National Security Adviser (United Kingdom): Difference between revisions

National Security Adviser
National Security Adviser
	Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
	Incumbent; Sir Tim Barrow; since 14 September 2022
	National Security Secretariat; Cabinet Office
Reports to	Prime Minister; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Nominator	Prime Minister
Appointer	The King; (on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation	2010
First holder	Sir Peter Ricketts
Deputy	Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA)

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 18:25, 20 November 2024

The National Security Adviser (NSA) is a senior official in the Cabinet Office, based in Whitehall, who serves as the principal adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Cabinet of the United Kingdom on all national security issues. The NSA post was created in May 2010 as part of the reforms that also saw the creation of the National Security Council.^[1] There have been six holders of the office to date, two of whom served more than three years in the post.^[2] Until 2024, the NSA acted as Secretary to the National Security Council, which is chaired by the Prime Minister, and head of the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office.^[3] Each National Security Adviser has been supported by at least two Deputy National Security Advisers.

Responsibilities

The National Security Adviser is the principal official adviser to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on national security matters. These responsibilities have included:^[4]

Providing advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on national security. This includes strategy, policy, capability and civil contingencies.
Acting as Secretary to the National Security Council.
Leadership to and management of the national security teams in the Cabinet Office.
Bringing together the wider national security community across Whitehall and the UK Government's overseas network.
Cultivating and maintaining a network of international stakeholders as well as contacts with relevant counterparts, businesses, industry and civil society groups.

List of national security advisers


#	Name	Term start	Term end	Term length	Prime Minister(s) served	Party	Ref
1	Sir Peter Ricketts	12 May 2010	23 January 2012	1 year and 257 days	David Cameron	Conservative
2	Sir Kim Darroch	23 January 2012	7 September 2015	3 years and 228 days
3	Sir Mark Lyall Grant	7 September 2015	13 April 2017	1 year and 219 days
3	Sir Mark Lyall Grant	7 September 2015	13 April 2017	1 year and 219 days	Theresa May		^[5]
4	Sir Mark Sedwill	13 April 2017	16 September 2020	3 years and 157 days	Theresa May
4	Sir Mark Sedwill	13 April 2017	16 September 2020	3 years and 157 days	Boris Johnson		^[6]
–	David Quarrey (acting)	17 September 2020	25 March 2021	190 days			^[7]
5	Sir Stephen Lovegrove	24 March 2021	13 September 2022	1 year and 174 days			^[8]
6	Sir Tim Barrow	14 September 2022	Incumbent	2 years and 70 days	Liz Truss		^[9]
					Rishi Sunak
					Keir Starmer	Labour
7	Jonathan Powell	To be confirmed	-	-	Keir Starmer	Labour	^[10]

List of deputy national security advisers

Since the creation of the position of National Security Adviser, there have always been at least two deputy national security advisers.

Julian Miller (2010–2015)
Olly Robbins (2010–2014)
Hugh Powell (2013–2016)
Paddy McGuinness (2014–2018)
Gwyn Jenkins (2015–2017)
Christian Turner (2017–2019)
Richard Moore (2018)
Madeleine Alessandri (2018–2020)
David Quarrey (2019–2022)
Beth Sizeland (2020–2021)
Alex Ellis (2020–2021)
Andrew McCosh (2021–2022) (Technology)
Sarah MacIntosh (2022–2024) (International Affairs)
Matt Collins (2022–present) (Intelligence, Defence and Security)

References

^ Joe Devanny and Josh Harris (4 November 2014). "The National Security Council: national security at the centre of government". Institute for Government/King's College London.
^ Joe Devanny (3 March 2017). "Why the UK needs a better process for appointing national security advisers". Civil Service World.
^ "About - National security and intelligence". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
^ "Sir Tim Barrow GCMG LVO MBE". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-06-25. Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
^ "National Security Adviser appointment: Sir Mark Lyall-Grant". 7 July 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
^ "Mark Sedwill appointed as National Security Adviser". Home Office. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
^ "Appointment of Prime Minister's National Security Adviser". Cabinet Office. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
^ "Appointment of Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Defence". gov.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
^ "Sir Tim Barrow appointed as National Security Adviser". gov.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
^ "Appointment of Jonathan Powell as National Security Adviser". gov.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2024.

