Britain's former US ambassador: I was target of Soviet honeytraps

Britain's former man in Washington told today how he had been targeted by gay and straight Soviet spies during his career as a diplomat.

Sir Christopher Meyer, who served six years as ambassador to the USA, said he had rejected sexual temptation "a number of times" to leave Russian agents "gnashing their teeth".

Former security minister Lord West of Spithead also said he had been targeted, as he called for parliamentary security checks to be stepped up in the wake of the Commons spy scandal.

Katia Zatuliveter, 25, is facing extradition from the UK amid suspicions that she used her position as an assistant to MP Mike Hancock to pass documents to Russian intelligence, which she denies.

Sir Christopher, who served in Russia, Europe and the US during a 37-year career, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There were a number of times when honeytraps were laid but as I thought of Queen and empire I resisted the foul temptation.

"Honey traps were always around in the old Soviet days. It's a very traditional country and I think that includes their intelligence services, so I'm not at all surprised to hear this stuff that they are still honey trapping away in the House of Commons."