Theresa May Questions PM’s Choice Of Next National Security Adviser

Theresa May has publicly challenged Boris Johnson’s choice of next national security adviser (NSA).

The current NSA, Sir Mark Sedwill is standing down in September and will be replaced by chief Brexit negotiator David Frost.

The choice has prompted criticism from diplomatic and security circles, including the former Prime Minister.

Speaking in the Commons, Mrs May attacked the move to select Mr Frost, who she said has “no proven expertise” in the field.

Questioning Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove about the appointment, she said: “I served on the National Security Council for nine years – six years as Home Secretary and three as Prime Minister.

“During that time, I listened to the expert independent advice from national security advisers.

“On Saturday, my Right Honourable Friend (Mr Gove) said: ‘We must be able to promote those with proven expertise.’

“Why then is the new national security adviser a political appointee with no proven expertise in national security?”

Sir Mark had been appointed as NSA when Mrs May was PM and had previously been at the Home Office when she was Home Secretary.

His relationship with Number 10 has been under the spotlight for months, amid rumours he was being briefed against, that Boris Johnson’s top aide Dominic Cummings wanted him out.

Labour Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “Independent, impartial, specialist advice on national security is crucial. Prime Ministers come and go, but security threats remain and evolve.”

Mr Gove said: “We have had previous national security advisers, all of them excellent, not all of them necessarily people who were steeped in the security world, some of whom were distinguished diplomats in their own right.

“David Frost is a distinguished diplomat in his own right, and it is entirely appropriate that the prime minister of the day should choose an adviser appropriate to the needs of the hour.”

He insisted Mr Frost “is an expert”, given his diplomatic service experience.

Sir Mark announced he was stepping down as National Security Adviser on Saturday.

He will officially leave Government service at the end of September. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised Sir Mark and said he has "done much to keep this country safe".

While Sir Mark Sedwill has been an ambassador to Afghanistan, NATO Senior Civilian Representative and a key player in response to the Novichok poisonings in Salisbury, David Frost has been heading up the latest round of Brexit talks.

Former Director-General of think tank the Royal United Services Institute, Professor Michael Clarke, told Forces News: “All of the previous national security advisers have been in the intelligence services or they’ve been close to the military, one way or another. There’s nothing like that in David Frost’s background.

“He has no real qualifications in the security sphere, he was ambassador to Denmark before he left the Foreign Office and worked for the Scotch Whisky Association.

"Then he came back into government as a Brexiteer, as a committed Brexit negotiator, and he will have going against him the idea that, well he’s been brought in because he’s Boris’ boy.”

Cover image: David Frost.