The UK is going through a “political nervous breakdown”, a former intelligence chief 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” – a criticism of the two Tory leadership contenders.
The former MI6 boss was also critical of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Boris Johnson ally Iain Duncan Smith countered Sir John’s remarks, saying “democracy may well frighten him”.
Sir John’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”.
Speaking on the Today programme, he said: “We are going through a political nervous breakdown here in the UK.
“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.
“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.”
Sir John’s comments come after reports Downing Street tried to withhold sensitive intelligence from Boris Johnson when he was foreign secretary.
Source: BBC
