David Miliband defends MI6 chief
Updated on 05 July 2009
Foreign Secretary David Miliband has dismissed allegations of recklessness by the new head of MI6, Sir John Sawers, after pictures and personal details of him were published on Facebook.
Mr Miliband said it was "no state secret" that Sir John wore Speedos on family holidays and told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show: "For goodness sake let's grow up."
He described Sir John as an "outstanding professional" and denied that the details on the social networking website, which have since been removed, would compromise his career.
Lady Shelley Sawers, Sir John's wife, disclosed details on Facebook including the location of the London flat used by the couple and the whereabouts of their three children and of Sir John's parents, The Mail on Sunday reported.
Mr Miliband said: "What are you leading the news with that ... The fact that there's a picture that the head of the MI6 goes swimming. Wow that really is exciting.
"It is not a state secret that he wears Speedo swimming trunks, for goodness sake let's grow up.
"This allegation that there's great secrets and then you find out it's about his swimming trunks and the fact that his family's getting dragged into it."
He added: "He was appointed 10 days ago to be the head of MI6; he's an outstanding professional who will do a really good job in an outstanding organisation that does a huge amount for this country.
"The newspapers have gone on to Facebook and got pictures of him in his swimming trunks - the fact that you're leading on it when we've got Iran, Afghanistan and the other issues ..."
Former prime minister Sir John Major said the issue had been "overblown".
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