Spooks for Remain and No?

M Kettle in teh Graun improvises on the theme of the Russia Report, suggesting the real issue is the effectiveness of UK Security Services. He blames overwork andthen, bizarrely,  confusion about the nation state for the apparent blind eye turned to Russian cyber-tampering. Above all,

The case for thinking creatively about the secret agencies, which the nation needs but which have sat on their hands too often while Britain is under Russian assault, ought to be strong. And yet, tragically for Britain, the drive for reform of the state, so necessary in so many ways, is not in the hands of a Hegelian idealist like Haldane. Instead, it is in the hands of a vengeful tinpot vandal, Dominic Cummings, who promotes a malign and partisan agenda that can only breed public hostility to the state’s agencies – not help to restore the confidence that is so badly needed.

Confusion about the nation state is interesting.

the agencies “do not view themselves as holding primary responsibility for the active defence of the UK’s democratic processes”. When asked by the committee about Russia’s possible role in the EU referendum they displayed “extreme caution” that this might be anything they should concern themselves with. On one level this is admirable. It shows how seriously the agencies appear to take their statutory responsibilities. It shows sensitivity about the line they must tread, as secret agencies, in a world that demands transparency and good governance. But it also shows they are neglecting a key part of their job, and need to have more clarity about what they are defending.

Meaning -- they should have intervened in the national interest -- to nobble the Leave vote and keep us in Europe, where our proper 'national interest' lies? Then he takes another line:

Consider the following highly topical example. The potential break-up of Britain that might have resulted from the 2014 Scottish referendum is axiomatically not in the interest of the UK and is also a major problem for UK national security. It therefore has to be a concern to MI5, not least because breaking up the UK is obviously also in the interest of a hostile power such as Russia. The large political constraint is obvious. A majority in Scotland could have voted for it – and may yet do so. The agencies’ role here is obviously immensely delicate, but it is hard to argue that they should just do nothing.

Note that 'the nation' is now the UK. What exactly is being argued here? That spooks should now get some scam on N Sturgeon? Perhaps it was  been just an unfortunate lag that led to the attempt to smear scam all over A Salmond instead? Someone forgot to update the records on who leads the SNP?

Is M Kettle a spook lobbying for more business? I think we should be told .