Difference between revisions of "Special Adviser"
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A '''Special Adviser''' works in a supporting role to the British government. With media, political or policy expertise, their duty is to assist and advise government ministers. Commonly referred to as '''SPADs''', Special Advisers are criticised for using their privileged position in central government to be parachuted into local constituencies as candidates, and get themselves elected as Members of Parliament. | A '''Special Adviser''' works in a supporting role to the British government. With media, political or policy expertise, their duty is to assist and advise government ministers. Commonly referred to as '''SPADs''', Special Advisers are criticised for using their privileged position in central government to be parachuted into local constituencies as candidates, and get themselves elected as Members of Parliament. | ||
− | Special Advisers are paid by central government and are styled as so-called "temporary civil servants" appointed under Article 3 of the Civil Service Order in Council 1995.<ref> | + | Special Advisers are paid by central government and are styled as so-called "temporary civil servants" appointed under Article 3 of the Civil Service Order in Council 1995.<ref>http://www.civilservicecommissioners.org/web-resources/resources/a6831c096d4.pdf</ref> They contrast with "permanent" civil servants in the respect that they are political appointees whose loyalties are claimed by the governing party and often particular ministers with whom they have a close relationship. For this reason, advisers may resign when a General Election is called to campaign on behalf of their party.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20080214070450/http://www.red-star-research.org.uk/subframe4.html </ref> Special Advisers have sometimes been criticised for engaging in advocacy while still on the government payroll or switching directly between lobbying roles and the Special Adviser role.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1397040/Advisers-move-to-lobby-firm-attacked.htm</ref> |
==Code of conduct== | ==Code of conduct== | ||
Special Advisers are governed by a code of conduct which goes some way to defining their role and delineates relations with the permanent civil service, contact with the media and relationship with the governing party, inter alia: | Special Advisers are governed by a code of conduct which goes some way to defining their role and delineates relations with the permanent civil service, contact with the media and relationship with the governing party, inter alia: | ||
− | {{cquote|the employment of Special Advisers adds a political dimension to the advice and assistance available to Ministers while reinforcing the political impartiality of the permanent Civil Service by distinguishing the source of political advice and support [...] Special Advisers are employed to help Ministers on matters where the work of Government and the work of the Government Party overlap and where it would be inappropriate for permanent civil servants to become involved. They are an additional resource for the Minister providing assistance from a standpoint that is more politically committed and politically aware than would be available to a Minister from the permanent Civil Service.<ref > | + | {{cquote|the employment of Special Advisers adds a political dimension to the advice and assistance available to Ministers while reinforcing the political impartiality of the permanent Civil Service by distinguishing the source of political advice and support [...] Special Advisers are employed to help Ministers on matters where the work of Government and the work of the Government Party overlap and where it would be inappropriate for permanent civil servants to become involved. They are an additional resource for the Minister providing assistance from a standpoint that is more politically committed and politically aware than would be available to a Minister from the permanent Civil Service.<ref >http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/special_advisers/code/code.aspx</ref>}} |
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The rules for their appointment, and status in relation to ministers, are set out in the Ministerial Code. | The rules for their appointment, and status in relation to ministers, are set out in the Ministerial Code. | ||
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==Number and cost of SPADs== | ==Number and cost of SPADs== | ||
− | There is no legal limit on the number of Special Advisers, although the current total is less than it was under [[Tony Blair]]. The government had previously accepted calls, made in 2000 by the Neill Committee on Standards in Public Life, for such a legal cap. By 2002, however, the government had altered its position, saying in response to the Wicks Committee report on standards in public life that "the Government does not believe that the issue of special advisers can be considered as a numerical issue. The issue is about being transparent about accountability, roles and responsibilities and numbers".<ref> | + | There is no legal limit on the number of Special Advisers, although the current total is less than it was under [[Tony Blair]]. The government had previously accepted calls, made in 2000 by the Neill Committee on Standards in Public Life, for such a legal cap. By 2002, however, the government had altered its position, saying in response to the Wicks Committee report on standards in public life that "the Government does not believe that the issue of special advisers can be considered as a numerical issue. The issue is about being transparent about accountability, roles and responsibilities and numbers".<ref>http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/research/briefings/snpc-03813.pdf</ref> At the last full reporting the government had 68 such personnel in its employment, 18 of whom worked in 10 Downing Street.<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm071122/wmstext/71122m0002.htm#07112240000024 Numbers and Cost of Special Advisers], written statement by Gordon Brown, 22 Nov 2007 : Column 147WS, Hansard</ref> Special Advisers may be paid up to £142,668. Before his resignation [[Andy Coulson]] was the highest paid Special Adviser with a salary of £140,000.<ref>http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20101110123628/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/statements/wms-special-advisers.aspx</ref> The total cost of special advisers in 2006–07 was £5.9 million. |