External links

National Security and Intelligence

[1] Joe Devanny and Josh Harris (4 November 2014). "The National Security Council: national security at the centre of government". Institute for Government/King's College London.

[2] Joe Devanny (3 March 2017). "Why the UK needs a better process for appointing national security advisers". Civil Service World.

[3] "About - National security and intelligence". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2016-10-20.

[4] "Sir Tim Barrow GCMG LVO MBE". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-06-25. Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

[5] "National Security Adviser appointment: Sir Mark Lyall-Grant". 7 July 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2024.

[6] "Mark Sedwill appointed as National Security Adviser". Home Office. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2022.

[7] "Appointment of Prime Minister's National Security Adviser". Cabinet Office. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2021.

[8] "Appointment of Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Defence". gov.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2021.

[9] "Sir Tim Barrow appointed as National Security Adviser". gov.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2022.

[10] "Appointment of Jonathan Powell as National Security Adviser". gov.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 | post = National Security Adviser
 | body =
-| insignia = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government) (2022).svg
+| insignia = Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg
 | insigniasize =
 | insigniacaption = [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|Royal Arms]] of [[Government of the United Kingdom|His Majesty's Government]]
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 | appointer = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|The King]]<br />{{small|(on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]])}}
 | termlength = [[At His Majesty's pleasure]]
-| reports_to = [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]<br>[[Secretary of State for Defence]]
+| reports_to = [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]<br>[[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]]
-| first = [[Peter Ricketts|Lord Ricketts]]
+| first = [[Peter Ricketts|Sir Peter Ricketts]]
 | formation = 2010
 | deputy = [[National_Security_Council_(United_Kingdom)#National_Security_Secretariat|Deputy National Security Adviser]] (DNSA)
 | website =
 | acting = no
-| style = [[Excellency|Your Excellency]]
+| style =
 }}
-The '''National Security Adviser''' ('''NSA''') is a senior official in the [[Cabinet Office]], based in [[Whitehall]], who serves as the principal adviser to the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] and [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]] on all [[national security]] issues. The NSA post was created in May 2010 as part of the reforms that also saw the creation of the [[National Security Council (United Kingdom)|National Security Council]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publications/national-security-council |author=Joe Devanny and Josh Harris |publisher=Institute for Government/King's College London |title=The National Security Council: national security at the centre of government |date=4 November 2014}}</ref> There have been six holders of the office to date, of whom two served more than three years in the post.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.civilserviceworld.com/articles/opinion/why-uk-needs-better-process-appointing-national-security-advisers |title=Why the UK needs a better process for appointing national security advisers |author=Joe Devanny |publisher=Civil Service World |date=3 March 2017}}</ref>
+The '''National Security Adviser''' ('''NSA''') is a senior official in the [[Cabinet Office]], based in [[Whitehall]], who serves as the principal adviser to the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] and [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]] on all [[national security]] issues. The NSA post was created in May 2010 as part of the reforms that also saw the creation of the [[National Security Council (United Kingdom)|National Security Council]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publications/national-security-council |author=Joe Devanny and Josh Harris |publisher=Institute for Government/King's College London |title=The National Security Council: national security at the centre of government |date=4 November 2014}}</ref> There have been six holders of the office to date, two of whom served more than three years in the post.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.civilserviceworld.com/articles/opinion/why-uk-needs-better-process-appointing-national-security-advisers |title=Why the UK needs a better process for appointing national security advisers |author=Joe Devanny |publisher=Civil Service World |date=3 March 2017}}</ref> Until 2024, the NSA acted as Secretary to the [[National Security Council (United Kingdom)|National Security Council]], which is chaired by the Prime Minister, and head of the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/national-security/about |title=About - National security and intelligence |publisher=GOV.UK |date= |accessdate=2016-10-20}}</ref> Each National Security Adviser has been supported by at least two Deputy National Security Advisers.
