Organisation: MI6 / appointment of John Scarlett

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Analysis and commentary by Echo Research.

Sub-editors were quick to spot the headline opportunities in John Scarlett's appointment as the new 'C' at MI6. "'C' is for suspected crony in spying HQ'"was the Sunday Times' reaction to the controversial appointment (9/5) and reflected the broad thrust of coverage in tabloids and broadsheets alike. Central to media criticism was Scarlett's role in the alleged sexing-up of the Iraq WMD dossier, and his readiness to save Blair's political skin during the Hutton inquiry by insisting that he had retained ownership of the dossier. "The appointment is a reward for enthusiastic bootlicking"(Daily Star, 6/5) was a view expressed widely, as was the Tory response that his appointment before the conclusion of the Butler inquiry was inappropriate. Blair's attempts to counter the media uproar with the messages that the appointment was made on merit by an independent panel gained some ground, but were largely drowned out or dismissed. "Tony Blair was guilty either of stunning naivety or wanton disingenuousness"noted the Glasgow Herald (7/5), while The Guardian lamented the Government's "disastrous PR"(8/5). Labelled a croney even before he has signed his first letter in 'C's' famous green ink, Scarlett clearly has an uphill job to prove that, unlike his Thunderbirds namesake, he is not merely a puppet.