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==Recent special advisers== | ==Recent special advisers== | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Johnson ministry (2019)=== | ||
+ | *[[Rosie Bate-Williams]] | ||
+ | *[[Nikki Da Costa]] | ||
+ | *[[Jack Doyle]] | ||
+ | *[[David Frost]] | ||
+ | *[[Alex Hickman]] | ||
+ | *[[Clare King]] | ||
+ | *[[Oliver Lewis]] | ||
+ | *[[Sir Edward Lister]] | ||
+ | *[[Munira Mirza]] | ||
+ | *[[Dan Rosenfield]] | ||
+ | *[[Allegra Stratton]] | ||
+ | *[[Ben Warner]] | ||
+ | *[[Liam Booth-Smith]] | ||
+ | *[[Michael Webb]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===May ministry (2017)=== | ||
+ | *[[Danny Kruger]] | ||
+ | *[[James Slack]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Second Cameron ministry (2015)=== | ||
+ | *[[Fiona Hill]] | ||
+ | *[[Neil O’Brien]] | ||
+ | *[[Nick Timothy]] | ||
+ | |||
===First Cameron ministry (May 2010)=== | ===First Cameron ministry (May 2010)=== | ||
====Office of the Prime Minister==== | ====Office of the Prime Minister==== | ||
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| Gabby Bertin || Press Secretary | | Gabby Bertin || Press Secretary | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Liz Sugg || Head of Operations and Events | + | | [[Liz Sugg]] || Head of Operations and Events |
|- | |- | ||
| Andrew Dunlop || Adviser on Scotland | | Andrew Dunlop || Adviser on Scotland | ||
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| [[Shaun Bailey]] || Adviser on Youth and Crime | | [[Shaun Bailey]] || Adviser on Youth and Crime | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Laura Trott || Adviser on Women | + | | [[Laura Trott]] || Adviser on Women |
|- | |- | ||
| Isabel Spearman || Personal assistant to the Wife of the Prime Minister ([[Samantha Cameron]]) | | Isabel Spearman || Personal assistant to the Wife of the Prime Minister ([[Samantha Cameron]]) | ||
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'''Chancellor of the Exchequer, Second Lord to the Treasury''' | '''Chancellor of the Exchequer, Second Lord to the Treasury''' | ||
*[[Rupert Harrison]] | *[[Rupert Harrison]] | ||
− | *[[Neil O'Brien]]<ref> | + | *[[Neil O'Brien]]<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9715414/George-Osborne-hires-thinktank-chief-who-said-the-Tories-had-to-win-the-North.html</ref> |
*[[Ramesh Chhabra]] | *[[Ramesh Chhabra]] | ||
− | *Thea Rogers<ref> | + | *Thea Rogers<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9685463/George-Osborne-loses-his-gatekeeper-as-love-blossoms.html </ref> |
*[[Poppy Mitchell-Rose]] | *[[Poppy Mitchell-Rose]] | ||
*Eleanor Shawcross | *Eleanor Shawcross | ||
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'''Secretary of State for the Home Department''' | '''Secretary of State for the Home Department''' | ||
− | *Fiona Cunningham (resigned June 2014)<ref> | + | *Fiona Cunningham (resigned June 2014)<ref>http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/07/cameron-gove-may-extremism-row </ref> |
*Nick Timothy | *Nick Timothy | ||
Latest revision as of 13:25, 7 September 2021
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A Special Adviser works in a supporting role to the British government. Quite a few deep state operatives. |
A Special Adviser works in a supporting role to the British government. With media, political or policy expertise, their duty is to assist and advise government ministers. Commonly referred to as SPADs, Special Advisers are criticised for using their privileged position in central government to be parachuted into local constituencies as candidates, and get themselves elected as Members of Parliament.
Special Advisers are paid by central government and are styled as so-called "temporary civil servants" appointed under Article 3 of the Civil Service Order in Council 1995.[1] They contrast with "permanent" civil servants in the respect that they are political appointees whose loyalties are claimed by the governing party and often particular ministers with whom they have a close relationship. For this reason, advisers may resign when a General Election is called to campaign on behalf of their party.[2] Special Advisers have sometimes been criticised for engaging in advocacy while still on the government payroll or switching directly between lobbying roles and the Special Adviser role.[3]
Contents
- 1 Code of conduct
- 2 Former Special Advisers
- 3 Number and cost of SPADs
- 4 Recent special advisers
- 5 References
- 6 External links
Code of conduct
Special Advisers are governed by a code of conduct which goes some way to defining their role and delineates relations with the permanent civil service, contact with the media and relationship with the governing party, inter alia:
“ | the employment of Special Advisers adds a political dimension to the advice and assistance available to Ministers while reinforcing the political impartiality of the permanent Civil Service by distinguishing the source of political advice and support [...] Special Advisers are employed to help Ministers on matters where the work of Government and the work of the Government Party overlap and where it would be inappropriate for permanent civil servants to become involved. They are an additional resource for the Minister providing assistance from a standpoint that is more politically committed and politically aware than would be available to a Minister from the permanent Civil Service.[4] | ” |
The rules for their appointment, and status in relation to ministers, are set out in the Ministerial Code.