-The NSA is Secretary to the [[National Security Council (United Kingdom)|National Security Council]], which is chaired by the Prime Minister, and head of National Security and Intelligence (National Security Secretariat), which is, in turn, part of the Cabinet Office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/national-security/about |title=About - National security and intelligence |publisher=GOV.UK |date= |accessdate=2016-10-20}}</ref> The NSA will also advise Secretaries of State and other senior government ministers on issues of national security when necessary. The NSA was the Senior Responsible Officer for the [[Conflict, Stability and Security Fund]], with a budget of over £1 billion.<ref name=cssf-ar2017>{{cite report |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/630077/conflict-stability-security-fund-annual-report-2016-2017.pdf |title=Conflict, Stability and Security Fund: Annual Report 2016/17 |publisher=gov.uk |date=July 2017 |accessdate=7 November 2017}}</ref> This role has been passed to the Deputy National Security Adviser.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/727383/CSSF_Annual_Report_2017_to_2018.pdf |title=Conflict, Stability and Security Fund: Annual Report 2017/18 |publisher=gov.uk |date=18 July 2018 |accessdate=5 September 2019}}</ref>
-The first National Security Adviser (NSA) of the United Kingdom was [[Peter Ricketts|Sir Peter Ricketts]],<ref name=CO_0002>{{cite web|url=http://download.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/organogram/co-organogram.pdf |title=Cabinet Office Structure Charts, page 12 |publisher=[[Cabinet Office]] HM Government |date=May 2010 |accessdate=6 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705004000/http://download.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/organogram/co-organogram.pdf |archivedate=July 5, 2010 }}</ref> who was previously [[Permanent Secretary]] of the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] and Chairman of the [[Joint Intelligence Committee (United Kingdom)|Joint Intelligence Committee]]. Ricketts was succeeded by [[Kim Darroch|Sir Kim Darroch]] in January 2012. On 7 July 2015, it was announced that [[Mark Lyall Grant|Sir Mark Lyall Grant]] would replace Darroch as National Security Adviser in early September 2015.<ref name=grant>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/national-security-adviser-appointment-sir-mark-lyall-grant |title=National Security Adviser appointment: Sir Mark Lyall-Grant |publisher=[[Cabinet Office]] HM Government |date=July 2015 |accessdate=9 July 2015 }}</ref>
-It was announced in June 2020 that Mark Sedwill will step down from his role as NSA in September, and that current chief Brexit negotiator, [[David Frost (British diplomat)|David Frost]], will serve as the NSA.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-06-28|title=UK's top civil servant announces exit|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-53210773|access-date=2020-06-28}}</ref> A FOI answer however, states that Frost continues as Chief Negotiator to the EU as of October 2020 and [[David Quarrey]] took over the role of acting NSA provisionally.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/695574/response/1663299/attach/3/FOI2020%2013631%20REPLY.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1 |title=Deputy National Security Advisers |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=23 October 2020 |website=whatdotheyknow.com |publisher=Whatdotheyknow |access-date=24 October 2020 |quote=David Frost remains Chief Negotiator for the EU talks and those negotiations will remain his top single priority until they have concluded, one way or another. Therefore, the Prime Minister agreed that David Quarrey should become Acting NSA}}</ref>
-The NSA is supported by at least two Deputy National Security Advisers, and serves at the pleasure of the Prime Minister. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/david-quarrey |title=David Quarrey |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=11 December 2019 |website=gov.uk |publisher=gov.uk |access-date=11 December 2019 |quote=Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser and Deputy National Security Adviser David Quarrey CMG}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/public-accounts/Correspondence/2019-20/Corresp-Cabinet-Office-Cyber-security-in-the-UK-191104.pdf |title=Sir Mark Sedwill: UK's top civil servant steps down |date=28 June 2020 |website=bbc.co.uk |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref>
 == Responsibilities ==
-The National Security Adviser is the principal official adviser to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on national security matters. The responsibilities include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sir Tim Barrow GCMG LVO MBE |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/cmg-lvo-mbe-tim-barrow |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} [[File:UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg|30px]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under an [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/  Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.</ref>
