See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy KATHERINE LAWTON, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 17:55 BST, 3 June 2026 | Updated: 18:38 BST, 3 June 2026
Former MI6 boss Sir Alex Younger has died aged 62 following a battle with prostate cancer, his family confirmed today. Sir Alex, the widely respected former head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, died in Boston in the early hours of Tuesday morning after being diagnosed with the disease last year. Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to the MI6 chief following the news today, thanking him for his 'utmost dedication'. 'I was saddened to learn of the news of the death of Sir Alex Younger,' the Prime Minister said. 'Sir Alex Younger led an exemplary life and career, ultimately serving as chief of the Secret Intelligence Service from 2014 to 2020.'He will be remembered by the many ministers, colleagues, friends and family for his utmost dedication to British public life and protecting our nation.'My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.'Sir Alex led the Secret Intelligence Service for six years between 2014 and 2020. MI6 boss Sir Alex Younger (pictured) has died aged 62 following a battle with prostate cancerHe was also an important figure in secret intelligence throughout Britain's 'war on terror' and was appointed as head of counter-terrorism in 2009, during increased threat alerts following the July 7, 2005 London bombings and leading up to the 2012 Olympics.Theresa May paid a moving tribute to the chief today, saying her 'thoughts and prayers are with his family'. She added: 'Deeply saddened by the death of Sir Alex Younger - an extraordinary man and dedicated public servant. 'We worked closely when he was Chief of MI6 and remained friends in the years since. The nation owes him a great debt of gratitude.' Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked Sir Alex for his 'outstanding leadership', adding: 'The country owes Sir Alex Younger an enormous debt of gratitude for his lifetime of dedicated service.'His outstanding leadership, steadiness and integrity kept us all safe and I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family and his friends at this incredibly difficult time.' Nick Robinson, the BBC journalist who presents Radio 4's Today programme, said he became friends with Sir Alex after he appeared on the news broadcast.The journalist wrote on social media platform X: 'After he first appeared in the programme, I was lucky enough to get to know Alex and call him my friend. I'm desperately sad to hear the news I've long feared was coming.'Alex has died after months trying to cheat the prognosis he was given.'Mr Robinson said Sir Alex had nicknamed his tumour 'Putin', after Russian President Vladimir Putin, when it was discovered.Meanwhile, Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer said Sir Alex 'served his country with enormous distinction and he was a thoroughly decent and kind man who I'm sure will be hugely missed by everyone who knew him'.In 2016, the former intelligence chief famously said James Bond, the fictional character, would not pass the agency's recruitment process.