Former Special Advisers
Some former Special Advisers, such as Ed Balls, James Purnell, Ed Miliband and David Miliband, go on to become Members of Parliament or, like Lady Vadera, are given a peerage in order that they may take up a ministerial post. A large number have also gone on to accept lucrative jobs in the private sector. Other famous Special Advisers include former Director of Communications and Strategy Alastair Campbell and Jo Moore, who was embroiled in scandal while working as a SPAD to the Secretary of State Transport, Local Government and the Regions Stephen Byers.
Number and cost of SPADs
There is no legal limit on the number of Special Advisers, although the current total is less than it was under Tony Blair. The government had previously accepted calls, made in 2000 by the Neill Committee on Standards in Public Life, for such a legal cap. By 2002, however, the government had altered its position, saying in response to the Wicks Committee report on standards in public life that "the Government does not believe that the issue of special advisers can be considered as a numerical issue. The issue is about being transparent about accountability, roles and responsibilities and numbers".[5] At the last full reporting the government had 68 such personnel in its employment, 18 of whom worked in 10 Downing Street.[6] Special Advisers may be paid up to £142,668. Before his resignation Andy Coulson was the highest paid Special Adviser with a salary of £140,000.[7] The total cost of special advisers in 2006–07 was £5.9 million.
Recent special advisers
Johnson ministry (2019)
- Rosie Bate-Williams
- Nikki Da Costa
- Jack Doyle
- David Frost
- Alex Hickman
- Clare King
- Oliver Lewis
- Sir Edward Lister
- Munira Mirza
- Dan Rosenfield
- Allegra Stratton
- Ben Warner
- Liam Booth-Smith
- Michael Webb
May ministry (2017)
Second Cameron ministry (2015)
First Cameron ministry (May 2010)
Office of the Prime Minister
Special Adviser | Role |
---|---|
Edward Llewellyn | Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister |
Kate Fall | Deputy Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister |
Oliver Dowden | Deputy Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister |
Andrew Cooper | Director of Strategy to the Prime Minister |
Craig Oliver | Director of Communications to the Prime Minister |
Clare Foges | Chief Speech-writer |
Gabby Bertin | Press Secretary |
Liz Sugg | Head of Operations and Events |
Andrew Dunlop | Adviser on Scotland |
Rohan Silva | Senior Adviser on Policy |
Ameet Gill | Head of Strategic Communications |
Michael Salter | Adviser on Broadcasting |
Ramsay Jones | Adviser on Scotland |
Alan Sendorek | Press Officer |
Shaun Bailey | Adviser on Youth and Crime |
Laura Trott | Adviser on Women |
Isabel Spearman | Personal assistant to the Wife of the Prime Minister (Samantha Cameron) |
Alex Dawson | Policy Researcher |
Former Special Advisers to David Cameron:
Special Adviser | Role | ||
---|---|---|---|
Andy Coulson | Director of Communications to the Prime Minister | resigned in 2011, later convicted in News International phone hacking scandal | replaced by Craig Oliver |
Steve Hilton | Adviser on Strategy | left in 2012 for Stanford University | |
Henry Macrory | Adviser on Press | left in 2011 to join CCHQ as deputy political director | |
James O'Shaughnessy | Director of Policy | left in 2011 to join Portland Communications and Policy Exchange | |
Tim Chatwin | Head of Strategic Communications | left in 2011 to join Google | replaced by Ameet Gill |
Gavin Lockhart-Mirams | Adviser on Policy | Left in 2011 to set up Crest Advisory | |
Peter Campbell | Researcher and Briefer for Questions to the Prime Minister | left in 2011 | |
Sean Worth | Adviser on Policy | left in 2012 to join Policy Exchange | |
Patrick Rock | Adviser on Policy | left in 2014 after arrest |
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Special Adviser | Role | |
---|---|---|
Jonny Oates | Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister | |
Joanne Foster | Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister | |
Ryan Coetzee | Director of Strategy | replaced Richard Reeves |
Neil Sherlock | Director of Government Relations to the Deputy PM | |
James McGrory | Advisor on Press | |
Julian Astle | Adviser on Policy | |
Olly Grender | Director of Communications to the Deputy PM | replaced Lena Pietsch |
Sean Kemp | ||
Tim Colbourne | ||
Monica Allen | Special Adviser |
Other Cabinet Ministers
First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
- Arminka Helic
- Chloe Dalton
- Denzil Davidson
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Second Lord to the Treasury
- Rupert Harrison
- Neil O'Brien[8]
- Ramesh Chhabra
- Thea Rogers[9]
- Poppy Mitchell-Rose
