Special adviser change under fire

The role of special advisers under New Labour remains controversial

Ministers are under fire from the standards watchdog for secretly changing the law governing special advisers without telling Parliament.

Committee on Standards in Public Life chairman Sir Alistair Graham says he is "dismayed" at the change to the civil service order by the Privy Council.

The effect of the 22 June move will not be clear until the revised code for special advisers is published.

The government defended the move which it said it made public on 5 July.

'Disappointed'

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "Sir Alistair was informed in advance that the government planned to publish a revised code of conduct incorporating the amendment immediately before recess," a Cabinet Office spokesman said.

"The change is in line with a recommendation made by the Public Administration Select Committee."

It is quite an extraordinary situation when the Committee on Standards in Public Life feels it must deliver such a stinging rebuke Chris Grayling Conservative spokesman

Sir Alistair says he fears the change will be used to give advisers greater powers over civil servants.

"I am very disappointed that the government has chosen to make changes to the legislation governing the role of special advisers using prerogative powers without any proper parliamentary and public debate on an issue which has been of clear concern to the public, Parliament and media for some time," he said.

"On this important constitutional matter not only has the government not consulted Parliament, it has chosen not to tell them about the changes.

"Even if the intention is not to extend special advisers' powers the manner in which the changes have been made could lead to this very perception and consequently a loss of trust in the machinery of government."

Integrity compromised?

Tory shadow Commons leader Chris Grayling said Labour's use of special advisers had compromised the integrity of the civil service and created a powerful coterie of party appointees who had a corrupting influence.

"It is quite an extraordinary situation when the Committee on Standards in Public Life feels it must deliver such a stinging rebuke on the government of the day," he said.

Civil service union leader Jonathan Baume said the rule change was "bizarre" and could have been made through open debate.

Mr Baume, general secretary of the First Division Association of senior civil servants, said the change would have been handled more democratically if there was a Civil Service Act.

Such a law would make the role of special advisers clearer, he argued.

Mr Baume added: "The legislation redefining the role of special advisers will not change the world.

"It simply confirms that the role of special advisers has gradually changed over a lengthy period and this is not encompassed by describing it as 'advice'.

"For instance, when a special adviser briefs a journalist, does that really fall under the definition of 'advice'?"