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Basil Thompson

Basil Thomson trained as a barrister and joined the Colonial Office and for a held the post of Prime Minister of Tonga. When he returned to England he joined the prison service and later served periods as Governor of Dartmoor Prison and Wormwood Scrubs. In 1913 Thomson became Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and five years later was made head of the Special Branch. In 1918 Thomson asked Arthur Maundy Gregory to spy on Victor Grayson, the former MP for Colne Valley. An event that was to lead to the disappearance and possible murder of Grayson

It is believed that Thomson and Arthur Maundy Gregory were involved in arranging the Zinoviev Letter to be published in British newspapers. An event that helped to defeat the Labour Party in the 1924 General Election.

Arthur Maundy Gregory was eventually arrested, convicted and imprisoned for selling political honours. Basil Thomson's own career came to an end when he was arrested for committing an act of indecency in Hyde Park.

See also:
Arthur Maundy Gregory
Victor Grayson
Sidney Reilly
Vernon Kell
Zinoviev Letter
Berlusconi & Blair
 
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