Michael Jackson (British Army)
General Sir Michael Jackson is a high-profile retired British Army officer. He was Chief of the General Staff from February 2003 to August 2006.[1]
Contents
Revolving door appointments and controversies
Sunday Times sting operation
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This article is part of the Revolving Door project of Spinwatch. |
In 2012, Jackson was one of a number of retired senior army officers targeted in a sting operation by Sunday Times journalists posing as representatives of a Korean drone manufacturer.[2]
Jackson reportedly suggested he could arrange meetings with General Sir Peter Wall and General Sir David Richards. Jackson later said he did not believe that senior members of the armed forces could be improperly influenced and would not dream of trying to do so.[2]
Meetings with MOD
Jackson is recorded as meeting with Ministry of Defence officials in September 2014. No purpose nor names of officials met with were declared. [3]
ACOBA approved appointments
- Jackson was previously on the advisory board at Project Associates, a communications consultancy specialising in reputation and crisis work[4]
- Former special adviser and chairman of the defence advisory board at PA Consulting Group, appointed February 2007. Approved by ACOBA, "subject to the normal three-month waiting period and the condition that, for 12 months from his last day of service, he should not be personally involved in lobbying".[5]
- Chairman of Silk Road Resources Ltd, December 2006. Approved by ACOBA, "subject to the condition that, for 12 months from his last day of service, he should not be personally involved in lobbying UK Ministers or officials, the normal three-month waiting period being waived".[5]
- Member of international advisory board, Rolls Royce plc, February 2007-2012. Approved by ACOBA, "subject to the normal three-month waiting period and the condition that, for 12 months from his last day of service, he should not be personally involved in lobbying UK Ministers or officials". [5]
- Non-executive director, Numis Securities Ltd, December 2006. Was approved by ACOBA "subject to the conditions that, for 12 months from his last day of service, he should stand aside from discussion, if any, of the business of any clients of Numis in the UK defence sector and, for the same period, he should not be involved in lobbying UK Ministers or officials, the normal three-month waiting period being waived".[5]
- Non-executive chairman, Benchmark Search Group, February 2007. Approved by ACOBA, "subject to the condition that, for 12 months from his last day of service, he should not personally be involved in lobbying UK Ministers or officials, the normal three-month waiting period being waived January 2007".[5]
- Non-executive director at The Risk Advisory Group plc from December 2006 - 23 April 2009. Was "Approved subject to the condition that, for two years from his last day of service, he should not be personally involved in lobbying UK Ministers or officials, the normal three-month waiting period being waived November 2006"[5]
Northern Ireland
From late 1989 to 1992 (around two and a half years) Jackson was Commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade,[6] one of three British Army brigade headquarters in Northern Ireland from the outbreak of the Troubles in 1969. It covered the Belfast area and its commander reported to the Commander Land Forces (Northern Ireland).[7]
Views on Brexit
In March 2016 in the run-up to the British referendum on EU membership, Jackson penned an op-ed for the Mail on Sunday, arguing that despite various reservations over Britain's membership he ultimately believed that a vote in favour of abandoning the EU was a strategic risk, one that would 'inevitably lead to a major diminution of our place in the world – on which we depend for our trade and livelihood.' He added: 'Finally, I believe that Brexit would impose considerable after-shocks on the EU, compounding the immigration and euro crises. We should be wary of unforeseen and unknowable consequences.' [8]
Books
- Soldier (2007: Transworld). An autobiography.
Affiliations
- Army Benevolent Fund circa 2014
External Resources
- Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Mike Jackson, Meetings, Political Influence Database,
- Richard Norton-Taylor, Army chief questioned over 'shot list', The Guardian, 16 October 2003.
Notes
- ↑ General Sir Mike Jackson GCB CBE DSO, CMAWorld Online, 5 June 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Galloping greed of the old warhorses, Insight, Sunday Times, 14 October 2012, pp.13-15.
- ↑ Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Mike Jackson meetings, Political Influence database, last accessed 8 February 2018
- ↑ Team Project Associates, accessed 5 November 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments Ninth Report 2006-2008 Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, accessed 4 November 2014
- ↑ General Sir Mike Jackson GCB CBE DSO, CMAWorld Online, 5 June 2010.
- ↑ Mark Urban, Big Boys' Rules: The SAS and the Secret Struggle against the IRA, Faber and Faber, 1992, p.16.
- ↑ Sir Mike Jackson, [ I won't fall out! Distinguished Army chief GENERAL SIR MIKE JACKSON says you must vote for Brexit if you want a sovereign Britain but leaving would be a strategic risk], Mail on Sunday, 13 March 2016
