work must obtain security clearance. Their security status is regularly reviewed and should there be any changes to their personal status, as in this case, clearance may be revoked meaning the relevant individual is no longer qualified for the post.

Anon, London, UK

Perhaps doing something in ones own dungeon is one thing. Paying for it in someone elses dungeon might be considered a very different matter. Isn't prostitution illegal in the UK?

Ian, Madison, USA

Thank you Matthew for such an excellent piece.
I've a feeling that a number of my fellow posters seem to have rather missed its point.

Howard, London,

Veronica and Amanda,
The difficulty with your stance comes when defining 'normal' - this is entirely dependent on hegemonic principles; there is, afterall, no such thing as natural behaviour, only learned or enforced behaviour.

Ella, London,

As I understand it, sacking someone due to their sexual orientation/behaviour is now illegal. Why is it that sacking someone due to their spouse's sexual orientation/behaviour is not? Can the MI5 officer sue his miserable and humour-less employers? Does anyone know?

Rowan, Oxford,

Mosley made one mistake - he got caught.

His deeds, now known, show him to be of questionable judgement. He has some strange nazi fixation that needs to addressed and demonstrated he likes to bully people.

Bullying, nazi fixated tyrants shouldn't be excused, encouraged or condoned.

Graham Esplen, Warwick, England.

What a person does behind closed doors is their own business and has no place in the public domain, regardless who that person may be. Simply because a man of considerable profile partakes in activities that many of us find disgusting, should not mean we all have the right to scrutinise it.

A Lovatt, Stoke-on-Trent, England

An MI5 officer is found to have a wife that is a prostitute and it was a surprise? and the checks that these people go through? The recruitment and vetting process is intensive enough not to have noticed this already. This is political.

John, Knutsford, UK

Is it possible that a rival for Moseley's job 'bubbled' him to the News of the World in an effort to get the vacated position.
If that was the case, what would his critics say about that?

Stanley Downey, Chesham, UK

While I find Mr Moseley's personal and private activities distasteful, they should still be personal and private.

A big thank you to Matthew Syed and Shami Chakrabarti for standing up against the 'Thought Police'.

Sue B, Pontypridd, Wales

If he is a bad motor sports administrator then fire him for that.
What he does in private is private. The comments on here judging his private behaviour are disgusting. I demand your home addresses so that I can come to your houses and video your sexual activity to judge it's acceptability.

mike hall, gosport, hants

Apparently the agent failed to declare his wife's occupation correctly on his vetting form. This is a very serious matter given that his likely clearance level would give him access to some extremely sensitive information.

Otherwise, excellent article.

Stu, London,

I refer to articles of outrage concerning austrians who chose to look away from dodgy dealings in their version of a private dungeon & are now being castigated for the very embodiment of the liberty you speak of. you present individual freedoms in a shockingly & inadequately one-dimensional fashion.

Frances, Oxford,

because unfortunately, mill's harm principle is no good with hindsight...

Frances, Oxford,

Some posters think "normal" means "anything I approve of" and anything else is "abnormal".

But engaging in legal activities doesn't mean someone is "in the grip of compulsions he can't control" if everybody consented, since clearly it *was* controlled!

Graham Marsden, portsmouth, UK

Did Sven Goran Eriksson resign over his affairs? No. Did football crumble into oblivion? No. Is Formula One in disrepute? No. Ok, Moseley is married. So was Prince Charles. Is paying for infidelity worse? The acts involved are irrelevant. Stone-throwers need to ensure they are not in glass houses.

Alex D, London, UK

If I employ a plumber, I want to know if he can plumb, and for that I ask around about jobs he has done. If he has eight mistresses and a sheep in his private life, even if he is a card-carrying member of the BNP, I couldn't give a dam.

Kevin Straw, Leicester,

"no officer of the FIA shall bring the FIA into disrepute."

- He didn't bring it into disrepute. The NOTW did.

"exploitation of prostitutes"

- You think the wife of an MI5 operatant would only be in the game by desperate need of cash? Sack him if he is doing a bad job only.

Dave Williams, Beijing, China

Absolutely. Leave the man alone to get on with it.

Thomas Goodey, Cuxton-upon-Medway, UK

This article well represents my own views. Not surprisingly, I think it is also an important piece. Mosley did nothing illegal or objected to by any other participant, nor was violence involved. Those avoiding or criticising him should be ashamed.

Chris, London,

None of the arguments in the article have any relevance.
The rules of the FIA clearly state that no officer of the FIA shall bring the FIA into disrepute.
The fact that you have written this article indicates that Mosley has brought the FIA into disrepute.
And no, he was not doing a good job.

Arundel, South Coast, UK

Mosley is an unpleasant piece of work who is now getting exactly what he deserves. He has never been of any use to motorsport and, as Lou Grant says, some did wonder if he was in the pay of a particular Italian team. He comes from a long line of horrible wasters. Disappear Mr Mosley, please.

Kim Lay, Brightlingsea, U.K.

Amanda,I couldn't agree with you more. We seem to have lost sight of the sheer grotesqueness of a man of 68 behaving in such a way - in public or in private. At the very least, his behaviour shows him as a man in the grip of compulsions he can't - or won't - control. Not very trustworthy.

veronica, London, UK

It seems that 'Human Rights' only applies to the lefties and that everyone else can go whistle. Ever more draconian laws, selectively applied only to the Right... brrr.

Roger, Ipswich,

It is to be hoped that the identities of those responsible and hidden behind the organized sting against Max will soon be revealed.

M15 cannot afford to suggest that they had no idea of their operatives involvement, even if it was as a bit of 'work on the side'.

They have already accepted his resignation, so they have admitted an involvement.

They cannot expect the British public to believe that they were unaware that this operatives wife was the one who organized the orgy, she was also the one who received tens of thousands of pounds from the News of the World.

M15 are far more intelligent than that and they vet all their operatives thoroughly in anycase.

A terrible reflection of British intelligence if they did not know.

The News of the World must also realize that they are going to lose big time in court to Max, so it is also in their interests to reveal those who are behind this criminal invasion of privacy designed to undermine one of the top people in sport.

Come on NOTW, you are always saying how important it is to tell the truth!!!!

I am sure the British public are waiting in eager anticipation for the truth to get out.

There are after all Billions involved in this case.

Monaco would be a great venue for such an expose.

Perhaps Martin Brundel could mention it on his grid walk?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

keith gerrard, Norwich, UK

I think it's reasonable to eye someone involved in S&M domination and the exploitation of prostitutes with a degree of concern. I also feel sorry for their unwitting partners.

Addicts have similar problems seeing themselves clearly, but the sad fact remains that normal's normal.

Amanda, Bury St. Edmunds, UK

Just what use is he, more people are talking about his personal life than the sport now, surely that is damaging the sport itself. Last year many thought he was in the pay of a particular Italian team, now this, It is time that he fell on his own sword

Lou Grant, London, England

The behaviour becomes a problem only when it prevents an individual from doing their job or directly causes harm to others. Well Mosely is now not welcome at motor sports events so he cannot do his job. His colleagues are placed in a difficult position and their work is now affected.

Jonathan Mills, Brighton,

S & M professionals wouldn 't make such excellent money were it not for the large numbers of very successful people of both sexes in high positions in industry, government, academia, the church and the arts who patronize them.

MARK KLEIN, M.D., Oakland, California, USA