Newly-elected PM David Cameron, in one of his first decisions, set up a National Security Council to oversee all aspects of Britain’s security.
The council, which will coordinate responses to the dangers faced by the United Kingdom, will be chaired by Mr Cameron and permanent members of the council will be deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, chancellor Peter Osborne, foreign secretary William Hague, home secretary Teresa May, defence secretary Liam Fox, and the international development secretary and security minister. The chief of the defence staff, heads of intelligence agencies and other senior officials will also attend as required.
Sir Peter Ricketts, permanent undersecretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has been appointed the national security adviser.
He will set up the new National Security Council structures, and coordinate and deliver the government’s international security agenda.
The inaugural meeting of the council will be chaired by Mr Cameron on Wednesday afternoon after he finishes the Cabinet appointments.
The council will discuss the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and review the terrorist threat to the UK.
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Miliband to run for top Labour post
AGE CORRESPONDENT
London
Former foreign secretary David Miliband, 44, got a major boost to his candidacy for the post of Labour leader when his former Cabinet colleague Alan Johnson on Wednesday ruled himself out as a contender and supported him in the upcoming contest to succeed Gordon Brown.
Mr Miliband announced his intention to run for the post of the leader of the Labour party outside Palace of Westminster at 5.15 pm after the meeting of the Labour parliamentary party. “I will be standing with a deep sense of humility at the responsibility attached to the post, but also great, great passion for the values and beliefs that led me into the Labour party 27 years ago,” Mr Miliband said.
Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman was named as acting leader just after Mr Brown resigned. Ms Harman too has ruled out running for the top party post.