# National Security Adviser (United Kingdom)

The National Security Adviser (NSA) is a senior official in the Cabinet Office, based in Whitehall, who serves as the principal adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Cabinet of the United Kingdom on all national security issues. The NSA post was created in May 2010 as part of the reforms that also saw the creation of the National Security Council. There have been six holders of the office to date, two of whom served more than three years in the post. Until 2024, the NSA acted as Secretary to the National Security Council, which is chaired by the Prime Minister, and head of the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office. Each National Security Adviser has been supported by at least two Deputy National Security Advisers.

## Responsibilities

The National Security Adviser is the principal official adviser to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on national security matters. These responsibilities have included:
* Providing advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on national security. This includes strategy, policy, capability and civil contingencies.
* Acting as Secretary to the National Security Council.
* Leadership to and management of the national security teams in the Cabinet Office.
* Bringing together the wider national security community across Whitehall and the UK Government's overseas network.
* Cultivating and maintaining a network of international stakeholders as well as contacts with relevant counterparts, businesses, industry and civil society groups.

## List of national security advisers

| # | Name | Term start | Term end | Term length | Prime Minister(s) served | Party |
| 1 | Sir Peter Ricketts | 12 May 2010 | 23 January 2012 | 1 year and 257 days | David Cameron | Conservative |
| 2 | Sir Kim Darroch | 23 January 2012 | 7 September 2015 | 3 years and 228 days | David Cameron | Conservative |
| 3 | Sir Mark Lyall Grant | 7 September 2015 | 13 April 2017 | 1 year and 219 days | David Cameron | Conservative |
| 3 | Sir Mark Lyall Grant | 7 September 2015 | 13 April 2017 | 1 year and 219 days | Theresa May | Conservative |
| 4 | Sir Mark Sedwill | 13 April 2017 | 16 September 2020 | 3 years and 157 days | Theresa May | Conservative |
| 4 | Sir Mark Sedwill | 13 April 2017 | 16 September 2020 | 3 years and 157 days | Boris Johnson | Conservative |
| – | David Quarrey (acting) | 17 September 2020 | 25 March 2021 | 190 days | Boris Johnson | Conservative |
| 5 | Sir Stephen Lovegrove | 24 March 2021 | 13 September 2022 | 1 year and 174 days | Boris Johnson | Conservative |
| 6 | Sir Tim Barrow | 14 September 2022 | 29 November 2024 | 2 years and 81 days | Liz Truss | Conservative |
| 6 | Sir Tim Barrow | 14 September 2022 | 29 November 2024 | 2 years and 81 days | Rishi Sunak | Conservative |
| 6 | Sir Tim Barrow | 14 September 2022 | 29 November 2024 | 2 years and 81 days | Keir Starmer | Labour |
| 7 | Jonathan Powell | 2 December 2024 | Incumbent | 2 days | Keir Starmer | Labour |

## List of deputy national security advisers

Since the creation of the position of National Security Adviser, there have always been at least two deputy national security advisers.
* Julian Miller (2010–2015)
* Olly Robbins (2010–2014)
* Hugh Powell (2013–2016)
* Paddy McGuinness (2014–2018)
* Gwyn Jenkins (2015–2017)
* Christian Turner (2017–2019)
* Richard Moore (2018)
* Madeleine Alessandri (2018–2020)
* David Quarrey (2019–2022)
* Beth Sizeland (2020–2021)
* Alex Ellis (2020–2021)
* Andrew McCosh (2021–2022) (Technology)
* Sarah MacIntosh (2022–2024) (International Affairs)
* Matt Collins (2022–present) (Intelligence, Defence and Security)