Is Jonathan Powell scared of scrutiny?

It’s a turbulent time for the Western world, but Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government doesn’t seem to be taking things all that seriously. At least, not where its National Security Adviser is concerned. Jonathan Powell, Starmer’s lineman on the Chagos deal, is apparently banned from speaking to the national security committee on the grounds he is a special adviser – yet it was the government who appointed him to the role in full understanding of the rules. So much for all that talk of transparency.

Labour has rejected a request for Powell to attend a forthcoming evidence session – titled ‘The Role of the National Security Adviser’ – despite it being the case that every other NSA has appeared in front of the group. Instead, Sir Keir’s spinners claim in a letter to the committee that the Deputy National Security Advisers will take his place. The government did, however, generously extend the invitation of a private meeting with Powell instead.