The chief of MI6, Richard Moore, has publicly apologised for the way the intelligence service treated gay people in the past.

Although same-sex relationships were decriminalised in 1967, there remained a ban on LGBT+ individuals serving in UK intelligence agencies until 1991 because of a concern they would be more susceptible to blackmail.

Openly gay intelligence officers risked losing their jobs and the recruitment process often prevented them from applying in the first place.

Speaking on a video uploaded to his Twitter account Mr Moore, who is known professionally as ‘C’, said he wanted to “address an issue from our past, and so important to our future, for the first time.”

He continued: “Today, I apologise on behalf of MI6 for the way our LGBT+ colleagues and fellow citizens were treated and express my regret to those whose lives were affected.

“Being LGBT+ did not make these people a national security threat. Of course not.

“But the ban did mean that we, in the intelligence and diplomatic services, deprived ourselves of some of the best talent Britain could offer. Ready to serve but denied that opportunity.”

Mr Moore added: “Committed, talented, public-spirited people had their careers and lives blighted because it was argued that being LGBT+ was incompatible with being an intelligence professional.

“Because of this policy, other loyal and patriotic people had their dreams of serving their country in MI6 shattered. This was wrong, unjust and discriminatory.”

Even after the ban was lifted, many openly gay officers were criticised by colleagues because it became apparent they’d hidden their sexuality during security vetting.

“That treatment fuelled a reluctance to be their true selves in the workplace. This was also unacceptable,” Mr Moore said.

“I pay tribute to the extraordinary resilience and loyalty to service and country of LGBT+ colleagues past and present who slowly turned the tide by educating their workmates and fighting for change.

“As well as apologising, I am thanking current and former LGBT+ colleagues for the contribution they have made, and continue to make, to MI6 and to our country.”

Mr Moore was named the new head of MI6, replacing Sir Alex Younger, last July.

The apology from the head of the UK’s foreign intelligence agency comes in the same week that the Ministry of Defence apologised to gay service personnel who were thrown out of the military and had their medals stripped before 2000.

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