26 August 2024 , 19:35
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PM’s decision seen by some in Whitehall as precursor for role going to more politically loyal candidate
Keir Starmer has cancelled the appointment of one of Britain’s top generals as the national security adviser, in a move that senior civil servants fear is designed to pave the way for a more politically loyal candidate.
The prime minister has overturned the decision made in April by his predecessor, Rishi Sunak, to appoint Gwyn Jenkins, then the vice-chief of the armed forces, to the most senior security position in the government, officials have said.
Although Jenkins will be allowed to apply again for the job, some in Whitehall believe Starmer’s decision is another sign of his determination to promote allies to the most important roles in the civil service.
One official said: “This looks like another part of the grab for power by Keir Starmer and [his chief of staff] Sue Gray. The process to appoint Jenkins was run with full transparency, and there is no good reason to do it all over again.”
Another person who was involved in Jenkins’ initial appointment called Starmer’s decision a “mistake”. The person added: “[Jenkins] is very impressive.”
One person familiar with the decision said it had been taken by Starmer personally rather than by Gray. Downing Street said: “We will confirm updates in due course.”
Labour ministers are already under pressure for giving a number of jobs or access to their political allies.
They include Ian Corfield, a Labour donor who was appointed as a temporary director at the Treasury; Waheed Alli, a donor who was given a No 10 pass; and Jess Sargeant, who used to work for a Labour-aligned thinktank and now has a senior role in the Cabinet Office.
Corfield stood down from his paid role and now works as an unpaid adviser, while Labour officials say Lord Alli no longer has a Downing Street pass – though he did organise a garden party for other donors while working there.
The Conservatives have written to the cabinet secretary, Simon Case, demanding to know who issued the pass to Alli. Downing Street has said it will not comment on individual appointments.
Last week Hannah White, the head of the Institute for Government, criticised Labour’s approach to senior appointments, saying: “Short-circuiting the recruitment practices, designed to ensure appointment on merit and protect impartiality, is a mistake.”
Jenkins was to replace Tim Barrow, the outgoing national security adviser, who was in the process of being appointed as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.
Barrow’s appointment has been cancelled, with Starmer preparing to appoint a Labour grandee, such as Peter Mandelson or David Miliband, instead.
The prime minister is waiting until after November’s US presidential election before making his final choice, however, conscious that a win for Donald Trump might make it difficult for a Labour-aligned diplomat to operate in Washington.
Unlike Barrow, however, Jenkins had completed the appointments process and been named by Sunak as the next national security adviser.
The four-star general served in Northern Ireland and Afghanistan before becoming a military adviser to the then prime minister, David Cameron, and later, deputy national security adviser. He was appointed as vice-chief of the defence staff and head of the Royal Marines in 2022.
He has also courted controversy during his military career. Last year the BBC revealed that Jenkins failed to pass on evidence of extrajudicial killings by members of the SAS in Afghanistan to the military police, locking it away in a safe instead.
When announcing Jenkins’ appointment as national security adviser four months ago, Sunak said: “Gen Jenkins has led a distinguished career in both the military and the heart of government. I know he will make an exceptional contribution to this important role – promoting the UK’s interests and protecting our national security around the world.”
Case, the cabinet secretary, said Jenkins was “excellently placed to lead the UK’s national security system and represent our interests overseas in these challenging times for global security”.
Jenkins said at the time: “I am honoured to be appointed to this key position, and return to the Cabinet Office at a critical time for our national security.”
Some in government say Jenkins was told it would be a temporary appointment, although there is no reference to that being the case in the official announcement. Jenkins did not respond to a request to comment.