Articles tagged with: Special advisers
More, better-paid spads is not just good for ministers; it's good for civil servants
14 Nov 2024 HR
More, better-paid spads is not just good for ministers; it's good for civil servants
Far from being a "necessary evil", special advisers and other political appointees are a crucial part of the machine
Think tank calls for 'significant' hike in spad numbers – plus higher pay
13 Nov 2024 Civil Service Reform
Think tank calls for 'significant' hike in spad numbers – plus higher pay
Francis Maude's "extended ministerial offices" should also be revived, Reform report says
After Starmer's No.10 shakeup, what can Whitehall history tell us about running a successful private office?
14 Oct 2024 HR
After Starmer's No.10 shakeup, what can Whitehall history tell us about running a successful private office?
As a new set of ministers get used to government, their private secretaries will be crucial in helping them find their feet. Historian and former senior official Alun Evans discusses the changing role of private offices
Spads join civil service union and raise pay concerns
10 Sep 2024 HR
Spads join civil service union and raise pay concerns
Special advisers in new Labour government reportedly unhappy with pay levels
Glen urges Civil Service Commission to investigate alleged 'cash for jobs' appointments
19 Aug 2024 HR
Glen urges Civil Service Commission to investigate alleged 'cash for jobs' appointments
Ex-minister asks appointments watchdog to investigate four SCS hires of people who have worked for the Labour Party
Seven things you need to know about special advisers
26 Jul 2024 HR
Seven things you need to know about special advisers
From gruelling interviews to brutal exits, former spads share their experiences
Blaming the 'technocracy' and hiring more spads isn't the solution to political failure
18 Jul 2024 Civil Service Reform
Blaming the 'technocracy' and hiring more spads isn't the solution to political failure
Policy Exchange has shared some bold ideas for reforming the civil service – but what this government needs is clear policy, not ministers messing with recruitment
Cut senior civil service by 40%, boost pay and hire more spads, think tank says
15 Jul 2024 Civil Service Reform
Cut senior civil service by 40%, boost pay and hire more spads, think tank says
Policy Exchange report calls for radical changes, saying power has "leached away from ministers" as civil service has grown
'Trying not to overburden them will help': How civil servants can work effectively with new spads
03 Jul 2024 HR
'Trying not to overburden them will help': How civil servants can work effectively with new spads
The relationship between spads and civil servants is often caricatured, but it's a vital partnership
'Spads were often a problem to be overcome': Former ministers on working with No.10
31 Aug 2023 Policy
'Spads were often a problem to be overcome': Former ministers on working with No.10
Every minister wants to have the ear of the prime minister – but getting close to "the centre" is no simple feat
Keegan’s special adviser takes senior policy role in DfE
09 Aug 2023 Education
Keegan’s special adviser takes senior policy role in DfE
Rory Gribbell leaves political role and returns to civil service, where he will serve as senior policy adviser in the Department for Education
Consultants should be made to declare lobbying of spads, MPs told
16 Nov 2022 Commercial
Consultants should be made to declare lobbying of spads, MPs told
Departments also urged to up their game on transparency surrounding perm sec and ministerial meetings
Gove used non-execs ‘almost like spads and ministers’, MPs told
14 Nov 2022 HR
Gove used non-execs ‘almost like spads and ministers’, MPs told
Former government lead NED and ex-DCMS perm sec offer inside take on use of non-executive directors
Don't pick a fight with the Treasury, ex-spad tells Truss
22 Sep 2022 HR
Don't pick a fight with the Treasury, ex-spad tells Truss
Tom Scholar's sacking risks looking like "petty recrimination", former special adviser Salma Shah warns
Northern Ireland crackdown on special advisers set to become law
03 Feb 2021 Energy & Environment
Northern Ireland crackdown on special advisers set to become law
Executive Office spad numbers will be cut to six, salaries capped at £90k and advisers subject to the same disciplinary rules as civil servants
Plans to cut spad numbers in Northern Ireland move forward
20 Jan 2021 HR
Plans to cut spad numbers in Northern Ireland move forward
Bill that would also make advisers subject to the same disciplinary code as civil servants moves to next stage
PM overruled civil service chief on settlement for spad sacked by Cummings
16 Dec 2020 HR
PM overruled civil service chief on settlement for spad sacked by Cummings
Ministerial direction letters reveal Manzoni advised Boris Johnson to negotiate with Sonia Khan
Boris Johnson's spad reforms 'disempowering ministers and weakening government'
22 Oct 2020 HR
Boris Johnson's spad reforms 'disempowering ministers and weakening government'
IfG calls for No.10 to relinquish some power over hiring and firing, and for increased scrutiny of high-profile advisers
Call for inquiry into Dominic Cummings’s centralisation of special advisers
25 Jun 2020 HR
Call for inquiry into Dominic Cummings’s centralisation of special advisers
Letter to PACAC comes as PM’s senior adviser hints at “hard rain coming” for civil service
Cutting special adviser numbers could hinder effective government, NICS head says
15 Jun 2020 HR
Cutting special adviser numbers could hinder effective government, NICS head says

Timing of measure "would be detrimental to the efficient conduct and continuity of business", David Sterling warns
Living in the dark: the truth about special advisers
03 Jun 2020 HR
Living in the dark: the truth about special advisers

Shaped by several high-profile instances where the adviser became the story, the public image of spads is largely negative. But have a few notable characters distorted the reality of those who work behind the scenes? Sebastian Whale investigates
Buried Treasury? What changes to the chancellor’s special advisers mean for officials
11 Mar 2020 HR
Buried Treasury? What changes to the chancellor’s special advisers mean for officials

Plans to merge the Treasury and No.10 teams of political advisers have led to questions about where power lies in the centre of government. Richard Johnstone seeks answers
No.10 accused of using special advisers to circumvent civil service recruitment rules as job website launches
28 Feb 2020 Civil Service Reform
No.10 accused of using special advisers to circumvent civil service recruitment rules as job website launches

FDA union says divorcing spads from ministers means the role essentially becomes a policy adviser recruited outside impartiality rules
Dominic Cummings’ salary revealed as spending on special advisers rises
23 Dec 2019 HR
Dominic Cummings’ salary revealed as spending on special advisers rises

Number of SpAds passes 100 under Boris Johnson