+The National Security Adviser is the principal official adviser to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on national security matters. These responsibilities have included:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sir Tim Barrow GCMG LVO MBE |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/cmg-lvo-mbe-tim-barrow |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} [[File:UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg|30px]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under an [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/  Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.</ref>
 * Providing advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on national security. This includes strategy, policy, capability and civil contingencies.
 * Acting as Secretary to the National Security Council.
 * Leadership to and management of the national security teams in the Cabinet Office.
-* Bringing together the wider national security community across Whitehall and our overseas network.
+* Bringing together the wider national security community across Whitehall and the UK Government's overseas network.
 * Cultivating and maintaining a network of international stakeholders as well as contacts with relevant counterparts, businesses, industry and civil society groups.
-==List of National Security Advisers==
+==List of national security advisers==
 <!-- rowspan=2 --><!-- | rowspan=2 --><!-- | rowspan=2 --><!-- | rowspan=2 --><!-- rowspan=2 --><!-- | rowspan=2 --><!-- | rowspan=2 --><!-- | rowspan=2 -->{| class="wikitable"
 |+
@@ Line 50: / Line 42: @@
 !Term length
 !Prime Minister(s) served
+!Party
 !Ref
 |-
 |1
-|[[Peter Ricketts]] (Lord Ricketts)
+|[[Peter Ricketts|Sir Peter Ricketts]]
 |12 May 2010
 |23 January 2012
 |{{age in years and days|2010|5|12|2012|01|23|sep=and|duration=on}}
 | rowspan="3" |[[David Cameron]]
+| rowspan="10" |[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
+|
 |-
 |2
-|[[Kim Darroch]] (Lord Darroch)
+|[[Kim Darroch|Sir Kim Darroch]]
 |23 January 2012
 |7 September 2015
@@ Line 73: / Line 68: @@
 |-
 | rowspan="2" |[[Theresa May]]
+|<ref>{{cite web|title=National Security Adviser appointment: Sir Mark Lyall-Grant|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/national-security-adviser-appointment-sir-mark-lyall-grant|date=7 July 2015|access-date=16 November 2024}}</ref>
-|<ref name=grant/>
 |-
 | rowspan="2" |4
-| rowspan="2" |[[Mark Sedwill]] (Lord Sedwill)
+| rowspan="2" |[[Mark Sedwill|Sir Mark Sedwill]]
 | rowspan="2" |13 April 2017
 | rowspan="2" |16 September 2020
@@ Line 98: / Line 93: @@
 |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Appointment of Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Defence|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-of-permanent-secretary-to-the-ministry-of-defence|access-date=6 April 2021|website=gov.uk}}</ref>
 |-
-| rowspan="2" |6
+| rowspan="3" |6
-| rowspan="2" |[[Tim Barrow|Sir Tim Barrow]]
+| rowspan="3" |[[Tim Barrow|Sir Tim Barrow]]
-| rowspan="2" |14 September 2022
+| rowspan="3" |14 September 2022
-| rowspan="2" | ''Incumbent''
+| rowspan="3" | ''Incumbent''
-| rowspan="2" |{{age in years and days|2022|09|14||||sep=and|duration=on}}
+| rowspan="3" |{{age in years and days|2022|09|14||||sep=and|duration=on}}
 |[[Liz Truss]]
 |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sir Tim Barrow appointed as National Security Adviser|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sir-tim-barrow-appointed-as-national-security-adviser|access-date=16 September 2022|website=gov.uk}}</ref>
@@ Line 108: / Line 103: @@
 |[[Rishi Sunak]]
 |
+|-
+| rowspan="2" |[[Keir Starmer]]
+| rowspan="2" |[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
+|
+|-
+|7
+|[[Jonathan Powell (civil servant)|Jonathan Powell]]
+|To be confirmed
+| -
+| -
+|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Appointment of Jonathan Powell as National Security Adviser|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-of-jonathan-powell-as-national-security-adviser|access-date=16 November 2024|website=gov.uk}}</ref>
 |}
-== List of Deputy National Security Advisers ==
+== List of deputy national security advisers ==
+Since the creation of the position of National Security Adviser, there have always been at least two deputy national security advisers.
-''There can be more than one DNSA at one time; some DNSA's are given specific titles referring to their specific remit.''
 # Julian Miller (2010–2015)
@@ Line 124: / Line 130: @@
 # Beth Sizeland (2020–2021)
 # [[Alexander Ellis (diplomat)|Alex Ellis]] (2020–2021)
-# '''Andrew McCosh (2021–present)''' (Technology)
+# Andrew McCosh (2021–2022) (Technology)
-# '''[[Sarah MacIntosh]] (2022–present)''' (International Affairs)
+# [[Sarah MacIntosh]] (2022–2024) (International Affairs)
 # '''Matt Collins (2022–present)''' (Intelligence, Defence and Security)