MI6 to get first female chief 30 years after Dame Judi Dench landed role in Bond movies
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
MI6 is to get its first female chief — three decades after Dame Judi Dench landed the role in the 007 movies.
Blaise Metreweli will lead the fight against rogue states such as Russia and China.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
2
Blaise Metrewel, who becomes MI6's 18th chief, has also held roles in MI5, which deals with domestic security
Credit: Supplied
2
The top job was portrayed by Dame Judi as 'M' in the James Bond films from 1995
Credit: Rex Features
She begins in the autumn, having joined the intelligence services as a case officer in 1999.
The top job was portrayed by Dame Judi as 'M' in the James Bond films from 1995.
But the new chief will use the title 'C', as is service tradition.
The Cambridge-educated spook is currently MI6 director general for technology — known as 'Q' in the Bond films and real life.
MI6 is the UK's foreign intelligence service. Ms Metreweli, who becomes its 18th chief, has also held roles in MI5, which deals with domestic security.
Only MI6's chief is ever publicly identified. She said last night: 'I am proud and honoured to be asked to lead my service.'
She replaces Sir Richard Moore, who leaves after five years.
Ms Metreweli has spent most of her career in operational roles in the Middle East and Europe.
She said Russia poses an acute threat to the UK and described China as 'chronic'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
8 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Girl, 2, in hospital after being repeatedly bitten in face in horror dog attack at park
The hound was described by cops as small and dark coloured SAVAGE MAULING Girl, 2, in hospital after being repeatedly bitten in face in horror dog attack at park Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TWO-year-old girl has been rushed to hospital after being repeatedly bitten in the face in a dog attack in a park. She sustained multiple facial injuries including lacerations to her nose, lip and cheek at Brookfield Park in Rustington, West Sussex. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A two-year-old girl was bitten multiple times by a dog in a park in West Sussex Credit: Eddie Mitchell 3 She was bitten in the face by the unaccompanied dog on Sunday afternoon in Brookfield Park Credit: Eddie Mitchell The attack happened at around 3.30pm yesterday in the country park beauty spot. The youngster, who has not been named, was attacked by a terrier-like dog. She was rushed to hospital after the mauling and is receiving treatment for her wounds. The hound was described as small and dark coloured, according to Sussex Police. Cops said that no one was seen with the dog at the time of the incident. The force have now launched an urgent investigation into the attack. A Sussex Police spokesperson said: 'She sustained multiple facial injuries, She is receiving hospital treatment for her injuries. 'No one was seen with the dog at the time of the incident.' Cops are urgently appealing for anyone who witnessed the horrific attack to come forward. The force are also looking for anyone with information which could help identify the dog or its owner. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
Scottish Sun
9 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Man, 20, arrested after 17-year-old woman dies in fatal car crash
The police watchdog are also investigating the circumstances of the crash Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAN has been arrested after a 17-year-old woman died in a fatal car crash - amid claims the motor was allegedly being chased by police. Tragic Ellie Douglas was a passenger in a Volkswagen Golf which was involved in a collision with an HGV at Boghead roundabout near Bathgate, West Lothian, last Monday night. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Ellie Douglas died in a fatal car crash last week Another female, 18, and the male driver, 20, were blue-lighted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with serious injuries. Officers have referred themselves to the police watchdog due to their prior involvement with the motor. Today, Police Scotland confirmed a man has been released for more investigations to be carried out. A spokesman said: 'A 20-year-old man has been arrested following a fatal crash in Bathgate. 'He has been released pending further enquiries. 'The circumstances surrounding the incident have been referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.' Devastated friends and family have paid tribute on social media after learning of trainee hairdresser Ellie's death. Many have flocked to Facebook after hearing the devastating news. One person said: 'She was a sweet girl! Rest in peace, good memories'. Another added: 'Absolutely heartbreaking, thinking of her family'. Ethnicity of child sex abuse suspects will be logged after truth about Asian grooming gangs was 'dodged for YEARS' Her cousin posted: 'Words can't describe how devastated I am to hear that you've left this world, will forever love you and cherish all the memories we made. Rest easy cuz'. Another local said: 'Rip Ellie… absolute sin, still had her full life ahead of her'. A GoFundMe page has been launched to raise money to support her grieving family and 'help give Ellie the farewell she deserves'. In the fundraiser, set up by someone close to the family, they described Ellie as a 'beautiful soul who lit up every room'. The post on the GoFundMe page read: 'Ellie was a beautiful soul who lit up every room with her humour and warmth. 'She was a wee gem at our quiz nights and always brought joy to those around her. 'She had just completed her Level 5 in hairdressing and was full of excitement to begin her career.' It's understood that the HGV driver was uninjured and has been arrested and charged in connection with alleged road traffic offences. Inspector Ben Legge, of Police Scotland said: 'Enquiries are continuing to understand the full circumstances of what happened. 'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the young girl who died." Head of Investigations for the cops' watchdog, Raymond Brown, said: 'PIRC has received a referral from Police Scotland in relation to a fatal road traffic incident which took place on Monday, 9 June in Bathgate. 'We extend our deepest condolences to the family and all of those who have been affected.'
