The Architect Returns: Jonathan Powell and the Unfinished Business of Northern Ireland

As the Government shoves through new Northern Ireland legacy legislation, many veterans, victims’ families, and ordinary people are watching this with a mix of anger and fatigue — and they’re not getting straight answers.In today’s podcast, we examine one operator and his approach — Jonathan Powell — and what that approach produces in the real world.Powell, who was Tony Blair’s Chief of Staff from 1994 to 2007 and one of the architects of the negotiations with the IRA to end the armed insurrection, is now national security advisor to No.10Powell positions himself as a contemporary interpreter of Machiavelli, both in title and intent, rather than leaving the parallel to others.?In fact, his book is literally titled The New Machiavelli, which is marketed as a modern reworking or counterpart to Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince for today’s political leaders.Our guest today is former Para Lt. Col Simon Barry, who served in Northern Ireland, has been tracking the legislation closely. He has strong views on where it’s heading, what it means for those who served and those who suffered, and on Powell’s role in it all.