UK: Jonathan Powell Appointed National Security Adviser
The Facts
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Jonathan Powell – Downing Street chief of staff between 1997-2008 under Tony Blair – as his new national security advisor.
In a statement released by the Cabinet Office, Starmer stated that Powell had "devoted his career to protecting the interests of the country," while Powell himself commented that he was "honoured" to assume the role.
The Spin
Powell is an incredibly experienced political operative that will only benefit Starmer's premiership. A veteran of the Blair era, Powell will not only be a steady hand on an international front but will also add wisdom to a Labour Government that has been criticised for clumsy domestic policy strategy.
Starmer has appointed a man who willingly negotiated the surrender of the Chagos Islands – a piece of land integral to British strategic interests – as the country's national security advisor. The decision once again leaves the UK public lacking any confidence in Labour's foreign policy, and is likely to only further damage the UK's international position in the future.
