They keep records. And sometimes they get pissed off:
Intelligence officers are holding a “smoking gun” which proves that they were subjected to a series of demands by Tony Blair’s staff in the run-up to the Iraq war.
The officers are furious about the accusation levelled by the Leader of the Commons, John Reid, that “rogue elements” are at work in the security services. They fear they are being lined up to take the blame for faulty intelligence used to justify the Iraq war.
The intelligence services were so concerned about demands made by Downing Street for evidence to use against Iraq that extensive files have been built up detailing communications with Mr Blair’s staff.
Making predictions in politics is a sucker’s game, but I won’t be awfully surprised if Blair is looking for other work soon. Which won’t be good news for George W.