Top of the class.

 L’ Express the French news magazine, spent three months approaching people in the various state security services - in order to discover and to rate their opposite numbers in western countries across Europe. Interestingly the top place by general agreement was the - British Secret Service, better known as MI6. They were considered best at recruiting high-level moles and penetrating the ruling class elites of Russia, China, Iran and Turkey. According to a senior member of the CIA “the United Kingdom has by far the strongest secret service in Europe by a long way”. Apparently we have the ability to play the long game of espionage and clandestine operations across many countries. Some have suggested this is connected to our - Imperial history, when we were in direct competition with other nations and in particular Russia for international influence. Another factor is that our secret service recruits from our top universities, like Oxford and Cambridge - and thereby have highly intelligent and resourceful agents. Whatever the causes it’s always good to be top of the class.