Blair government had misgivings about Mandela mediation role over Lockerbie
Files show Downing Street felt former South African leader’s attempt to mediate was ‘unlikely to be helpful’
July 2020
The Guardian view on Britain and China: fasten your seatbelts
Editorial: The UK and other countries are reshaping their approach to Beijing. It’s going to be bumpy
July 2019
Ex-MI6 chief: UK going through 'political nervous breakdown'
Sir John Sawers says Brexit has left country divided and damaged its global reputation
October 2018
Politics live with Andrew Sparrow
Former MI6 boss says Brexit makes UK more vulnerable to attacks like Russian novichok poisoning - Politics live
Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen
October 2017
Politics live with Andrew Sparrow
Merkel raises hopes of Brexit talks being able to move on to trade in December - Politics live
Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen
November 2015
'Artificial' to put restrictions on fighting Isis, says George Osborne
Chancellor tells Today programme it is time to deal with threat of Isis in Syria and extend bombing, while David Cameron prepares to outline strategy to MPs
How news organisations around the world have responded to Paris attacks
Some call for a swift and harsh reply in the form of military action, others urge cautious consideration
Former spy chiefs to meet financiers at Gleneagles
Ex-MI6 and GCHQ bosses to share platform amid contentious debate over powers of security and intelligence agencies
May 2015
BP hires former MI6 boss John Sawers
Appointment to the board of Sawers, who has more than 35 years of experience in international affairs and security, highlights relevance of geopolitics to oil firm
February 2015
Former MI6 chief warns over Russian threat
West must learn to live with Putin, former MI6 head warns
October 2014
MI6 appoints Alex Younger as new head
Latest Secret Intelligence Service chief served as right-hand man to former head Sir John Sawers
June 2014
MI6 chief Sir John Sawers to step down
Sawers, the first outsider to be appointed to the role in decades, has been in post since 2009
November 2013
Spy chiefs expose western hypocrisy
Letters: Let's ask the people we are afraid of to explain why they hate us so much
Key questions the chief spooks were asked, and those they did not hear
We analyse the questions the heads of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ faced from MPs and how they performed
British spymasters let their frustrations show but explanations remain hidden
A historic 90-minute session of the intelligence and security committee lacked the heat and light of a real grilling
October 2013
MI5, MI6 and GCHQ chiefs to give evidence in public for first time
Andrew Parker, Sir John Sawers and Sir Iain Lobban will testify in session broadcast on internet with short time delay
June 2011
Government Art Collection: At Work – review
Political figures' favourite works from the Government Art Collection – in pictures
October 2010
MI6 chief brings secrecy into the open
Sir John Sawers takes on accusations in unprecedented address direct to public, circumventing public face of Whitehall
