Former foreign policy adviser to three UK PMs appointed as UN aid chief

Tom Fletcher becomes sixth Briton in a row to take up post despite calls for it to be subject to open competition

A former foreign policy adviser to three prime ministers including Gordon Brown has been appointed to the key post of UN coordinator for humanitarian affairs.

Tom Fletcher is the latest in a line of six UN humanitarian chiefs from the UK. The most recent was Martin Griffiths, who stepped down in the summer.