Andrew Parker

Lord Parker  link Parker Powerbase Sourcewatch (Spook)
File:Andrew Parker.jpg
Born	1962
Nationality	British
Alma mater	University of Cambridge
Children	2
Head of MI5, promoting fear of 'jihadis'.

Andrew Parker, Baron Parker of Minsmere, is a UK spook who was 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.

Background

Parker reports that he grew up in Newcastle and attended Churchill College, Cambridge where he studied Natural Sciences.

Career

Andrew Parker joined MI5 in 1983. 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.

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.

"War on Terror"

Full article: War on Terror

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".

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.”