Spy Chief Speech Metaphor Exposed In Public

We've looked at spymaster speeches in the past with some success. Because there was once a time that a spy chief speech was a non-event. Spies, secrecy and keeping quiet come to mind. However all that has now changed as spy chiefs in the UK, the USA and Australia look to set up their retirement with a think tank or some large corporation. Certainly a retirement growing roses no longer appeals. And that's no speech metaphor.

The most recent speech is that of the current MI5 Director General, Ken McCallum, who spoke at the spy headquarters at Thames House, London.

He's certainly not the most dynamic of speakers yet you can't argue with the key attributes of delivery, tone and pace. Because he's certainly got these covered.

But what really caught our attention was his use of metaphor in his speech. As a rhetorical device the metaphor is rather common and perhaps humble. Yet the Director General made great use of its potential for language variety as he explored State threats.

Metaphorically He's On Firm Ground

State Threats can sometimes feel a bit abstract, or of interest only to specialists. But they’re very real. To convey some of how it feels to us, allow me to use a metaphor which I get is imperfect:

Of course we love the use of, "I get", He's obviously as well-trained with the media as your typical MP. Because they also get it!

MI5 plays a crucial role in a highly effective UK team.  But we need to be clear about the opponents we’re facing.

Russia thinks nothing of throwing an elbow in the face, and routinely cheats to get its way.  We’ve had success in getting some of their players sent off, and for now they’re a bit distracted by the blame game in their own dressing-room, but they will keep attacking us.

The Chinese authorities present a different order of challenge.  They’re trying to re-write the rulebook, to buy the league, to recruit our coaching staff to work for them.  

And Iran will only let people support one team and is prepared to use violence against those who don’t toe the line.

We’re alive to the risk of these teams loaning players to each other, amplifying their strengths.

But of course this isn’t a game. 

This elaborate speech metaphor worked. Yes, it's unusual to have a metaphor signposted at its beginning, but the Director General might have wanted to do this for the sake of clarity. Figurative language might well be bread and butter for the spies in Thames House. But, we can't have the opposition believing the Spy Chief has lost his marbles.

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