“He’s playing a crucial role at the center, but a very low-profile one,” Ricketts noted of the man often seen lurking in the background in photographs of the British PM. “It’s not something a foreign secretary could do, for example, because it’s providing under-the-radar, intensive and close support to the Ukrainians.”
English described Powell as a man with “extraordinary patience” and a “calm preparedness.” Emily Thornberry, Labour MP and chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee, likewise told the BBC “he brings a depth of understanding and a calm” to the role.
Even critics of Starmer’s overall approach are coming around to the security chief.
A senior government adviser, granted anonymity like others in this piece because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the decision to appoint Powell was a clear win, even though they had been critical of Starmer’s judgment in some areas.
They described the national security adviser as “a proper grown up” and “a heavy hitter — he’s bigger than any of us in almost all of our specialisms.”
Seeking Superman
Placing so much faith in one person, however, comes with its own risks, and not everyone finds Powell quite so charming. One former colleague who traveled with Powell said he could be “blunt” and “awkward in an English kind of way.”