The Guardian view on secrets and leaks: openness is not treason | Editorial

The release of details of the Manchester atrocity by US sources has angered the government, but we need be clear that it has not damaged the investigation“Loose lips sink ships” and “Keep mum – she’s not so dumb” – the spirit of second world war propaganda posters still animates the British response to terrorist atrocities. Lurking in the background is the idea that leakers are unpatriotic by their nature, and that telling the public concrete and inconve