Patrick Haseldine
Encyclopedia
Patrick John Haseldine is a former British diplomat
who was dismissed in August 1989 by the then Foreign Secretary
, John Major
, for "various disciplinary offences constituting breaches of the Diplomatic Service Regulations". Patrick Haseldine was initially suspended on 7 December 1988 upon publication of a letter he had written to The Guardian
newspaper in which he publicly accused then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
of "self-righteous invective" over her handling of an extradition
request.
in London
(1953–58) and enrolled at the Open University
in its initial year (1971). He graduated with a BA
degree in 1974.
, Haseldine was employed at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
. He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
in May 1971 and within four years was posted as Attaché (Commercial)
to the Paris
Embassy. In January 1978, he was posted as Third Secretary (Aid), later Second Secretary (Commercial/Aid), to the British High Commission in Freetown
, Sierra Leone
. In November 1982, he was posted back to London and spent a year in the FCO
's Southern African Department.
He was appointed in July 1983 to be an assistant on the South Africa desk in the FCO's
Southern African Department (SAfD) in London where his responsibilities included monitoring the voluntary cultural and sports boycott of South Africa
, and enforcing the mandatory UN arms embargo against South Africa
. However he was seconded to another department after his superiors deemed him unsuitable to work in a political department. In January 1986, he was unsuccessful in appealing against this unfavourable performance review, which he alleged was politically motivated.
For two years from 1984, he was seconded to the Office of Fair Trading
before returning to the FCO in December 1986 (Defence Department).
. Fifteen minutes into the programme, a student asked whether the British government was justified in its opposition of economic sanctions
against South Africa in the face of calls for sanctions by Nelson Mandela
, Bishop Tutu
and by most of the European Community. Sir Robin Day
asked the audience to raise their hands if they were in favour of economic sanctions against South Africa. Haseldine was the first member of the audience to vote on that question of sanctions
.
from his work address (Information Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
) in which he criticised the then Prime Minister
, Margaret Thatcher
of using "self-righteous invective" over an extradition
request for Irishman Patrick Ryan to face terrorism charges in the UK. He contrasted the case to that of the Coventry Four
, four South Africa
n businessmen charged in 1984 with evading the United Nations Security Council Resolution 418
ban on military exports, who were subsequently released by the Thatcher government. Haseldine labelled the four South Africans "terrorists", a term deriving from Michael Dukakis
and from some anti-apartheid activists calling apartheid South Africa a "terrorist state" in order to trigger automatic sanctions
.
He was immediately suspended from work on full pay. In a House of Commons
written question on 13 December 1988, Tam Dalyell
asked the Prime Minister "when she expects to receive the report from Sir Robin Butler on the case of Mr P J Haseldine and his letter to The Guardian; and if she will make a statement?" The Prime Minister replied: "I do not expect to receive such a report. This case is being considered in accordance with procedures laid down in Diplomatic Service Regulations." On 21 March 1989, following a disciplinary proceeding, he was called to resign or be dismissed. He appealed to the Foreign Secretary against this decision, but Geoffrey Howe rejected the appeal; he was sacked on 3 August 1989.
Haseldine submitted an application to the European Court of Human Rights
in 1991, claiming that his dismissal for writing the letter to Guardian contravened his right to freedom of expression
, but the ECHR declared his application inadmissible the following year.
newspaper, promoting the conspiracy theory that South Africa is behind the Lockerbie bombing and later submitted two unsuccessful petition
s to 10 Downing Street
, citing the criticism of the Lockerbie investigation by UN observer Hans Köchler, and calling for a new UN inquiry into the bombing. Haseldine went on to run a cafe in Ongar, Essex, and stood as a Labour
candidate for the Ongar Division in the May 6, 1993 Essex County Council elections.
Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service
Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service is the diplomatic service of the United Kingdom, dealing with foreign affairs, as opposed to the Home Civil Service, which deals with domestic affairs...
who was dismissed in August 1989 by the then Foreign Secretary
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a senior member of Her Majesty's Government heading the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and regarded as one of the Great Offices of State...
, John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
, for "various disciplinary offences constituting breaches of the Diplomatic Service Regulations". Patrick Haseldine was initially suspended on 7 December 1988 upon publication of a letter he had written to The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper in which he publicly accused then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
of "self-righteous invective" over her handling of an extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
request.
Education
He attended St Ignatius' CollegeSt Ignatius' College
St Ignatius' College is a Catholic secondary school for boys, aged 11–18, located in Enfield, Middlesex. Formerly a grammar school, only accepting boys who had passed their Eleven plus exam, its educational philosophy was originally based upon the Jesuit precept of Ignatius of Loyola:Its current...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(1953–58) and enrolled at the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
in its initial year (1971). He graduated with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1974.
Career
In the year prior to being recruited into HM Diplomatic ServiceHer Majesty's Diplomatic Service
Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service is the diplomatic service of the United Kingdom, dealing with foreign affairs, as opposed to the Home Civil Service, which deals with domestic affairs...
, Haseldine was employed at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is a UK government research organisation responsible for the development of nuclear fusion power. It is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and was formerly chaired by Lady Barbara Judge CBE...
. He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
in May 1971 and within four years was posted as Attaché (Commercial)
Attaché
Attaché is a French term in diplomacy referring to a person who is assigned to the diplomatic or administrative staff of a higher placed person or another service or agency...
to the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
Embassy. In January 1978, he was posted as Third Secretary (Aid), later Second Secretary (Commercial/Aid), to the British High Commission in Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. In November 1982, he was posted back to London and spent a year in the FCO
FCO
FCO may mean:*Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Foreign Affairs*Ferro Carril Oeste, a football club of Buenos Aires and the eponymous railway*Financial Control Officer, a controller...
