| Jonathan Powell | |
|---|---|
| Downing Street Chief of Staff | |
| In office 2 May 1997 – 27 June 2007 |
|
| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Alex Allan (as PPS) |
| Succeeded by | Tom Scholar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 August 1956 |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Helm |
| Alma mater | University College, Oxford, University of Pennsylvania |
Jonathan Nicholas Powell (born 14 August 1956) is a British diplomat who served as the first Downing Street Chief of Staff, under British Prime Minister Tony Blair throughout his premiership, from his election in 1997 until his resignation in 2007. The official Downing Street website described his job as having "direct responsibility for leading and co-ordinating operations across Number 10". Despite his low profile, he was arguably Mr Blair's closest political aide. On 7 December 2007, Morgan Stanley announced that Powell would be joining the bank as a full-time senior managing director of its investment banking division.[1]
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Powell is the son of Air Vice-Marshal John Frederick Powell. He has three brothers: Charles, who was foreign policy advisor to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; Chris, a former advertiser; and Roderick. Although Powell pronounces the family name in the conventional manner (to rhyme with 'towel'), Charles pronounces it as 'pole'.
Powell was educated at the Cathedral Choir School, Canterbury, and The King's School, Canterbury, and studied history at University College, Oxford[2] and the University of Pennsylvania. He then worked for the BBC and Granada TV before joining the Foreign Office in 1979.[3]
Powell joined the FCO in 1979 and was posted as Third Secretary, later Second Secretary, to Lisbon in 1981. He was subsequently posted to UKDEL CDE Stockholm in 1986 and to UKDEL CSCE Vienna in September 1986.[4] In November 2010 Powell wrote an article for The Guardian that was critical of the publication by WikiLeaks of the contents of US diplomatic cables. Powell argued, "It is very difficult to conduct diplomacy effectively when your confidential deliberations are made public in this way. Mutual trust is the basis of such relations and once that trust is breached, candid conversations are less likely. It is like having a conversation in the pub with your best mate about problems with your girlfriend and then finding the content, possibly with a bit of spin added, posted on the internet. You won't be having that conversation again any time soon."[5]
Powell left the diplomatic service to become the Chief of Staff for Leader of the Opposition Tony Blair in 1995.[3] After Labour's election victory in 1997, both Powell and Blair's director of communications, Alastair Campbell, were given jobs in Downing Street. Controversially, both were given powers to issue orders to civil servants – unprecedented for political appointees.[3]
In the early years of the Blair administration, one of Powell's most crucial jobs was his role in the Northern Ireland peace talks that led to the Good Friday agreement. In March 2008, Powell called for tactics used successfully in Northern Ireland to be applied to the War on Terrorism. He suggested western governments hold talks with Al Qaeda and the Taliban, just as the British government negotiated with the Provisional IRA in order to bring about a peace deal in Northern Ireland. His suggestion was publicly rejected by the British Foreign Office. [6] His book Great Hatred, Little Room: Making Peace in Northern Ireland details the negotiations which finally led to the agreement which brought back power-sharing devolved government to Northern Ireland.
Powell continued to be both a key right-hand man for Blair throughout his time in office, as well as a trusted advisor on a wide range of policy issues. He was described by The Guardian as being "at the heart of all his (Blair's) key foreign policy initiatives."[7] It is believed he was questioned twice by police, the second time under caution, during the investigation into the Cash for Honours affair.[8] While many in Blair's "kitchen cabinet" – including Campbell – departed before Blair's resignation, Powell remained in Downing Street until June 2007.
Powell's role as Blair's chief of staff 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 18 August, 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 that a dossier on the threat posed by Iraq should be toughened.[9] 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 was very close to Blair.
On 18 January 2010 Powell gave evidence to the Iraq Inquiry.[10]
Powell has four children: two daughters with his partner, Sarah Helm, and two sons from a previous marriage.[3]
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