Son of former Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd next in line for MI5 top job
Home Office chief Tom Hurd has been earmarked to lead the domestic spy service when its current boss Andrew Parker steps down
THE son of a former Foreign Secretary is being lined up as the new head of MI5, The Sun can reveal.
High flying Home Office chief Tom Hurd has been earmarked by ministers to lead the domestic spy service when its current boss Andrew Parker steps down next year.
Mr Hurd is the latest member of a growing political dynasty to take the spotlight.
His father Douglas was Foreign Secretary under PMs Margaret Thatcher and John Major, and his older Tory MP brother Nick is currently the Police Minister.
Mr Hurd is the Director General of the Home Office’s Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism, putting him in charge of the government’s terrorism strategy.
A senior government source described Tom Hurd as “hugely impressive” as well as “very popular in No10”.
The source added: “The settled view is it’s very likely Tom will be the next DG of MI5, and he will be a very good one too.”
Another government figure described Mr Hurd as “a very strong candidate”.
An Oxford-educated father of five, Tom Hurd has served most of his career as a diplomat, specialising in the Middle East and being awarded an OBE in 2006.
He was once named as an MI6 officer on a list of alleged spies that was posted on the internet.
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Mr Hurd’s family was hit by tragedy in 2011 when his wife fell to her death in New York while he was on a posting to the UN, from the roof of the building where they lived.
Having been appointed in 2013, MI5 boss Mr Parker is due to step down towards the end of next year.