Starmer to join Macron on Armistice Day in Paris to show European solidarity
Guardian4 days
UK: Jonathan Powell Appointed National Security Adviser
story
Above: Jonathan Powell, former Downing Street Chief of Staff and chief British negotiator on Northern Ireland reads a statement on May 4, 2018 in Cambo-les-Bains, France. Image copyright: David Ramos/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Jonathan Powell, Downing Street chief of staff between 1997 and 2007 under Tony Blair, as his new national security advisor.
Starmer said in a Cabinet Office statement that Powell had "devoted his career to protecting the interests of the country," and Powell himself said he was "honored" to take on the role.
The Spin
Left narrative
Powell, a Blair era veteran, is an incredibly experienced political operative that will only benefit Starmer's premiership. He will not only provide stability on the international front but also bring wisdom to a Labour government that has faced criticism for its clumsy domestic policy strategy.
Right narrative
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.
