Special advisers will be allowed to issue instructions to civil servants and get involved in political campaigns under a new code of conduct issued by the government.
The changes have been criticised for giving potential for conflict in Whitehall, and for being imposed without wider consultation.
Special advisors, known as Spads, work in government departments as the personal appointees of ministers, giving them political and presentational advice that impartial civil servants are not allowed to give.
The new code of conduct was issued last week with little fanfare. It says special advisers can now “convey to officials ministers’ views, instructions and priorities, including on issues of presentation”. The word “instructions” has been added since the 2010 version.
Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative chair of the public administration and constitutional affairs committee, said the changes could lead to further conflict between ministers and civil servants.
“[It] feels like a step back towards the days of Alastair Campbell under Tony Blair, when the entire government communication service was placed under Campbell’s control,” he told Civil Service World.
The new code of conduct also says that Spads are allowed to canvass during elections. This change follows a dispute between No 10 and the Home Office over the conduct of two advisers.
Nick Timothy and Stephen Parkinson – advisers to the home secretary, Theresa May, – were struck off the Conservative party’s list of general election candidates last year because they refused to take part in telephone canvassing during a by-election campaign.
The pair argued that canvassing went against the code of conduct for Spads – but the Cabinet Office advised them it was permitted.
The revised code has cut out its previous rule that stated that Spads “must not take part in national political activities”, which included “canvassing on behalf of a candidate for the institutions or on behalf of a political party”.
The shadow cabinet minister, Jon Ashworth, called for clarification on why the special adviser’s code has been changed to allow them to campaign and possibly stand for elections.
Jenkin questioned Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock on the changes to the code in the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday, asking him how the revisions would improve transparency.
Hancock replied: “The transparency of government information is absolutely aided by a combination of our open data but also the use of press officers and communication teams in order to explain to the public what’s going on.
“Making sure that that happens in an orderly and organised way, subject to ministers’ wishes, is a very important part of it running effectively.”
