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Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
DOMINIC LAWSON: Why Putin has been denied a propaganda ‘triumph' by the Mail's gripping revelations about the brilliant new boss of MI6
This is getting to be a habit – and an embarrassing one for Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, otherwise known as MI6. Soon after it appoints its new chief, the media reveals something personal about the latest 'C' that hardly fits with the image we would wish the world to have of the person at the apex of our espionage operations. When Sir John Sawers was appointed in 2009, The Mail on Sunday immediately found that his wife Shelley had put up various snaps of the nation's new spy chief on a family Facebook page, including one of Sir John on holiday wearing Speedos – and also details of where the family lived. The Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey – then as now, a dedicated headline-grabber – declared this might have 'breached the security of the incoming head of MI6 too seriously to allow him to take up the post'. And when Sir Richard Moore was appointed as C in 2020, the Sun revealed that our new intelligence chief's grandfather, Jack Buckley, had been a volunteer in the Irish Republican Army, later given a medal by the IRA's political wing, Sinn Fein, for his service in the war against the British. But none of these have anything like the impact of the Mail's revelation last week about the family background of the newly appointed head of MI6 – the first female C, 47-year-old Blaise Metreweli. Through rapid research in archives held in Ukraine and Germany, the Mail produced proof that her paternal grandfather was Constantine Dobrowolski, a notorious Ukrainian collaborator with the invading Nazis in the 1940s. He had defected from the Red Army to serve in an SS unit and later boasted, according to the records: 'I oversaw captured Russian vehicles and personally took part in front-line action near Kyiv and in the extermination of Jews.' I have spoken to former MI6 colleagues of Metreweli about this. Their take is it was most unlikely that its vetting processes would not have uncovered this fact about her family when she applied to join in 1999. They also thought someone of her intensely curious nature would have found out for herself, anyway. But they added that not only would the heinous actions of a grandparent (who died long before she was born) be no reason for rejecting her, she was also far and away the best candidate for the top job. Nevertheless, this is catnip for the Kremlin. Putin's regime, since it launched its mass-murdering campaign to destroy Ukraine as an independent nation, has incessantly described President Zelensky's government as 'Nazi', in an effort to depict the conflict as a replay of the 'Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945' in which the Soviet Union ultimately triumphed over the invading Wehrmacht of a genocidal Adolf Hitler. So how convenient for Moscow's propagandists that the new chief of a Western intelligence service committed to the defence of Ukraine can be graphically linked – through bloodline – to this legend; one which, alas, is widely believed by the Russian people. But for the same reason, it was much in our interests that the Mail broke the full story, and with as much factual detail as possible. Whiffs of it were already emerging on pro-Moscow social media accounts. Indeed, a few days before the Mail story broke, a former MI6 man alerted me to an account on Telegram (much used by Russian bloggers) which alleged that the grandfather of the new head of MI6 'by late 1942 was already working at the Special Preliminary Camp in the city of Auschwitz, where Caucasian-origin Nazi collaborators were trained'. This was garbled stuff, but it could only have been highly damaging to this country's reputation if the whole story was, in a sense, owned by Russian propagandists. Or as another ex-MI6 officer, and no particular admirer of the British press, said when I made this point: 'I agree that the Mail was right about denying the Russians the triumph of breaking the story.' Still, the Russian foreign ministry's long-standing spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, has clicked into gear. Tass, the state news agency, ran a story in its English language outlet under the headline 'Nazi descendants promoted to leading posts in West purposefully'. It quoted Zakharova: 'The trend is obviously neo-Nazi. Friedrich Merz, Annalena Baerbock... Now the head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, can be added to the list. Someone purposefully and consciously puts descendants of the Nazis in leadership positions in the countries of the collective West.' It's hardly surprising that leading German politicians, such as its current Chancellor (Merz) or the Foreign Affairs minister in the previous administration (Baerbock) would have grandfathers who not only fought against the Soviet Union in 1941-1945, but were actually Nazi party members. But Zakharova went on to assert, despite clear historical documentation to the contrary, that Blaise Metreweli's grandfather must have been present at the massacre of an estimated 34,000 Jewish men, women and children by Nazis, aided