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Former MI6 head: UK in 'political nervous breakdown' Former MI6 head: UK in 'political nervous breakdown'
(32 minutes later)
The UK is going through a "political nervous breakdown", the former head of British intelligence has told the BBC.The UK is going through a "political nervous breakdown", the former head of British intelligence has told the BBC.
Sir John Sawers said the UK could have a prime minister who does "not have the standing that we have become used to in our top leadership" - an apparent jibe at the Tory leadership contenders. Sir John Sawers said the UK could have a prime minister who does "not have the standing that we have become used to in our top leadership" - a criticism of the two Tory leadership contenders.
The former MI6 chief was also critical of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.The former MI6 chief was also critical of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Boris Johnson ally Iain Duncan Smith criticised Sir John, saying "democracy may well frighten him". Boris Johnson ally Iain Duncan Smith countered Sir John's remarks, saying "democracy may well frighten him".
The former spy-master's intervention comes as Jeremy Hunt and Mr Johnson battle it out to be the next leader of the Conservative Party.The former spy-master's intervention comes as Jeremy Hunt and Mr Johnson battle it out to be the next leader of the Conservative Party.
It also follows an article in the Times newspaper, quoting unnamed senior civil servants, which suggested Mr Corbyn was "too frail" to become prime minister, "physically or mentally".It also follows an article in the Times newspaper, quoting unnamed senior civil servants, which suggested Mr Corbyn was "too frail" to become prime minister, "physically or mentally".
"We have potential prime ministers being elected by the Conservative Party now, [and] in the shape of the leader of the opposition, who do not have the standing that we have become used to in our top leadership," Sir John told the Today programme. Speaking on the Today programme, Sir John said: "We are going through a political nervous breakdown here in the UK.
"Whether people can develop that when they become prime minister, we will have to wait and see, in terms of the candidates for the Conservative leadership. "We have potential prime ministers being elected by the Conservative Party now, [and] in the shape of the leader of the opposition, who do not have the standing that we have become used to in our top leadership.
'Huge risk' "Whether people can develop that when they become prime minister, we will have to wait and see, in terms of the candidates for the Conservative leadership."
In the surprisingly frank exchange, he said there were concerns in Whitehall about the direction the country is heading in. Sir John's comments come after reports Downing Street tried to withhold sensitive intelligence from Boris Johnson when he was foreign secretary.
It is understood there were concerns about Mr Johnson's ability to keep information confidential.
The Tory leadership frontrunner said the reports were "not true".
UK 'badly divided'
In the surprisingly frank exchange, Sir John said there were concerns in Whitehall about the direction the country is heading.
"I think there is a lot of anxiety as we leave the European Union, we take a huge risk to our international standing, to the strength of the British economy.""I think there is a lot of anxiety as we leave the European Union, we take a huge risk to our international standing, to the strength of the British economy."
He said former prime minister David Cameron was "unwise" to call the EU referendum in 2016, adding that it had left the country "badly divided" and the UK's standing in the world "severely diminished".He said former prime minister David Cameron was "unwise" to call the EU referendum in 2016, adding that it had left the country "badly divided" and the UK's standing in the world "severely diminished".
"It is not surprising that the people who have devoted themselves to serving the interests of this country are concerned about the direction in which the country is going.""It is not surprising that the people who have devoted themselves to serving the interests of this country are concerned about the direction in which the country is going."
Mr Johnson's campaign manager Iain Duncan Smith, a committed Brexiteer, hit back at Sir John's remarks: "Actually I think he might be going through a political nervous breakdown," he told the Today programme. Before the 2016 referendum Sir John said leaving the EU would make the UK "less safe" because it would be shut out of decisions on the "crucial" issue of data sharing.
Mr Johnson's campaign manager Iain Duncan Smith, a committed Brexiteer, hit back at Sir John's remarks.
"Actually I think he might be going through a political nervous breakdown," he told the Today programme.
"The reality is that the expression of democracy may well frighten him slightly.""The reality is that the expression of democracy may well frighten him slightly."