Andrew Parker
 Lord Parker      (Spook) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 1962 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | British | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of | Australian Institute of International Affairs, Banned from Russia 2015, Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Head of MI5, promoting fear of 'jihadis'.
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Andrew Parker, Baron Parker of Minsmere, is a UK spook who served as Director General of MI5 (the Security Service, which is the United Kingdom's domestic security and counter-intelligence agency) from 2013 to 2020.
Lord Parker became Lord Chamberlain of the Household on 1 April 2021.[1]
Background
Parker reports that he grew up in Newcastle and was educated at Churchill College, Cambridge where he studied Natural Sciences.[2]
Career
Andrew Parker joined MI5 in 1983.[3] He was seconded to HM Customs and Excise as Director Intelligence in 1999 before becoming Director, International Terrorism at the Security Service in February 2005.[4]
Promotions
After leading MI5's response to the 7 July 2005 London bombings and the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot, he became Deputy Director-General in 2007. He went on to become Director General on 22 April 2013.[5]
"War on Terror"
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“War on Terror”
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Parker has consistently supported the "War on Terrorism". In his third public speech since taking on the job of MI5 Director General, Mr Parker claimed in Autumn 2015 that "Britain faces an unprecedented terror threat from Islamic State and Al Qaeda fanatics plotting ‘mass casualty’ attacks over the internet".[6]
As MI5 director general he broke with the tradition of reticence that accompanied the job and consistency talked up the danger of "Islamic terrorism", claiming it is "an enduring threat and it’s at least a generational challenge for us to deal with.” In November 2016, he warned that “there will be terrorist attacks in this country. The threat level is severe and that means likely.”[7]
References
- ↑ "The Queen carries out first duty since Prince Philip's death"
- ↑ "Meet the real-life spymaster: Andrew Parker announced as new director general of MI5"
- ↑ "Andrew Parker named as new head of MI5"
- ↑ "Director General"
- ↑ "Appointment of the new Director General of the Security Service
- ↑ "'Terror threat is the highest I've ever seen,' says MI5 chief: Britain faces unprecedented risk from ISIS and Al Qaeda fanatics"
- ↑ "Exclusive: 'There will be terrorist attacks in Britain,' says MI5 chief"
