PM cancels appointment of Royal Marines general as national security adviser
The Prime Minister has reportedly cancelled the appointment of the top Royal Marines general as the UK's national security adviser.
Rishi Sunak made the decision to appoint General Gwyn Jenkins in the role, but Sir Keir Starmer overturned the move announced by his predecessor.
Gen Jenkins, who was previously vice chief of the defence staff, will be allowed to re-apply for the job, according to The Guardian.
Some senior civil servants fear the move is designed to pave the way for a more politically loyal candidate.
"All senior appointments will be considered in the usual way," a Government spokesperson told the PA news agency:
However, an unnamed official told The Guardian: "[It] looks like another part of the grab for power by Keir Starmer and [his chief of staff] Sue Gray.
"The process to appoint Jenkins was run with full transparency, and there is no good reason to do it all over again."
The appointment of Gen Jenkins was announced in April, with Mr Sunak saying the senior officer had led a "distinguished career in both the military and the heart of government".
After being commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1990, he spent his time as a junior officer in the Commando Logistics Regiment.
He served on operations in Northern Ireland with 42 Commando before being deployed in Afghanistan for 12 months as a colonel - service for which he was awarded an OBE.
After heading back to the UK, he served as the military assistant to the prime minster in Downing Street for two years.
He was then promoted to Brigadier, taking up a 3* civilian appointment in the Cabinet Office as deputy national security adviser for conflict, stability and defence.
In 2017, he moved back into the military, taking command of 3 Commando Brigade, taking part in exercises and deployments across the world.
Gen Jenkins was then promoted to major general in January 2019, a rank he served first in the Royal Navy as the assistant chief of naval staff, subsequently commanding a tri-service organisation.
Three years late, he was selected for the role of vice chief of the defence staff and promoted to general.
In November 2022, he assumed the mantle of Commandant General Royal Marines and became the Commodore of the Royal Navy Sailing Association, Admiral of the Hornet Services Sailing Club and President of the Royal Marines Association.
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