Starmer’s new nationwide safety adviser desires ‘relaxed attitude’ to terrorists in bid to finish battle | EUROtoday

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Sir Keir Starmer’s new nationwide safety adviser used an article a 12 months in the past to suggest a “more relaxed attitude” to terrorist teams.

Jonathan Powell, who was Tony Blair’s chief of workers in Downing Street, was appointed for the essential function by Sir Keir after the prime minister ditched Rishi Sunak’s alternative vice chief of the defence workers normal Gwyn Jenkins.

Mr Powell involves the function from negotiating the controversial handover of the Chagos Islands within the Indian Ocean to Mauritius but in addition brings an excessive amount of expertise to the job.

As Sir Tony’s chief of workers he performed a crucial function in bringing concerning the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland and ending the Troubles there.

He would later be introduced again into authorities by Tory prime minister David Cameron to assist resolve the issues in Libya in 2014.

He was requested to steer the Chagos talks by former Tory prime minister Liz Truss and her then foreigjn secretary James Cleverly.

But in a chunk for the New Statesman in October 2023, Mr Powell additionally laid out the place he envisioned the UK’s place in world diplomatic relations relating to safety ought to be.

This included a suggestion that the UK “could unilaterally adopt a more relaxed attitude to engaging with non-state armed groups (which others call terrorists) and bring warring sides together here in the UK without having to worry about visas or clearing their travel plans with other states.”

Drawing on his personal expertise, he wrote: “We don’t have to try to be Switzerland or Norway, but we do have real-world experience in resolving our own conflicts, such as in Northern Ireland, as well as trying to prevent them elsewhere.”

“We could play a role in resolving those conflicts where the US is not focused, including in Libya, Syria, Somalia, Israel/Palestine and, above all, the tragedy of the Sahel from Mali to Niger.”

His suggestion appears to suggest engaging more with terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, whose status as terrorist groups has been a matter of controversy in some quarters.

The appointment has been criticised by the Tories who are angry that Mr Sunak’s choice was ditched.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: “It’s disappointing the government have appointed another Labour apparatchik to a senior role side-lining an experienced General.

“Mr Powell’s previous comments about the unimportance of British overseas territories are extremely concerning and many will be worried that there is more to come.”

However, Sir Keir insisted that Mr Powell is “uniquely qualified” for the job in changing Tim Barrow.

He stated: “Jonathan has devoted his career to protecting the interests of the country, having served for 17 years as a diplomat in the Foreign Office and 10 years as chief of staff in No.10, and I am delighted to appoint him to this important role.”