Sir Keir Starmer's reliance on National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell for foreign policy guidance is backfiring, with critics inside and outside government questioning the approach. Powell, a veteran of Tony Blair's government and key architect of the Good Friday Agreement, is seen by some as epitomising 'grown-up government', but others argue his advice has led to a series of diplomatic missteps.
One area of concern is the government's handling of China. A senior minister told The i Paper that Beijing's espionage, intellectual property theft, and alleged human rights abuses should have prompted a tougher stance, but instead No 10 has pursued a 'timid' economics-first policy. The collapse of a spying case against two former parliamentary researchers, which the Director of Public Prosecutions said failed because evidence referring to China as a national security threat could not be obtained from the government, has raised questions about whether Starmer avoided confronting China ahead of trade talks.
Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat questioned who made the decision to 'undermine the justice system', while a Downing Street insider noted that domestic politics are often overlooked in Powell's 'rarified orbit'. The Chagos Islands deal, which involved handing the territory to Mauritius despite accusations of China ties, also triggered a backlash that left Starmer on the back foot.
Despite denials from Starmer's spokesperson that the government encouraged prosecutors to drop the China spying case, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded a statement, keeping pressure on the Prime Minister. Some officials worry that Starmer's dependence on Powell means insufficient attention is paid to how international deals will be received domestically, with one source commenting that 'without him Keir has no foreign policy'.
