Starmer appoints Blair-era top aide as National Security Adviser

Mr Powell volition instrumentality implicit from Sir Tim Barrow successful the relation based successful 10 Downing Street, the Cabinet Office said.

The Prime Minister said his acquisition successful helping to negociate the Good Friday Agreement and moving connected “some of the world’s astir analyzable conflicts” meant helium was “uniquely qualified” to counsel the Government connected planetary challenges.

“Jonathan has devoted his vocation to protecting the interests of the country, having served for 17 years arsenic a diplomat successful the Foreign Office and 10 years arsenic main of unit successful No 10, and I americium delighted to name him to this important role,” Sir Keir said.

“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.

“I would besides similar to convey Sir Tim Barrow for his work and the enactment and proposal helium has fixed me. He has helped steer the nationalist information assemblage done immoderate of the astir challenging times successful caller history, demonstrating passim his outstanding committedness to nationalist work and to the information and information of this country. I’ve nary uncertainty helium volition proceed to play a affirmative relation connected these issues successful the future.”

Mr Powell said: “I americium honoured to person been appointed arsenic the National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister. This is simply a hugely important relation astatine a clip wherever nationalist security, planetary relations, and home policies are truthful interconnected.

“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.”