Michael Jackson (British Army)

General Sir Mike Jackson, former British Army chief of the general staff at the Cenotaph in London, 2003. Credit: HJ Mitchell

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.

Revolving door appointments and controversies

Sunday Times sting operation

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.

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.

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.

ACOBA approved appointments

• Jackson was previously on the advisory board at Project Associates, a communications consultancy specialising in reputation and crisis work
• 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".
• 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".
• 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".
• 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".
• 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".
• 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"

Northern Ireland

From late 1989 to 1992 (around two and a half years) Jackson was Commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade, 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).

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.