Jonathan Powell, who was Sir Tony Blair’s chief of staff for a decade, has been appointed as Sir Keir Starmer’s new national security adviser.Mr Powell negotiated the deal, announced last month, for Britain to give up the Chagos Islands.

Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Tony Blair's former chief of staff as his national security adviser. Veteran diplomat Jonathan Powell will begin the role next month, it is understood, taking over from Sir Tim Barrow, who has held the role since September 2022.

Sir Keir Starmer’s appointment of Jonathan Powell as national security adviser has sparked speculation of a possible shift in UK government policy on the war in Ukraine as it emerged he has previously called for negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.

Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Tony Blair’s former chief of staff Jonathan Powell as his national security adviser.

Powell returns to heart of Whitehall after serving as chief of staff for Tony Blair. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, has said that his party is now best placed to take on the Labour party in Wales.

Britain on Friday named Jonathan Powell, the former chief of staff to ex-prime minister Tony Blair and a key negotiator in the Northern Ireland peace process, as its new national security adviser. Powell,

Starmer appoints senior Blair-era aide Powell as National Security Adviser - Jonathan Powell will take over from Sir Tim Barrow in the role based in 10 Downing Street, the Cabinet Office said.