No one exemplified the loony Left that infested Labour during the 1980s like Red Ken Livingstone.

His notorious government made the Greater London Council a synonym for ideological extremism, financial overprice, and taxpayer-funded propaganda.

Red Ken was a flirtatious partner with religious bigots and terrorists. While nation celebrated Lady Diana Spencer’s marriage to the Prince of Wales in 1981, GLC raised black flags at County Hall for Bobby Sands (IRA hunger striker) who was recently killed.

Later that same year, Livingstone was photographed outside the building along with his lieutenants. They pointed theatrically towards a banner at the roof which declared the London unemployment.

Greater London Council leader Ken Livingstone and colleagues Val Wise, Charlie Rossi (circled), John McDonnell and Michael Ward gather outside the GLC headquarters in County Hall for the unveiling of a 75 foot long sign announcing London's unemployment figure in 1982

Ken Livingstone (leader of Greater London Council), Charlie Rossi, John McDonnell, Michael Ward and John McDonnell gather at County Hall headquarters for unveiling a sign that measures 75 feet and announces London’s unemployment figures in 1982.

Behind him was the GLC’s vice-chairman, Charlie Rossi, a heavily built, tousle-haired Scotsman – a largely unremarkable figure save for one fact that has remained buried until now.

Cold War intelligence files uncovered in Prague by The Mail on Sunday show that Rossi was a paid agent of Czechoslovakia’s brutal Communist spy agency, the StB – a traitor to his country and, it would seem, even more red than Ken.

Last night, Sir Richard Dearlove, the head of MI6 between 1999 and 2004 and himself a former spy in Czechoslovakia, said: ‘It looks as if he was a fully recruited agent of the Czechoslovak StB and understood exactly what he was doing – another Cold War traitor who deserves to be exposed even long after the event.’

Livingstone declared: “I am completely amazed.” Although I had never seen him this intelligent, I am now convinced that my perception was incorrect.

Rossi’s 1983 recruitment, less than a decade after the photograph was taken. It occurred at a time in which East-West relations had reached rock bottom with both parties vying for supremacy in nuclear weapons.

So strong was the paranoia about the knife edge that, a few months later the Soviets were convinced of an impending attack by a routine Nato exercise. The Cold War was in its final phase.

Rossi was filmed taking payouts from Czech spies during the Cold War for trading British secrets

Rossi was caught on camera receiving payments from Czech spies in the Cold War, when he traded British secrets.

Rossi was forced to give up his life in order to be with the Czechs against this background. He was also targeted by the Czech Embassy at Kensington Palace Gardens in West London, just like others.

Rossi, 55 at the time, was approached in London by Major Josef Houzvicka who recognized Rossi as a possible source.

From then on – for two-and- a-half years, according to the newly declassified documents – the Labour councillor handed over as much sensitive information as he could lay his hands on. They were very impressed by their collection. Rossi shared details about Britain’s weapon development and the locations of nuclear bunkers, as well as information regarding civil defense in London.

Rossi met his paymasters from the StB (Státní bezpecnost) intelligence agency 35 times between 1983 and 1985, mostly in upmarket restaurants. There were occasions when exchanges took place in open areas, most often underpasses where the Marylebone Road and Edgware Road are the busiest roads in London.

Also, he was used to be a talent spotter. This gave the Czechs access and monitoring to other talents.

For his treachery, the files state Rossi was paid more than £700 (about £2,500 in today’s money) and received numerous gifts such as vases, porcelain and crystal. Rossi was among a few politicians that were agents for the Warsaw Pact. This includes Labour MP John Stonehouse, and Will Owen.

After reviewing the documents, Professor Anthony Glees of the University of Buckingham was convinced Rossi was a traitor.

He said, “He was a traitor to people and friends of the Labour movement, but he was made up to become a cog in an intelligence-machine communist with many moving parts.”

‘There are secret meetings and an agreement to spy for them in particular around civil defence – he’s fulfilling the tasks and is clearly interested in the money. It was an era of aggressive intelligence gathering, when both the Soviets and Czechs wanted to build a picture of the situation in case of nuclear war.

Rossi, then 55, was approached by Major Josef Houzvicka, the top Czech spy in London, who identified the burly figure before him as a potentially fruitful source

Rossi (then 55) was approached by Major Josef Houzvicka. This top Czech spy in London identified Rossi as a possible source.

After his work as a pest controller officer, Rossi became known as “rat catcher” to friends. He was actually the one who never captured the rat, an irony that was unlikely to be lost on Rossi.

Major Houzvicka praised him for his natural ability to communicate with people [that]He has been able to develop a wide network of contacts.

Rossi received the Czech codename SKOT from the Czechs. This could have been a reference his Scottish heritage. The pair quickly developed a relationship. Both men carried matching Marks & Spencer carrier bags to exchange documents. Rossi exchanged secrets with the other man and was given further instructions. Rossi also received instructions in return. Rossi was alerted to an urgent liaison by chalk marks in a nearby public toilet.

In June 1983, the Czech Agency was eager to build a relationship with its partner and offered a “recruitment” meeting in Prague with the head of the organization. A Labour councillor was appointed as a delegate at the World Peace Conference held in Prague.

