A so-called international Machiavellian man of mystery

In a statement on July 28, 2025 a spokesperson for Comhairle Uladh (Ulster Executive), Sinn Féin Poblachtach said: “It was reported in July that the British Conservative Party had demanded an inquiry, accusing Jonathan Powell, prime minister Keir Starmer’s National Security Adviser, of running secret diplomatic back channels to ‘terrorists’ using his own taxpayer-funded team of ‘outsourced spies and spooks’.

“Alex Burghart, Tory Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Shadow Secretary of State for Occupied Ireland lambasted Jonathan Powell over secret taxpayer-funded talks with so-called rogue states and using his private outfit (charity) to run back channels to reputed terrorist groups.

“Jonathan Powell’s tenure as Chief of Staff for Tony Blair from 1997 to 2007 was marked by significant controversy, especially in 2003 when his fingerprints were all over the infamous dodgy dossier which helped to propel Britain into war. This dodgy dossier contained lies that described Iraq as having weapons of mass destruction, turning out to be non-existent. He also faced severe criticism over asking a security chief to make changes to a draft version of the dossier.

“Sinn Féin Poblachtach has highlighted that Powell’s Machiavellian behaviour led to him being has been written into the international history books as the key architect of the so-called 1998 Good Friday [Stormont] Agreement and much more. Republicans should never forget Powell’s role as a speech writer, crafting surrender deals as well as being an adviser to Gerry Adams and the Provisionals, when Adams et al agreed to further sell out the ideals of 1916 and the formation of a 32 all-Ireland socialist republic.

Since Jonathan Powell’s departure from Occupied Ireland, he has used his time and experience to his own advantage. By all accounts, he set up a charity called Inter-Mediate in 2010 and according to the Daily Mail, it receives funding from the British Foreign Office for making contact with so called non-state armed groups and is understood to have brokered the British deal with Syria which led to the re-establishment of diplomatic relations earlier this month. It is also said that Inter-Mediate operates an office inside the Syria’s presidential palace.

“Other media sources have said that British Government spending records show that Inter-Mediate is bankrolled by the British Labour government to provide back channels to ‘non-state armed groups’ due to its high-level access to political elites. The accounts, published in January, put its total income for the year to March 2024 at £2.96 million with the highest paid staff member – presumed to be Mr Powell – earning between £190,000 and £200,000.

“Jonathan Powell’s role in the British takeover of the Provisionals has made him wealthy while the fallout of the failed Stormont Agreement in Occupied Ireland has put those living in absolute poverty, before housing costs at about 15% which affect approximately 291,000 people. Today, Jonathan Powell has moved on and forged a quasi-political career and is now chairman of the British Joint Intelligence Committee — the body which analyses intelligence from MI5, MI6 and the Crown’s military.”

PRO
Comhairle Uladh (Ulster Executive),
Sinn Féin Poblachtach

CRÍOCH/ENDS

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