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LONDON — Britain’s long-serving government communications chief Alex Aiken is stepping down to spin for the United Arab Emirates instead.
In a statement Wednesday, the U.K. Cabinet Office confirmed that Aiken — a civil service veteran who has held the powerful role since 2012 — will be taking up a new gig in April as a communications adviser for the foreign ministry of the major oil exporter.
Aiken’s long stint as executive director of the Government Communication Service has spanned numerous prime ministerial changes, Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and the war with Ukraine.
In his resignation letter to Cabinet Office boss Alex Chisholm, Aiken said “after serving five prime ministers, four governments and through three elections, two referendums, a pandemic and a war I feel I have done my bit for now.”
He added: “I feel privileged to have served the Cabinet Office and worked with many talented and committed colleagues.”
But the senior official’s move may raise eyebrows in Westminster given concerns about the UAE’s human rights record.
Amnesty International accused the country in 2022 of putting in place rules which “significantly curtail freedom of expression and assembly” and argued that the UAE was engaged in the arbitrary detention of prisoners.
In December, the UAE welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to the state with a 21-gun salute, with the country’s royal ruler Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan describing Putin as a “dear friend.”
The U.K. government is meanwhile facing pressure from Conservative MPs to block a takeover bid from a UAE-backed firm attempting to buy up the Telegraph and Spectator newspapers.
Aiken’s role has, however, already been cleared by the government’s business appointments process which regulates the revolving door. He will be expected to refrain from directly lobbying the U.K. government for a set period of time.
On the same day, Aiken’s wife, Nickie Aiken, also announced she would be stepping down as a Conservative MP at the next election.
In a statement, the Conservative Party deputy chairman confirmed her husband had accepted the overseas role and “deserves my full support as he pursues a new career.”
