Jonathan Powell (chief of staff to Tony Blair)

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For other persons of the same name, see Jonathan Powell (disambiguation).

Jonathan Powell (born 1956) has served as chief of staff to British Prime Minister Tony Blair since his election in 1997. The official Downing Street website describes his job as having "direct responsibility for leading and co-ordinating operations across Number 10." Despite his low profile, he is arguably Mr Blair's closest political aide.

The son of an Air Vice Marshal, Powell comes from a powerful family. His brother Lord Powell - formerly Sir Charles Powell - was foreign policy advisor to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Powell was educated at King's School Canterbury and subsequently studied history at Oxford University and the University of Pennsylvania, later working for the BBC and Granada TV before joining the Foreign Office in 1979.

Powell left the diplomatic service to work for Blair in 1995, while Blair was still Leader of the Opposition. After Labour's election victory in 1997, both Powell and Blair's high-profile Communications Director Alastair Campbell took up the same jobs in Downing Street.

In the early years of the Blair administration, one of Powell's most crucial jobs was his role in the Northern Ireland peace talks which led to the Good Friday agreement. He has continued to be both a key right-hand man for Blair, as well as a trusted advisor on a wide range of policy issues. As the rest of Blair's 'kitchen cabinet' - including Campbell - have departed for various reasons down the years, Powell has remained in Downing Street.

Powell's role in the Blair Downing Street came under close scrutiny during the Hutton Inquiry, held following the death of Dr David Kelly in 2003. Powell gave evidence to the inquiry on Monday August 18, and described several crucial meetings he had attended, at which Dr Kelly had been discussed before his name appeared in the media. An email sent by Powell to the JIC chairman John Scarlett in September 2002 was also highlighted, as it appeared to suggest a dossier on the threat posed by Iraq be toughened[1]. Many commentators criticised the style of government described by Powell as too informal, some dubbing it 'sofa government' as many meetings were held in relaxed surroundings, without proper notes being taken. The subsequent, and separate, Butler Report also emphasised these criticisms. Both the Hutton and Butler reports indicated Powell is very close to Blair.

Powell has four children - two daughters with his partner, Sarah Helm, and two sons from a previous marriage.