National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell’s vetting arrangements have been brought into question amid the Mandelson vetting scandal. Guido has long tracked Powell’s extremely suspect visits to China while in UK government roles…
Powell held multiple meetings with the former Head of Intelligence for the PLA, multiple meetings with the former Vice Foreign Minister, and meetings with senior party officials and those with links to Chinese intelligence. Guido has strung together every meeting Powell has had with individuals linked to the Chinese government. They are numerous and several take place after his appointment as Chagos Deal negotiator but before his promotion to National Security Adviser…
Beijing engagements before, during, and after appointment as PM’s Special Envoy for BIOT
Pre-appointment – China meetings via Inter Mediate
| 21 Aug 2023 | Met Cui Tiankai (former Vice Foreign Minister & Ambassador to US), Zhang Baijia (CCP History Research Office), and Ouyang Wei (linked to PLA political warfare body) in Beijing. |
| 21 Aug 2023 | Beijing seminar on “China-US-Europe relations and the Ukraine Crisis” at Grandview Institution. |
| 22 Aug 2023 | Met Lt Gen Chen Xiaogong — former Deputy Commander of Chinese Air Force and former head of PLA General Staff Intelligence Department. |
| 23 Aug 2023 | Keynote at Grandview Current Affairs Lecture Hall, Beijing — on North Korea negotiations and conflict mediation. |
| 19 Mar 2024 | Met Yao Yunzhu (former Director, PLA Academy of Military Science China-US Relations Center) and arms control researchers at Grandview, Beijing. |
| 20 Mar 2024 | Met Cui Tiankai and Lt Gen Chen Xiaogong (PLA intelligence chief) again in Beijing. |
| 21 Mar 2024 | Spoke at Peking University and Grandview — said China “can and should play an important mediating role” in world crises. |
| 22 Mar 2024 | Met Shen Xin, Secretary General of the CPAFFC — described by US Congress as the public face of the United Front Work Department. |
| 22 Mar 2024 | Met Xu Poling (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) and Wu Hao (Grandview defence) on Russia-Ukraine mediation. |
BIOT Envoy appointment
| 2 Aug 2024 | Met FCDO civil servants to discuss Chagos and received Chagos material — before formal appointment. |
| 6 Sep 2024 | Formally appointed PM’s Special Envoy for BIOT negotiations. “He will begin his role immediately.” BIOT Envoy |
| 19 Sep 2024 | 13 days after BIOT appointment — met Yang Xiyu (China Institute of International Studies, under MFA) and Zhang Tuosheng (former PLA / Chinese embassy defence attaché) in Beijing. While BIOT Envoy |
| 21–22 Sep 2024 | Chaired a Beijing strategic security dialogue with Chinese experts — described as “candid, practical, and in-depth.” While BIOT Envoy |
National Security Adviser
| 2 Dec 2024 | Began work as UK National Security Adviser. NSA |
| 14 Jul 2025 | Met Wang Yi — Politburo member, Director of Central Commission for Foreign Affairs — in Beijing. As NSA |
| 28 Nov 2025 | Met Wang Yi again in Beijing. As NSA |
| 28 Jan 2026 | Met Wang Yi in Beijing. As NSA |
| 23 Mar 2026 | Met Wang Yi in Beijing. As NSA |
Asked to list his external engagements while in the “BIOT envoy” role, the government said: “Mr Powell was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy in early August 2024. All activities undertaken by him in that role were conducted appropriately and in line with established procedures.” Blocked…
Asked about whether the Chagos Islands were discussed with Chinese officials at a meeting in mid-2025, the government said: “The National Security Adviser meets with a range of individuals and organisations as part of his role providing advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on national security matters. Such meetings are often sensitive in nature, and the Government does not routinely comment on them or their content.” Blocked…
Asked what interests Powell declared, the government said: “There are established mechanisms in place for the management of interests. In line with long-standing practice, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not comment on individual cases.” Blocked…
These are the same arguments advanced by the government in the wake of questions about Peter Mandelson. Whose vetting process was, it has emerged, anything but standard…
An enterprising MP on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee may wish to ask Sir Philip Barton or Morgan McSweeney about Jonathan Powell’s security and vetting arrangements at their respective appearances tomorrow. Can’t hide forever…
Red Wall Labour backbencher Jonathan Brash told GB News that Starmer should resign:
“I’m completely fed up about it, and I think it’s got to the point now where I genuinely think that, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it’s not a case of if, it’s when.”