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MI6 chief Sir John Scarlett is to be replaced by a former senior aide to Tony Blair, Downing
Street announced today.
Sir John Sawers, 52, a career diplomat who worked as Mr Blair's envoy in Baghdad and
foreign affairs adviser, will take over the helm at the Secret Intelligence Service in November.
No 10 denied that Sir John Scarlett's decision to step aside after five years was connected
with the newly-created inquiry into the Iraq war.
The former chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee — criticised for his role in drafting
the infamous 2002 dossier on weapons of mass destruction — is almost certain to be called as a witness at the inquiry.
He was the first MI6 chief to come to office with his identity already in the public domain.
His photograph was taken as he arrived for the Hutton Inquiry.
Whitehall sources said that by the time Sir John Scarlett retires as “C” he will be the second
longest-serving MI6 chief in the past 40 years.
Sir John Sawers is the first “C” in more than three decades not to be appointed to the top job
from within the SIS. But it is understood he joined the SIS briefly in 1977 before moving to the Foreign Office.
Downing Street revealed that he was “re-joining” the service, and other Whitehall sources
said the move was seen as him “coming home”.
Sir John beat two internal candidates to the post. However, insiders stressed he was not
“the Foreign Office candidate” and denied it was a political appointment.
His appointment was confirmed by Foreign Secretary David Miliband and formally approved by Gordon Brown. Sir John is described by colleagues as a “charming and suave Arabist” and his expertise on Iran is seen as valuable with the turmoil in that country.
He studied physics and philosophy at Nottingham University and is married to a teacher. They have three grown-up children.
He is the first “C” not to have been educated at Oxford or Cambridge since Sir Maurice Oldfield, who was in the post from 1973-78.
Earlier today Mr Miliband said there were no “great conspiracies” to be exposed by the Iraq
war inquiry, which will be held in secret.
But the Tories are determined to widen its scope and next Wednesday will hold a Commons debate to demand that some of its hearings are held in public.
In another move, the Lords will debate lessons to be learned from the war this week.