's Southern African Department.
He was appointed in July 1983 to be an assistant on the South Africa desk in the FCO's
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
Southern African Department (SAfD) in London where his responsibilities included monitoring the voluntary cultural and sports boycott of South Africa
Gleneagles Agreement
The Gleneagles Agreement was unanimously approved by the Commonwealth of Nations at a meeting at Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Scotland. In 1977, Commonwealth Presidents and Prime Ministers agreed, as part of their support for the international campaign against apartheid, to discourage contact and...
, and enforcing the mandatory UN arms embargo against South Africa
United Nations Security Council Resolution 418
United Nations Security Council Resolution 418, adopted unanimously on 4 November 1977, imposed a mandatory arms embargo against apartheid South Africa. This resolution differed from the earlier Resolution 282, which was only voluntary...
. However he was seconded to another department after his superiors deemed him unsuitable to work in a political department. In January 1986, he was unsuccessful in appealing against this unfavourable performance review, which he alleged was politically motivated.
For two years from 1984, he was seconded to the Office of Fair Trading
Office of Fair Trading
The Office of Fair Trading is a not-for-profit and non-ministerial government department of the United Kingdom, established by the Fair Trading Act 1973, which enforces both consumer protection and competition law, acting as the UK's economic regulator...
before returning to the FCO in December 1986 (Defence Department).
Question Time
In February 1988, Haseldine was a member of the invited studio audience of Question TimeQuestion Time (TV series)
Question Time is a topical debate BBC television programme in the United Kingdom, based on Any Questions?. The show typically features politicians from at least the three major political parties as well as other public figures who answer questions put to them by the audience...
. Fifteen minutes into the programme, a student asked whether the British government was justified in its opposition of economic sanctions
Economic sanctions
Economic sanctions are domestic penalties applied by one country on another for a variety of reasons. Economic sanctions include, but are not limited to, tariffs, trade barriers, import duties, and import or export quotas...
against South Africa in the face of calls for sanctions by Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, Bishop Tutu
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid...
and by most of the European Community. Sir Robin Day
Robin Day
Sir Robin Day, OBE was a British political broadcaster and commentator. His obituary in the Guardian stated that "he was the most outstanding television journalist of his generation...
asked the audience to raise their hands if they were in favour of economic sanctions against South Africa. Haseldine was the first member of the audience to vote on that question of sanctions
International sanctions
International sanctions are actions taken by countries against others for political reasons, either unilaterally or multilaterally.There are several types of sanctions....
.
Suspension
In March 1988, after repeatedly circulating material within the civil service without authorisation, Haseldine was suspended from his job in Defence Department for six months. He was invited back to join the FCO's Information Department on 3 September 1988.Guardian letter
On 7 December 1988, Haseldine wrote a letter to The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
from his work address (Information Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
) in which he criticised the then Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
of using "self-righteous invective" over an extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
request for Irishman Patrick Ryan to face terrorism charges in the UK. He contrasted the case to that of the Coventry Four
Coventry Four
Four South African alleged arms smugglers were arrested by HM Customs & Excise officers in Coventry in March 1984 and charged with conspiring to export arms from Britain to apartheid South Africa in contravention of the mandatory UN arms embargo...
, four South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n businessmen charged in 1984 with evading the United Nations Security Council Resolution 418
United Nations Security Council Resolution 418
United Nations Security Council Resolution 418, adopted unanimously on 4 November 1977, imposed a mandatory arms embargo against apartheid South Africa. This resolution differed from the earlier Resolution 282, which was only voluntary...
ban on military exports, who were subsequently released by the Thatcher government. Haseldine labelled the four South Africans "terrorists", a term deriving from Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
and from some anti-apartheid activists calling apartheid South Africa a "terrorist state" in order to trigger automatic sanctions
International sanctions
International sanctions are actions taken by countries against others for political reasons, either unilaterally or multilaterally.There are several types of sanctions....
.
He was immediately suspended from work on full pay. In a House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
written question on 13 December 1988, Tam Dalyell
Tam Dalyell
Sir Thomas Dalyell Loch, 11th Baronet , known as Tam Dalyell, is a British Labour Party politician, who was a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons from 1962 to 2005, first for West Lothian and then for Linlithgow.-Early life:...
asked the Prime Minister "when she expects to receive the report from Sir Robin Butler on the case of Mr P J Haseldine and his letter to The Guardian; and if she will make a statement?" The Prime Minister replied: "I do not expect to receive such a report. This case is being considered in accordance with procedures laid down in Diplomatic Service Regulations." On 21 March 1989, following a disciplinary proceeding, he was called to resign or be dismissed. He appealed to the Foreign Secretary against this decision, but Geoffrey Howe rejected the appeal; he was sacked on 3 August 1989.
Haseldine submitted an application to the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
in 1991, claiming that his dismissal for writing the letter to Guardian contravened his right to freedom of expression
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
, but the ECHR declared his application inadmissible the following year.
Later activity
Haseldine wrote a series of letters to The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper, promoting the conspiracy theory that South Africa is behind the Lockerbie bombing and later submitted two unsuccessful petition
Petition
A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....
s to 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
, citing the criticism of the Lockerbie investigation by UN observer Hans Köchler, and calling for a new UN inquiry into the bombing. Haseldine went on to run a cafe in Ongar, Essex, and stood as a Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
candidate for the Ongar Division in the May 6, 1993 Essex County Council elections.
See also
- Clive PontingClive PontingClive Ponting is a British writer, former academic and former senior civil servant. He is the author of a number of revisionist books on British and world history...
- Sarah TisdallSarah TisdallSarah Tisdall was a Foreign and Commonwealth Office clerical officer who was jailed for leaking British government documents to a newspaper in 1983.-Cruise missiles:...