DossierPoliticsUnited KingdomUpdated October 13, 2026
Ken McCallum
Ken McCallum is the Director General of MI5, the UK's Security Service. He is a career MI5 officer with more than 25 years of experience, having joined the service in the mid-1990s. His first decade focused on Northern Ireland-related terrorism, followed by senior operational roles in countering Islamist extremist terrorism. He served for three years as a Non-Executive Director on the board of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. He grew up in Glasgow and holds a degree in Mathematics from the University of Glasgow. In October 2024 he publicly identified terrorism, Russia, Iran and China as primary national security threats to the UK.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Field
- Politics
- Leaning
- Not assessed
- Fact checks
- 1
Fact checks
Record
Controversy · March 1, 2026
MI5 apology and compensation over agent's alleged abuse
MI5 apologised and paid compensation to a woman known as Beth after the service relied on incorrect evidence in a case involving an agent's alleged abuse; McCallum issued the apology on behalf of the service. [1]
Controversy · July 1, 2026
Apology for incorrect evidence in legal proceedings
As Director General, McCallum publicly acknowledged MI5's failings and repeated apologies to courts for incorrect evidence provided in legal proceedings. [1]
Affiliations
MI5 (Security Service)
MI5 is the UK's domestic security and counter-intelligence service. McCallum has served as an officer for around 30 years, beginning in Northern Ireland-related terrorism work, and is its Director General. [2]
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is a UK public body responsible for decommissioning and cleaning up the country's civil nuclear sites. McCallum served for three years as a Non-Executive Director on its board. [2]
Sources
Profiles are compiled from public reporting and updated as new information appears.
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