Keir Starmer has appointed Jonathan Powell as his national security adviser.
Powell, who was Tony Blair’s chief of staff throughout his 10 years as prime minister, will replace Sir Tim Barrow in the Downing Street-based role.
In April, then-prime minister Rishi Sunak announced that vice chief of the defence staff Gen Gwyn Jenkins would succeed Barrow as national security adviser. But it emerged in August that the new government had scrapped those plans and that a new appointment process was being launched.
Powell will leave his current role as chief executive of Inter Mediate, a UK based charity working on resolving international conflicts to become NSA.
Starmer said Powell is “uniquely qualified” for the job.
“Jonathan has devoted his career to protecting the interests of the country, having served for 17 years as a diplomat in the Foreign Office and 10 years as chief of staff in No.10, and I am delighted to appoint him to this important role,” the prime minister said.
He added: “Together with his experience helping to negotiate the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and work on some of the world’s most complex conflicts, he is uniquely qualified to advise the government on tackling the challenges ahead and engage with counterparts across the globe to protect and advance UK interests.”
Powell said he is “honoured” to have been appointed to the “hugely important role at a time where national security, international relations, and domestic policies are so interconnected”.
“As the prime minister has set out, national security is at the heart of this country’s response to the many challenges we face and having an integrated response will be crucial to our success,” he added.
Starmer also offered words of praise for Barrow, who has been national security adviser since September 2022.
He said Barrow had “helped steer the national security community through some of the most challenging times in recent history, demonstrating throughout his outstanding commitment to public service and to the safety and security of this country”.
“I’ve no doubt he will continue to play a positive role on these issues in the future,” he added.
Barrow said Powell “will provide excellent support to the PM and the national security community”.
“Having known Jonathan Powell for many years I know he is very well qualified for this post,” he added.