Parliamentary Accountability Not “Appropriate” For Me Claims Chagos Sellout Merchant Powell – Guido Fawkes

Parliamentary Accountability Not “Appropriate” For Me Claims Chagos Sellout Merchant Powell

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The government has backed National Security Adviser and Chagos surrender deal negotiator Jonathan Powell’s refusal to appear before Parliament’s security committee. Despite three invitations from the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, Powell has not responded. Unlike every previous holder of the post…

JCNSS chair Matt Western wrote to Keir Starmer demanding answers, but was fobbed off by Pat McFadden, who claimed Powell’s attendance was “not appropriate.” McFadden argued that special advisers don’t give evidence, instead offering Powell’s deputies and the Cabinet Secretary as substitutes…

Western pushed back, arguing that the government’s stance on Powell’s attendance “appears to depart from convention.” He cited the JCNSS’ Osmotherly Rules, which state that ministers generally accept when a select committee seeks evidence from an official, “including special advisers.” Meanwhile, Labour is also withholding National Security Council agendas from Parliament, breaking a precedent upheld since 2013. More obfuscation from Labour on the Chagos sellout…