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A special adviser,[1] also known as a spad,[2][3] is a temporary civil servant who advises and assists UK government ministers[4] or ministers in the Scottish and Welsh devolved governments.[5] They differ from impartial civil servants in that they are political appointees.[4]
Special advisers are paid by the government and appointed under Section 15 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. There are four pay bands for special advisers.[6]
- ^ While "advisor" is a normal spelling, most documents use "adviser"
- ^ "UK Civil Service - Special Advisers - Homepage". www.civilservant.org.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ UCL (9 August 2018). "Special Advisers". The Constitution Unit. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Annual Report on Special Advisers 2019" (PDF). 20 December 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ "Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, section 15". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
2020 Reportwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).