Former Tony Blair aide who led Chagos ‘surrender’ deal lands top national security job

SIR Tony Blair’s erstwhile apical adjutant who precocious negotiated the arguable “surrender” of the Chagos Islands has been enactment successful complaint of Britain’s nationalist security.

Jonathan Powell - who served arsenic No10 main of unit from 1997-2007 - was contiguous appointed National Security Adviser by Sir Keir Starmer.

He goes backmost into Downing Street caller disconnected starring talks to relinquish the British Indian Overseas Territory to Mauritius.

The woody has sparked fury from galore Tory MPs who accused Labour of selling retired the strategically-vital islands to an state of China.

Mr Powell succeeds Sir Tim Barrow who has served arsenic National Security Adviser since September 2022.

The station is 1 of the astir elder positions successful Government and provides the PM with updates and proposal connected planetary threats.

As Sir Tony’s astir almighty adviser, helium was astatine the bosom of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that brought bid to Northern Ireland.

Sir Keir said: “Jonathan has devoted his vocation to protecting the interests of the country, having served for seventeen years arsenic a diplomat successful the Foreign Office and 10 years arsenic Chief of Staff successful No10, and I americium delighted to name him to this important role.

"Together with his acquisition helping to negociate the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and enactment connected immoderate of the world’s astir analyzable conflicts, helium is uniquely qualified to counsel the Government connected tackling the challenges up and prosecute with counterparts crossed the globe to support and beforehand UK interests.

Mr Powell said: “As the Prime Minister has acceptable out, nationalist information is astatine the bosom of this country’s effect to the galore challenges we look and having an integrated effect volition beryllium important to our success.  

“I look guardant to advising the Prime Minister and moving intimately with Ministers and officials successful this caller role.”