UK Breaking Barriers: Blaise Metreweli Becomes First Woman to Lead MI6

[Liverpool Lou]

48 minutes ago, mogandave said:

It is amusing how the left howls at Trump appointments for being unqualified, and then defend the appointment of an anthropology major….

...whose background is both diverse and distinguished. In addition to her tenure in MI6 as Head of Technology, she has held a director-level role in MI5, further demonstrating her deep familiarity with the inner workings of British intelligence.  

[Liverpool Lou]

45 minutes ago, mogandave said:

I am sorry that you are not amused at how the left howled at Trump appointments for being unqualified, and then defend the appointment of an anthropology major, I think it’s hilarious. 

 

 

You seem to be suggesting that she has just left Cambridge and stepped straight into the top job at MI6 and that her education is "hilarious".  What's so fcking "hilarious" about it?

[Liverpool Lou]

On 6/17/2025 at 9:38 AM, Hakuna Matata said:

A lesbian with Georgian roots? A big win for the British LGBT community.

Her children would likely disagree with your bizarre mischaracterisation.

[mikeymike100]

On 6/17/2025 at 10:28 AM, roquefort said:

Hardly a surprise. All three candidates selected were women, which suggests a DEI appointment. I just hope she's up to the job.

MI6’s leadership, under Sir Richard Moore, explicitly aimed to diversify its senior ranks. The agency’s male-only leadership history (116 years without a female chief) prompted Moore’s 2023 pledge to avoid all-male shortlists. This aligns with DEI principles, which prioritize representation of underrepresented groups, in this case, women in high-level intelligence roles.

The all-female shortlist was designed to level the playing field, given that women made up only 37% of MI6 staff in 2016, with even lower representation in senior roles. By 2025, MI6 aimed for 47% female staff quota, showing a structural effort to create equitable pathways. 

So you can see that MI6 was aiming for a 47% female staff QUOTA? So all this is evidence it was potentially  a DEI appointment!

[mikeymike100]

17 hours ago, RayC said:

 

Could you explain why she is unsuitable for the role?  Lack of ability? Skeletons in the closet? 

Where did I state she is unsuitable for the role?

[Woke to Sounds]

23 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

We’ve got another one!

 

Another one what?

[merck]

Well, women can't keep a secret. Let's hope she bucks the trend.

[zmisha]

As a Russian, I like it very much. Also, I am very saddened that there are so few women in the British army. I wish the Minister of Defense and soldiers were only women.

[RayC]

8 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

MI6’s leadership, under Sir Richard Moore, explicitly aimed to diversify its senior ranks. The agency’s male-only leadership history (116 years without a female chief) prompted Moore’s 2023 pledge to avoid all-male shortlists. This aligns with DEI principles, which prioritize representation of underrepresented groups, in this case, women in high-level intelligence roles.

The all-female shortlist was designed to level the playing field, given that women made up only 37% of MI6 staff in 2016, with even lower representation in senior roles. By 2025, MI6 aimed for 47% female staff quota, showing a structural effort to create equitable pathways. 

So you can see that MI6 was aiming for a 47% female staff QUOTA? So all this is evidence it was potentially  a DEI appointment!

 

That is no more evidence of bias i.e. that Metreweli was potentially a DEI appointment, than saying that the appointment of a male to a job was potentially an example of the glass ceiling and anti-female bias. 

 

A lot more convincing evidence is needed.

[RayC]

8 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

Where did I state she is unsuitable for the role?

 

You implied that those taking umbrage at Metreweli's appointment were 'realists' and, by extension, I assumed that you supported that view?

 

Given the likelihood that this time last week, 99.9% of people - myself included - had never heard of Ms. Metreweli's existence, I struggle to believe that those criticising her appointment have the slightest idea about her abilities and suitability for the role.

 

Therefore, I can't think of any other reason apart from misogyny - or perhaps, homophobia; someone has suggested she is a lesbian - for those posting here to object to her appointment.

[blaze master]

On 6/18/2025 at 6:07 AM, Liverpool Lou said:

Her children would likely disagree with your bizarre mischaracterisation.

 

Kathleen Wynne would disagree with you.

[mikeymike100]

2 hours ago, RayC said:

 

That is no more evidence of bias i.e. that Metreweli was potentially a DEI appointment, than saying that the appointment of a male to a job was potentially an example of the glass ceiling and anti-female bias. 

 

A lot more convincing evidence is needed.

"The all-female shortlist was designed to level the playing field, given that women made up only 37% of MI6 staff in 2016, with even lower representation in senior roles. By 2025, MI6 aimed for 47% female staff quota, showing a structural effort to create equitable pathways." 

Putting people in jobs to fill quotas, instead of merit, is DEI, in a nutshell.!

Another red flag..."The all-female shortlist was designed to level the playing field, given that women made up only 37% of MI6 staff in 2016, with even lower representation in senior roles"

If it read to put the best person in with the ability to do the job, OK fair enough, but clearly this is not what is said.

[RayC]

12 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

"The all-female shortlist was designed to level the playing field, given that women made up only 37% of MI6 staff in 2016, with even lower representation in senior roles. By 2025, MI6 aimed for 47% female staff quota, showing a structural effort to create equitable pathways." 

Putting people in jobs to fill quotas, instead of merit, is DEI, in a nutshell.!

Another red flag..."The all-female shortlist was designed to level the playing field, given that women made up only 37% of MI6 staff in 2016, with even lower representation in senior roles"

If it read to put the best person in with the ability to do the job, OK fair enough, but clearly this is not what is said.

 

But the shortlist for this post was not all-female. It comprised of 3 women and 1 man (Source: The Times). The Times also stated that, "Metreweli has been the internal frontrunner for several years and has been groomed for the top job."

 

Now no doubt some will see this as confirmation of DEI at work, discounting the possibility that the selection panel simply considered these four individuals to be the best suited for the job, and that by identifying Metreweli at a relatively early stage in proceedings might be viewed as good succession planning.

[josephbloggs]

29 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

But the shortlist for this post was not all-female. It comprised of 3 women and 1 man (Source: The Times). The Times also stated that, "Metreweli has been the internal frontrunner for several years and has been groomed for the top job."

 

Now no doubt some will see this as confirmation of DEI at work, discounting the possibility that the selection panel simply considered these four individuals to be the best suited for the job, and that by identifying Metreweli at a relatively early stage in proceedings might be viewed as good succession planning.

Oh no, you mentioned grooming. No doubt Jonny will be along soon trying to champion Yaxley-Lennon. 

 

[ThreeCardMonte]

Looks like DEI.  Smells like DEI. Walks like DEI.

 

It could be DEI.

 

 But give her a chance to FUBAR,

How much field experience does she have?  Real field experience.  Not an appointed Department Head.

 

Rank and File approval or gossiping behind closed doors saying WTF?

 

 

 

 

 

[josephbloggs]

11 minutes ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

Looks like DEI.  Smells like DEI. Walks like DEI.

 

It could be DEI.

 

 But give her a chance to FUBAR,

How much field experience does she have?  Real field experience.  Not an appointed Department Head.

 

Rank and File approval or gossiping behind closed doors saying WTF?

 

 

You really are pathetic. 

She is massively experienced, including many "front line" operational roles in the middle east. She is fluent in Arabic.

You're just a loser denigrating a high achieving person just because she is a woman, it is very sad indeed, but not unexpected given the drivel you come out with all over this forum.

[Celsius]

There's only one