Sir Keir Starmer Appoints Jonathan Powell as National Security Adviser

Sir Keir Starmer has named Jonathan Powell, who previously served as Tony Blair’s chief of staff, as his national security adviser. Mr. Powell, a seasoned diplomat, is expected to assume the position next month, succeeding Sir Tim Barrow, who has occupied the role since September 2022. From 1997 to 2007, Mr. Powell held the position of No 10 chief of staff and was instrumental in facilitating the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement in Northern Ireland. This appointment occurs during a critical period, marked by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as Donald Trump’s anticipated return to the White House in January. Sir Keir stated that Mr. Powell’s background rendered him “uniquely qualified” to counsel ministers on international security issues. Furthermore, Downing Street has confirmed that Liz Lloyd, another former aide to Blair and previously No 10 deputy chief of staff, will join as Sir Keir’s director of policy delivery and innovation. In this new capacity, Mr. Powell will provide national security guidance to the prime minister and other members of the cabinet. While the prime minister always makes this appointment, the role is typically filled by a civil servant. Mr. Powell, however, will serve as a special adviser, a politically appointed position funded by taxpayers. In April, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had announced that General Gwyn Jenkins of the Royal Marines would succeed Sir Tim during the summer. However, upon assuming office, Sir Keir rescinded this appointment and initiated a new recruitment process, providing no reason for the change. Sir Keir enlisted Mr. Powell to spearhead discussions concerning the recently unveiled agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a move that has drawn criticism from several prominent Conservative Members of Parliament. These islands, officially designated as the British Indian Ocean Territory, host a joint UK-US military installation on Diego Garcia. The UK will maintain jurisdiction over this base for an “initial period” of 99 years. Additionally, several US Republicans have criticized the agreement, which received support from the departing Biden administration, cautioning that it might enhance China’s regional influence. Following the announcement of the accord, Mr. Powell rejected the criticism, asserting that the Americans were “intimately involved” in the negotiations and that the agreement had been reviewed by “all of the agencies in Washington.” On Times Radio, he remarked that the UK should not be “too worried” about relinquishing the territory, noting that it comprises “very tiny islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean where no one actually goes.” He further stated, “We’re probably losing more to tidal erosion in the East Coast (of England) than that.” A spokesperson for the Conservative Party commented: “It is disappointing the government have appointed another Labour apparatchik to a senior role, sidelining an experienced general.“Mr Powell’s previous comments about the unimportance of British overseas territories are extremely concerning and many will be worried that there is more to come.” Mr. Powell has rejected the Conservative criticism of the accord, maintaining that the UK’s choice to commence negotiations in 2022 stemmed from a “very weak” legal standing after international legal judgments favored Mauritius. He informed Sky News that James Cleverly, a former Tory leadership contender and one of the deal’s critics, had “enthusiastically” taken part in the process during his tenure as foreign secretary under Rishi Sunak. Subsequent to his departure from Tony Blair’s Downing Street, Mr. Powell headed a UK-based charity focused on international conflicts and was appointed UK envoy to Libya in 2014 during the premiership of former Conservative prime minister David Cameron.