Starmer cancels appointment of Gwyn Jenkins as national security adviser

Exclusive: PM's decision seen by some in Whitehall as precursor for role going to more politically loyal candidate

Keir Starmer has cancelled the appointment of one of Britain's top generals as the national security adviser, in a move that senior civil servants fear is designed to pave the way for a more politically loyal candidate.

The prime minister has overturned the decision made in April by his predecessor, Rishi Sunak, to appoint Gwyn Jenkins, then the vice-chief of the armed forces, to the most senior security position in the government, officials have said.