UK names new spy chief

Britain on Monday named a new head for its communications spying agency GCHQ, which has been embroiled in a rare public row with Washington over allegations that it was used to snoop on Donald Trump. Jeremy Fleming, currently deputy director-general of the domestic spy agency MI5, will take up his new post at Government Communications Headquarters next month.

Jeremy Fleming

Fleming “is a dedicated public servant whose work over two decades in the intelligence services has helped to keep our country safe”, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said in a statement.

He is taking over from Robert Hannigan, who announced in January that he was stepping down for personal reasons.

Analysis

It’s claimed that Barack Obama had used GCHQ to wiretap president-elect Trump as a way of circumventing laws on spying on US citizens. The claims were then repeated by White House spokesman Sean Spicer at a briefing on Thursday.

In a rare rebuke, a GCHQ spokesman swiftly denounced the allegations as “nonsense”, saying they were “utterly ridiculous and should be ignored”.

Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman repeated the denial on Friday and said British officials had spoken to the White House and received assurances that the claims “will not be repeated”.

Assessment

Change of leadership is required in the UK to deal with the area of cyber warfare. And he can work in conjunction with the five eyes.