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Jonathan Powell rejects overtures to replace McSweeney as Starmer’s chief of staff
Politics•February 15, 2026 at 3:32 PMNational

Jonathan Powell rejects overtures to replace McSweeney as Starmer’s chief of staff

By Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor•The Guardian - UK News

Exclusive: Powell, who held post under Blair, is said to be considering leaving current role as national security adviserKeir Starmer’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, has rejected overtures to become the prime minister’s chief of staff after the resignation of Morgan McSweeney, the Guardian has been told.Powell’s allies say his decision not to take forward discussions about the job – the same role he undertook under Tony Blair’s premiership from 1997 to 2007 – was largely motivated by an intention to return to the mediation consultancy that he set up in 2011, with little interest in returning to a job he has already done. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Powell, who held post under Blair, is said to be considering leaving current role as national security adviser

Keir Starmer’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, has rejected overtures to become the prime minister’s chief of staff after the resignation of Morgan McSweeney, the Guardian has been told.

Powell’s allies say his decision not to take forward discussions about the job – the same role he undertook under Tony Blair’s premiership from 1997 to 2007 – was largely motivated by an intention to return to the mediation consultancy that he set up in 2011, with little interest in returning to a job he has already done.

Continue reading...

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