and abetted by Ukrainian nationalists, at Babyn Yar. What she doesn't say, of course, is that the Holocaust Memorial at Babyn Yar, a sacred site for Ukraine's Jews, was attacked by missiles sent by her government in March 2022. Indeed, the Ukrainian president, whose government the Kremlin disgustingly describes as 'a genocidal Ukrainian Nazi regime', is himself Jewish, and Zelensky's family – which had members exterminated in the Holocaust – fought for the Red Army against the Germans. If one adopts the modern parlance of describing far-right ultra-nationalists as 'neo-Nazis', then it is Putin's Russia, not Zelensky's Ukraine, which gives them succour and support – and derives the same in return. When Putin invaded Crimea in 2014, it organised a so-called 'anti-fascist' conference of Western politicians supportive of his action. The British delegate was the then leader of the BNP, Nick Griffin, and similar figures from the European nationalist far-right also showed up to support Putin – and were paid for by the Kremlin. This was Orwellian: fascists against fascism. On the actual battlefield, the Wagner group, which was the leading supplier of mercenary troops to Putin's war on Ukraine, had been founded and commanded by Dmitry Utkin, a man covered in Nazi tattoos (and do you wonder why he named his group after the anti-Semitic German composer most beloved by the late Fuhrer?). Utkin had been awarded the honour of Hero of the Russian Federation and photographed with Putin when receiving it. (In 2023, Putin had him bumped off in a plane 'accident', along with other leaders of the Wagner group, just as Hitler had ordered the murder of leaders of the Sturmabteilung, when he believed they were planning a coup against his leadership). And there is still the ultra-nationalist Rusich Brigade, fighting alongside the regular Russian army in Ukraine, led by the sadistic Aleksei Milchakov, a man who when asked about his political views, said: 'I'll tell you straight up, I'm a Nazi.' Go back to Putin's claims when he launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with the assertion that Kyiv was and always must be a Russian city and that the frontier between Russia and Ukraine should be dissolved; it is eerily similar to what Hitler said when he invaded Poland in 1939: 'Danzig was and is a German city . . . I am resolved to remove from German frontiers the element of uncertainty.' Also note, because Russian propaganda obliterates the fact, that this was part of a Nazi-Soviet carve-up of Poland, under the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. There was even a joint Nazi/Soviet military parade in Brest-Litovsk to celebrate Poland's evisceration. So when the Kremlin tries to paint this country as connected with the depravities of the Nazis and their collaborators, remember all that.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MI6 gadget master becomes first female chief
Sir Keir Starmer has appointed the first ever female head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6. Blaise Metreweli, the current head of technology and innovation at MI6, is being promoted to its 18th chief and the first woman to hold the role as the UK faces growing threats from foreign adversaries. The head of MI6 is commonly referred to as C and is the only publicly named member of the organisation. Ms Metreweli, a veteran of the organisation and its domestic counterpart MI5, was awarded a CMG for services to British Foreign Policy last year. She is succeeding Sir Richard Moore, who leaves this autumn after four years in charge. "I am proud and honoured to be asked to lead my Service. MI6 plays a vital role - with MI5 and GCHQ - in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas,' she said. She added: 'I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners." Announcing her appointment, Sir Keir said: 'The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital. 'The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale – be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services. 'I'd like to thank Sir Richard Moore for his dedicated service, and I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our county and keep our people safe – the foundation of my Plan for Change.' Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who Ms Metreweli will report to, said she takes up the role 'at a time of global instability and emerging security threats, where technology is power and our adversaries are working ever closer together'. 'Blaise will ensure the UK can tackle these challenges head-on to keep Britain safe and secure at home and abroad,' he added. Ms Metreweli is director general of technology and innovation in MI6, a role in which she is known as Q. She has held other senior roles across the organisation and MI5. Ms Metreweli is a career intelligence officer, having joined the secret intelligence service in 1999, shortly after graduating from Pembroke College, Cambridge. Most of her career has been spent in operational roles in the Middle East and Europe. Outgoing chief Sir Richard Moore said: "I am absolutely delighted by this historic appointment of my colleague. 'Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology. I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6."