Sky News
2 hours ago
- Sky News
MI6 gets its first female chief - but here's 5 top UK jobs that a woman has never done
For the first time ever a woman has been appointed the head of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service. Career spy Blaise Metreweli will become the 18th chief of MI6 in the autumn when Sir Richard Moore steps down. Her appointment follows in the footsteps of the other main spy agencies, GCHQ, which currently has a female director, Anne Keast-Butler, and MI5, which has had two female directors. However, there are still a handful of powerful positions in the UK that have never been held by a woman. Here are five of some of the most high-profile. Leader of the Labour Party There might be more female MPs than ever in this current Parliament, but a woman has never been elected as head of the Labour Party. Margaret Beckett, who served as the first female foreign secretary under Tony Blair in the early 2000s, technically became the first ever female Labour leader after the death of John Smith in 1994. Likewise, Harriet Harman also had the role in a caretaker capacity twice, after the resignation of Gordon Brown in 2010 and Ed Miliband in 2015. But it remains that a woman has never been elected to lead the party. During the last Labour leadership election in 2020, two female candidates, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy, came close, but it was Sir Keir Starmer who triumphed, denying a female MP the top job. Speaking on Sky's Electoral Dysfunction podcast - which Harman is co-host of - last year, the politician said it is "shameful" that her party has never had a woman in the top job. "It is sort of embarrassing and sort of shameful that we think we are the party of women and equality when we have never had a woman leader and the Conservatives have had three," Harman said. "I keep saying to the men in the Labour Party, be ambitious, that's a good thing, but strive to be deputy. "They all want to be leader, but they have got to just now strive to be deputy and support a woman leader. It takes a strong man to be leader, but an even stronger man to support a woman as leader." 49:15 Head of the Bank of England One of England's most important officials, the head of the Bank of England, has always been a man. The role, which also involves heading up the country's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), is currently held by Andrew Bailey. Before him, it was Mark Carney - who was the first non-Briton to be appointed to the role - and before him, Mervyn King. In its latest annual report on the gender pay gap, the Bank of England said only 35% of employees in the highest-paid quarter are women, with women on average earning 83p for every £1 that men earn an hour. However, after the appointment of Clare Lombardelli as deputy governor for Monetary Policy in July last year, five of the nine positions on the MPC are now filled by women for the first time in its history. Mr Bailey's term as Bank of England chief will come to an end in 2028, which could pave the way for the first ever woman leader. Archbishop of Canterbury Women have been ordained in the Church of England for a number of years. In fact in 2015 Bishop Libby Lane became the first woman to be consecrated (formally ordained). But no woman has ever been in the top role - the Archbishop of Canterbury. The archbishop is the most senior bishop and is the spiritual leader of the church and worldwide Anglican Communion. After the resignation of Justin Welby in January, the chance for a woman archbishop is more likely than ever. Last year, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, who has stepped in as Mr Welby's replacement, told The Guardian that he would welcome a woman in the top role, adding that he expects some of his "excellent female colleagues" to be put forward as candidates. However, Martyn Percy, a priest and theologian, told Catholic newspaper La Croix International that some members of the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC). which helps appoint the Archbishop of Canterbury, may oppose female bishops. Manager of England's men's football team The manager of England's men's team has always been a man. The only one to seemingly have come close is Sarina Wiegman, manager of England's women, who was hotly tipped as an outsider to succeed Gareth Southgate. But it was Thomas Tuchel who landed the job in the end. Wiegman has said in the past it is "only a matter of time" before women are coaching men's teams in the professional game, but some of her counterparts disagree. Former Chelsea women's head coach Emma Hayes, said last year there is still work to be done. She said: "I've said this a million times over - you can find a female pilot, a female doctor, a female lawyer, a female banker, but you can't find a female coach working in the men's game, leading men. It just shows you how much work there is to be done." Director-general of the BBC When Tony Hall stepped down as the BBC director-general in 2020, there were calls for his successor to be a woman, but the job went to Tim Davie instead. Speaking in April this year, former Newsnight presenter and BBC Radio 4 presenter Kirsty Walk said she thinks the reason why the job has never gone to a woman is because the corporation needs to "be a bit more adventurous". "It's definitely not because there hasn't been anyone good enough. I can think of three women who would be brilliant," she told The Telegraph. "We've got brilliant women running departments and running programmes, but I think we just need to be a bit more adventurous. "The BBC has so many other ways it's on the front foot - technology, iPlayer, BBC audio and other things - and I would really love to see a woman take hold of that."
