The British government had on Friday, named Jonathan Powell, the former chief of staff to former prime minister, Tony Blair and a key negotiator in the Northern Ireland peace process, as its new national security adviser.
Powell, who had worked as a diplomat in Britain’s Foreign Office for 10 years, was one of the brains behind the Good Friday Agreement, which was key in ending the three decades of violence that had besieged Northern Ireland since the late 1960s.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had given a statement regarding Powell’s appointment, saying:
“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 is currently overseeing Inter Mediate, a charity working on resolving international conflicts.
He will succeed Tim Barrow, who has served in the role since his appointment in September 2022.
