The prime minister has cut the total number of special advisers across Whitehall from 95 to 83 and the pay bill has also fallen by # 500,000 from # 8.4 million to # 7.9 million a year, according to the government figures. (totalpolitics.com)
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Bernard Jenkin said the change had echoes of Tony Blair's decision to allow a small number of special advisers — including Alastair Campbell — to give instructions to officials. (totalpolitics.com)
This is a sensitive matter: the Tories have attacked Labour over their number of special advisers — about 70. (independent.co.uk)