The conference was organized by a pro-Soviet front organization and protested against US deployments of nuclear missiles to Europe that year.

John Simpson was almost sucked into a honeytrap by Anna, an elegant hotel receptionist working for Czech security services.

Although Simpson did not succumb to her charms in Prague – ‘there was more than a touch of animal magnetism,’ he admitted – Anna began writing to him in Londnon and suggested meeting in Hungary. MI5 became suspicious of Simpson’s behavior and alerted them. They later said that any attempt to meet with Anna would undoubtedly have led to blackmail by the Czechs.

Rossi was known to his friends as the 'rat catcher' after his time working as a pest control officer. In truth, he was the rat who was never caught, an irony unlikely to have been lost on him

Rossi, who was a pest control officer and worked as a pest controller, was often referred to as the “rat catcher”. In reality, Rossi was the rat that wasn’t caught. This irony was not lost on him.

Charlie Rossi, however, was at the Hotel International Prague in luxury. His Czech spymasters were the focal point.

Rossi was seated in the hotel lobby with Major Houzvicka. This meeting was secretly recorded by the Czech secret agency, both audio and on camera. It apparently wanted to make sure it had enough kompromat for the agent to stay under control.

With seats carefully chosen to allow the cameraman a clear line of sight, Rossi – dressed in a light-coloured jumper – was seen enjoying beer and coffee before accepting around £400 – about £1,400 in today’s money – as a reward for information provided in the previous six months. The Government’s plans for civil defence were also included.

Major Houzvicka co-authored a report that stated: SKOT was awarded 250 Pound Sterling and 3,000 Czechoslovak Crowns for fulfilling his tasks and helping to uncover the British Conservative Party’s plans for a nuclear missile attack.

The leadership group stated that the money had been handed over because Czechoslovak officials appreciated receiving the materials and information. They also hoped for more development of the collaboration.

The meetings went on apace after Rossi’s and Houzvicka returned to London. On December 21st 1983, Rossi and Houzvicka met up at La Lupa in Bayswater. Rossi offered his Czech handler sensitive details about British torpedo development at this meeting.

The file stated: ‘… following consultation with representatives of ‘Scottish Civil Engineers against Nuclear War’ he had determined that the self-propelling computerised torpedo Captor is manufactured in Britain by Plessey Co Ltd.It is not a foreign product. He’ll find out more about this weapon.

A meeting was held two days later after Rossi informed his handlers about the new Government plans for civil nuclear defense.

According to the files, SKOT informed the meeting of new civil defense regulations. The GLC was also given new instructions. They will be brought by him on the 23rd of December.

Meeting would take place at the Victoria Embankment entrance of the London Underground Station Victoria Embankment [with a less frequented underpass]For a 30 line report, please contact us.

The Czechs wanted to renew their secret relationship with Rossi by February 1984 and chose La Lupa again for that meeting. Major Houzvicka made it to the meeting via Kensal Green, where he took his “sons” to their Kensal Green karate classes (in case I had to reveal details) and was escorted by a friend.

According to his report, he stated that Rossi told him: “I wanted to use this meeting in behalf of the Czech comrades who he had not forgotten, whom through contact I had already given a lot valuable knowledge regarding civil defence. So, 200 GBP was my modest reward.”

After placing the envelope on the table ‘when none of the servers could see it’, Rossi thrust it into his breast pocket – rather ‘too quickly’ for the spy’s liking.

The Czech reporter claims that he told his Czech handler then that he had said that he was happy to help and that they could always count upon him.

The files reveal that Rossi’s status and information as a paid agent were also sent to Russia’s KGB spy organization via an internal database.

He continued to supply steady information throughout 1984 to his handlers. This included Home Office civil defense documents as well as the location of nuclear bunkers.

Rossi's information and status as a paid agent was also shared with Russia's KGB spy agency via their internal database, the files show

Rossi’s status and information as a paid agent were also sent to Russia’s KGB spy organization via their internal database. The files show

Rossi told his handler in April 1984 about construction work on a bunker to house the Commanders of Nato High Wycombe. In 1982, RAF High Wycombe began construction of a four-storey bunker that could withstand a direct shot from a 1,000 lb explosive bomb. The bunker is still in operation today. Following a meeting between Rossi, Major Houzvicka and Rennes, France in April 1985, the conspiracy fell apart.

Rossi was question by authorities upon his return from the trip. The final October 1985 report indicated that Rossi had been followed and questioned by authorities from the Czech Republic.

Oleg Gordievsky was the MI6 double agent. He had been a KGB spy and met Major Houzvicka regularly in London. The British then took him from Moscow after his Russian spymasters uncovered him.

Rossi died at the age of 66 in 1994 after he lived in North London in a flat with his wife.

On Sunday, Mr Livingstone said to The Mail: “I cannot believe it. I can recall him being pictured beside me and some of my colleagues. He was not a person I liked and I never thought he had a great job.

Rossi’s grandson, Billy (45), said that it was quite a surprise. I never thought my grandad could be capable of something like this – it almost doesn’t add up. He opposed nuclear weapons strongly and taught us, as children, about the horrible consequences of nuclear warfare.

“I think he believed he was helping this cause, but taking money to get information such as this is clearly not the right way to do it.