The first woman to head MI6 who is the favorite of Beijing
Reports indicate that for the first time, a woman will head the UK’s intelligence service (MI6).
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and The Autonomous, The Sunday Times reported that Barbara Woodward, the UK’s ambassador to the UN—a civil servant with no prior experience in London’s intelligence services—will become the first female chief of MI6.
The sunday Times noted Woodward was one of three women interviewed last week for the position.
Sir Richard Moore, 62, is set to resign as MI6 chief later this year after five years in the role. He previously served as an undercover operative in Vietnam, Turkey, pakistan, and Malaysia.
Woodward joined the UK Foreign Office in 1994 and held roles as director of international affairs at its Border Force and as London’s ambassador to China (2015–2020).
Dubbed “Beijing Barbara” for her reluctance to criticize China during her tenure, she faced accusations of lacking “firmness” when Beijing sanctioned British MPs over their condemnation of what they called a Uyghur genocide in Xinjiang.
After leaving Beijing, Woodward told China’s Global Times that taiwan would never gain “independence.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will make the final decision on her appointment.
