US intelligence official says Brexit will not harm info-sharing relationship with Britain

Brexit will not harm the information-sharing relationship between Britain and America’s spy agencies, a leading US intelligence official has told The Telegraph.

Anthony Vassalo, a senior figure at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence – the top body in US intelligence – said he expected no “material change” after the UK leaves the European Union.

The comment, which comes with Britain locked in uncertainty about the shape of Brexit, will allay fears that the country’s close intelligence-sharing links with America could be damaged.

Concerns about the impact of Brexit on public safety have emerged in recent weeks, with Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, warning that Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement would “threaten the national security of the country”.

The UK and US are both part of the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence alliance, along with Australia, New Zealand and Canada, which sees the countries readily share classified material.

During a rare briefing with journalists to mark the publication of the Trump administration’s new national intelligence strategy, US officials outlined their plans for the coming four years.

Mr Vassalo, the associate deputy director of national intelligence for mission integration, responded when asked by this newspaper if Brexit would impact the UK-US intelligence-sharing relationship.

“I think that operationally, tactically, the work that's done in the field, the work that's done back here, in terms of integrating across the allies and … partners, goes on,” Mr Vassalo said.

“I haven't noticed any material change in any of that, and I wouldn't expect to.”

The remark is likely to be welcomed by Eurosceptics who argue that the negative impacts of leaving the EU have been over-exaggerated by those wishing to remain a member of the bloc.

The UK-US intelligence relationship has not been without strains since Donald Trump took over the presidency in January 2017.

His former press secretary Sean Spicer once quoted reports saying that GCHQ, Britain’s secret listening post, spied on Mr Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign.

A GCHQ spokesman called the suggestion “nonsense”.  Leaked photographs from the 2017 Manchester Arena attack crime scene, published in US media shortly after the incident, also caused friction.

British officials demanded an investigation and Amber Rudd, then home secretary, said she had been “irritated” by leaks.

The Telegraph has also previously revealed that UK spy chiefs are battling against Mr Trump’s proposal to release classified information linked to the Russian election meddling investigation over fears it could expose sources and methods of intelligence gathering.