No 10 defends choice of political adviser for key national security role

Downing Street has defended the appointment of Boris Johnson’ chief EU negotiator to the key post of national security adviser (NSA).

The Prime Minister faced criticism that unlike previous holders of the post, David Frost is a political adviser rather than a career civil servant, and lacks security experience.

He will replace Sir Mark Sedwill, who is also stepping down as Cabinet Secretary and head of the Civil Service, amid reports of clashes with Mr Johnson’s chief adviser, Dominic Cummings.

The former cabinet secretary Lord O’Donnell warned that political appointees were more likely to be “yes-men” – telling ministers what they wanted to hear rather than “speaking truth to power”.

“I’m worried about the appointment of David Frost as national security adviser because I’m not quite sure how putting a special adviser in that role works,” he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

Downing Street, however, insisted such appointments were not unusual in other countries and that Mr Frost – who has the status of an ambassador – had spent 25 years as a diplomat in the Foreign Office before leaving in 2013.

“The appointment of the NSA is always a decision for the Prime Minister,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

“It is not unusual in other countries for ambassadors to serve as national security advisers and ambassadors can be political appointees. David Frost has the status of an ambassador.

“The First Civil Service Commissioner has agreed the appointment. That is consistent with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act.”

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson sought to play down claims that Sir Mark’s position had been undermined by a series of hostile press briefings.

Mr Cummings was reported to have been unimpressed by the response of the Cabinet Office to the coronavirus outbreak, telling aides a “hard rain is coming” for the Civil Service.

Speaking during a visit to a school in west London, Mr Johnson insisted that Sir Mark – who will continue to be involved in the preparations for the UK taking on the presidency of the G7 next year – still had “a lot to offer”.

He sought to play down claims that he had been deliberately undermined through hostile press briefings, making his position impossible.

“I try not to read too much of the negative briefing,” he said.

“There is an awful lot of stuff that comes out in the papers to which I wouldn’t automatically attach the utmost credence.”

However, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that it was “obvious” that the Prime Minister was determined to get rid of Sir Mark.

“Why you do so in the middle of a pandemic and a crisis instead of actually focusing on the crisis, is a question the Prime Minister needs to answer,” he told Sky News.

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson’s spokesman confirmed that Mr Frost – who is to be made a life peer with a seat in the Lords – would not be replaced as EU negotiator when he takes over as national security adviser at the end of August.

“It (the post) will cease to exist once the talks with the EU have concluded one way or another later this year,” the spokesman said.

“We have been clear on a number of occasions that these talks shouldn’t drag on and that we want and need them to concluded by the autumn.”

The move was seen as an attempt to put further pressure on the EU to come to an agreement in talks on a post-Brexit trade deal which resumed in Brussels on Monday.

It marked the first time the two sides have met face-to-face since the coronavirus forced them to move to a series of online negotiations.

Mr Johnson meanwhile dismissed suggestions that he was now seeking a committed Brexiteer to take over as Cabinet Secretary.

“Who knows what his or her views will be?” he said.

“The great thing about the Civil Service is that nobody should know, least of all me.”