Robert Hannigan, GCHQ and the future of British intelligence
There was a time when the top job in British intelligence was the head of MI5 or MI6. Today it is arguably the director of the Government Communications Headquarters, the secret listening centre in Cheltenham. The search is now on for a new GCHQ chief after the unexpected resignation yesterday of Robert Hannigan, for personal reasons.
In his two years in the post, Mr Hannigan has done a fine job in the face of changing circumstances. He has seen the threat from cyber‑warfare increase to the point where it is now the main challenge to British security.
In addition, terrorists now exploit communications methods that simply did not exist 10, or even five, years ago. Keeping pace with these changes and ensuring the nation is well prepared to deal with whatever is a formidable challenge.
Finding a suitable and experienced replacement to lead the 5,500 staff at Cheltenham will be a priority for Theresa May and Boris Johnson, the minister in charge.
Given the nature of its work, GCHQ is the most secretive of the three agencies. After the Edward Snowden revelations, however, it was required to open up in order to justify its work and deny claims it was spying on the entire population.
He came from outside GCHQ
Mr Hannigan’s successor has a good story to tell about the agency’s critical role in securing the country, continuing work that began at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.
Recent legislation has given GCHQ sweeping new powers to collect and analyse bulk data, something it needs to do within the spirit intended by Parliament. The top job, in other words, is more political than it is technical.
Mr Hannigan was chosen from outside the world of signals intelligence; perhaps the next director should be, too.
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