The role of the Special Adviser in the British political system
In the political world, they are know as Spads – short for Special Advisers. They are political appointments by Secretaries of State in Britain’s government.
In the Wilson/Callaghan Governments, I was a Special Adviser in two Departments: the Northern Ireland Office and the Home Office. In the Blair/Brown Governments, my son Richard Darlington was a Spad in two other Departments, Education & Skills and International Development, and my daughter-in-law Emily Thomas, was a Spad in still two other Departments, Business, Innovation & Skills and Treasury.
So, there’s a family connection and I believe that Richard and I are the first father and son to have held this unusual but fascinating role – indeed this fact was picked up by the author of an interesting book on the role of Special Advisers which I have a reviewed here.
A new report by the House of Commons Public Administration Committee has led to Sky News doing an item on Spads today in which Richard has a couple of sound bites. You can view it here.