- Eleanor Shawcross
Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice
- David Hass
- Kathryn Laing
Secretary of State for the Home Department
- Fiona Cunningham (resigned June 2014)[10]
- Nick Timothy
Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
- Emily Walch
- Giles Wilkes
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
- Phillipa Stroud
- Lizzie Loudon
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
- Chris Nicholson
- Katie Waring
Secretary of State for Education
- Dominic Cummings (Announced resignation in October 2013)[11]
- Henry de Zoete
Chief Whip (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury)
- Ben Williams
The Cabinet Office released a full list of special advisers as of 10 June 2010 but because of subsequent ministerial resignations and appointments this is already out of date
Gordon Brown ministry (June 2007–May 2010)
Office of the Prime Minister
- Dan Corry – Head of Policy Unit
- Gavin Kelly – Deputy Chief of Staff
- David Muir – Director of Political Strategy
- Sue Nye – Director of Government Relations
- Spencer Livermore – Director of Strategy
- Justin Forsyth – adviser to the Prime Minister on political press issues
- Brendan Cox – adviser to the Prime Minister on international development
- Kirsty McNeill – adviser to the Prime Minister on stakeholder management, equalities, faith, non-traditional communications and political speechwriting
- Joe Irvin – Political Secretary to the Prime Minister
- Jo Cox – Personal assistant to the Wife of the Prime Minister (Sarah Brown)
Other ministers
Gordon Brown released a full list of special advisers as of 22 November 2007.
New Labour SPADs
From 1997, the GMB union chronicled a large number of Labour SPADs when there were no explicit ground rules to stop them moving quickly into corporate roles where there may be a potential conflict of interest. In summary, being a Special Adviser is a win–win situation for those being recruited by Ministers:
- John Adams
- Tim Allan
- Ian Anderson
- Lisa Barclay
- Tom Bentley
- James Cornford
- Dan Corry
- Kate Davies
- Julian Eccles
- Bernard Gray
- Tony Grayling
- Robert Hill
- Andrew Hood
- Anji Hunter
- Elsbeth Johnson
- Andrew Lappin
- John Newbiggin
- Ed Owen
- Huw Roberts
- Kieran Simpson
- Simon Stevens
- Sophie Linden
- Cathy McGlynn
- David Mepham
- Geoff Mulgan
- Darren Murphy
- Justin Russell
- Derek Scott
- Owen Smith
- Dee Sullivan
- David Taylor
- Christopher Wales
- Tim Walker
- Nigel Warner
- David Whitton
- Gareth Williams[12]
References
- ↑ http://www.civilservicecommissioners.org/web-resources/resources/a6831c096d4.pdf
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20080214070450/http://www.red-star-research.org.uk/subframe4.html
- ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1397040/Advisers-move-to-lobby-firm-attacked.htm
- ↑ http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/special_advisers/code/code.aspx
- ↑ http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/research/briefings/snpc-03813.pdf
- ↑ Numbers and Cost of Special Advisers, written statement by Gordon Brown, 22 Nov 2007 : Column 147WS, Hansard
- ↑ http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20101110123628/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/statements/wms-special-advisers.aspx
- ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9715414/George-Osborne-hires-thinktank-chief-who-said-the-Tories-had-to-win-the-North.html
- ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9685463/George-Osborne-loses-his-gatekeeper-as-love-blossoms.html
- ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/07/cameron-gove-may-extremism-row
- ↑ Garner, Richard and Cusick, J (Oct 2013). "Michael Gove's controversial adviser Dominic Cummings 'quits to open new free school'", The Independent, 7 October 2013. Accessed 26 June 2014
- ↑ "Where are they now? The 1997/1998 Special Advisers to the Labour Government"
External links
- [1] Special Adviser data releases
- [2] Special Advisers guidance
- Special advisers – House of Commons Library research note SN/PC/03813, Oonagh Gay, Last updated 26 November 2007
- Special Advisers at 16 July 2009 – Written Ministerial Statements, Commons Hansard, UK Parliament
- Special Advisers at 22 July 2008 – Written Ministerial Statements, Commons Hansard, UK Parliament
- Special Advisers at 22 November 2007 – Written Ministerial Statements, Commons Hansard, UK Parliament
- Special Advisers at 24 July 2006 – Written Ministerial Statements, Commons Hansard, UK Parliament
- Special Advisers at 21 July 2005 – Written Ministerial Statements, Commons Hansard, UK Parliament
- Special Advisers at 19 July 2004 – Written Ministerial Statements, Lords Hansard, UK Parliament
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