The controversial spy?

The choice of John Scarlett as the new head of MI6 has caused a political row, with accusations "cronyism".

BBC Chief Political Correspondent Mark Mardell looks at how the Joint Intelligence Committee chairman's new job has been received.

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I think at one time it was assumed that John Scarlett would automatically get this job.

This balding, austere-looking Russian expert spent most of his life in MI6 - seemed ideal for the role.

The new head of MI6 is John Scarlett

But actually most people here around Westminster assumed that post the Iraq war, post particularly Hutton and his role in that inquiry, that he would be moved to a less sensitive job.

There were rumours that he would get the new job at SOCA - the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

The reason that this is thought here at Westminster to be a rather curious appointment are manifold really.

Too political?

First of all, on a rather minor point, we all know now what he looks like.

And if we don't remember, the television will be replaying pictures of him and that's rather unusual given that the previous fellow, when he gave evidence to Hutton, did it from a closed room and you only heard his voice and didn't see his face.

But much more importantly, there's the suggestion, that came out during Hutton, that he was too intertwined, too political, too linked with Downing Street.

Now even Lord Hutton, who was thought to have made a very mild judgment on the government, said that the prime minister's desire for a strong document on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, may have subconsciously influenced Mr Scarlett.

And it was thought around here, that somebody who was demonstrably independent from Downing Street would have got this job. But that's not the case.