The Independent
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
The gadget expert who is now MI6's first female chief
Blaise Metreweli has been appointed as the new head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, making her the first woman to hold the position. Metreweli, currently the head of technology and innovation at MI6, will succeed Sir Richard Moore, who is leaving after four years in charge. Sir Keir Starmer highlighted the historic nature of Metreweli's appointment, emphasising the vital role of intelligence services in the face of unprecedented threats. Metreweli expressed her pride and honour in leading MI6, acknowledging its crucial role in safeguarding the British people and promoting UK interests overseas. David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, noted that Metreweli is taking on the role during a time of global instability and emerging security threats, where technology plays a key role.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Career spy Blaise Metreweli to become first woman to head MI6
A career spy called Blaise Metreweli will become the first woman to head MI6 in a "historic appointment", the prime minister has announced. She will take over from Sir Richard Moore as the 18th Chief, also known as "C", when he steps down in the autumn. "The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital," Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement released on Sunday night. "The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale - be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services." Of the other main spy agencies, is also under female command for the first time. Anne Keast-Butler took on the role in 2023, while MI5 has previously twice been led by a woman. Until now, a female spy chief had only headed - also known as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) - in the James Bond movies. Dame Judi Dench held the fictional role - called "M" in the films instead of "C" - between 1995 and 2015. Ms Metreweli currently serves as "Q", one of four director generals inside MI6. The position - also made famous by the James Bond films, with the fictional "Q" producing an array of spy gadgets - means she is responsible for technology and innovation. Ms Metreweli, a Cambridge graduate, joined MI6 in 1999. Unlike the outgoing chief, who spent some of his service as a regular diplomat in the foreign office, including as ambassador to Turkey, she has spent her entire career as an intelligence officer. Much of that time was dedicated to operational roles in the Middle East and Europe. Ms Metreweli, who is highly regarded by colleagues, also worked as a director at MI5. Read more: In a statement, she said she was "proud and honoured to be asked to lead my service". "MI6 plays a vital role - with MI5 and GCHQ - in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas," she said. "I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners." Sir Richard said: "Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology. I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6."
Sky News
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Career spy Blaise Metreweli to become first woman to head MI6
A career spy called Blaise Metreweli will become the first woman to head MI6 in a "historic appointment", the prime minister has announced. She will take over from Sir Richard Moore as the 18th Chief, also known as "C", when he steps down in the autumn. "The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital," Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement released on Sunday night. "The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale - be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services." Of the other main spy agencies, GCHQ is also under female command for the first time. Anne Keast-Butler took on the role in 2023, while MI5 has previously twice been led by a woman. Until now, a female spy chief had only headed MI6 - also known as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) - in the James Bond movies. Dame Judi Dench held the fictional role - called "M" in the films instead of "C" - between 1995 and 2015. Ms Metreweli currently serves as "Q", one of four director generals inside MI6. The position - also made famous by the James Bond films, with the fictional "Q" producing an array of spy gadgets - means she is responsible for technology and innovation. Ms Metreweli, a Cambridge graduate, joined MI6 in 1999. Unlike the outgoing chief, who spent some of his service as a regular diplomat in the foreign office, including as ambassador to Turkey, she has spent her entire career as an intelligence officer. Much of that time was dedicated to operational roles in the Middle East and Europe. Ms Metreweli, who is highly regarded by colleagues, also worked as a director at MI5. In a statement, she said she was "proud and honoured to be asked to lead my service". "MI6 plays a vital role - with MI5 and GCHQ - in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas," she said. "I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners." Sir Richard said: "Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology. I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6."
