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Scarlett appointed head of MI6 amid "pay-off" claims

01 March 2004

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John Scarlett, the head of the Joint Intelligence Committee, has been appointed head of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6. The appointment, announced by the Prime Minister at the beginning of May, was criticised by opposition parties who claimed that the government were "paying-off" Scarlett for supporting the government during the Hutton inquiry. They claimed that Scarlett had backed the government in denying allegations that Downing Street had "sexed-up" their dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Eric Illsley, Labour member of the cross-party Commons Select Committee on Foreign Affairs which investigated the "weapons of mass destruction" dossier, told the Independent newspaper: "I was not surprised about his appointment in view of his defence of the Government's dodgy dossier. His appointment does raise doubts." The nominations was also described as "highly controversial" by Liberal Democrat (LD) foreign affairs spokesman, Sir Menzies Campbell and described as a "pay-off" by LD parliamentary party chairman, Matthew Taylor. Surprise was also expressed that Nigel Inkster, the current deputy head of MI6 was overlooked. Scarlett, who is 55 years old, will take charge on August 1. He will earn about £165,000 a year.

Independent 7.5.04

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